Kite, Dorset.. (1 Viewer)

[miami]

Hi, Would this be a Red, or Black Kite i saw at Wyke Down this afternoon ?

 

[dwatsonbirder]

5 obvious primaries with a short p6 = Red kite.
Also note colour, wing shape/structure, tail shape/structure etc...

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,
agree with Daniel, its a Red Kite. Please note:

• very pale greyish, nearly whitish underside of the tail (many Black kites have darker ones, but yes your bird is within variation for a Black Kite. No single absolute feature)
• your bird has 5 fingers. There are a few recent threads here on BF about this. Thanks to all, who have commented there!
• I think underexposure shifts darkness-value and thus jizz towards Black Kite here

Yes, its a not so easy picture for me, too. But its not a (western) Black Kite imo, and I would like to learn, if this is an hybrid or an "eastern Black Kite".

But I think, single picture effect, underexposure and variation is all you need to explain this Red Kite here.

 

[KC Foggin]

Red Kite it is!

 

[miami]

Thanks for the replies.. It came out of the sun at distance, hence the dark look. I was in the Red camp, but just wanted confirmation as a Black Kite was seen and photographed at Martin Down today, which is just a few miles down the rd..

 

[tconzemi]

a second calendar year bird with juvenile plumage

 

[Jiggers]

I saw a pair of what I think are Black Kites at DT3 4BG at 10.00 this morning. I was directly underneath one about 50 yards high.

 

[Butty]

I saw a pair of what I think are Black Kites

Extra-unlikely if there were two together.
Welcome to BF.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello Jiggers,
welcome to birdforum from me too!

As an non UK based birder (I saw many Black Kites during the last days in SW-Germany), I agree with Butty, that its a rare sight, but:
you made everything right: you joined BF here and alerted others, so more can see it: thanks for alerting others that might well want to see a Black Kite in Britain.
Maybe its a good idea to post your sighting also here: Rare Bird Information

 

[Jiggers]

Extra-unlikely if there were two together.
Welcome to BF.

Only ever seen a single one before, in exactly the same place several years ago. One had been seen in Kent a few days before! The V in the tail didn't look to be as deep as that of a Red Kite's, seen a few of them around Oxford.

 

[Rotherbirder]

Hmmmmmm ...

RB