Northern Kites (1 Viewer)

[treecreeper]

The Northern Kites project was featured on an Animal 24:7 repeat yesterday morning (9.15) on BBC1. I didn't know it was on until I switched on the TV and saw it by sheer chance !

 

[Chris Monk]

Have look at the 'All things Red Kite' thread

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=80204

 

[June Atkinson]

Kite Events calendar

Here are some of the future Events with Northern Kites, courtesy of Rhianne Dixon Events Officer for Northern Kites Project..

Red Kite Ramble in Teesdale
Saturday 7th April, 10am - 12.30pm (Booking is essential)
Join Northern Kites staff and volunteers on this guided walk to see red kites in the wild while exploring the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Teesdale’s beautiful countryside. Suitable for all ages but please be aware the route is over rough ground.
Cost: FREE EVENT
(Booking is essential)
For further information contact: North Pennines AONB on 01388 528801

Red Kite Ramble in Chopwell Wood
Tuesday 10th April, 2 - 4pm (Booking is essential)
Join Northern Kites staff and volunteers on this guided walk to see red kites and other wildlife while exploring the beautiful Chopwell Woods near Rowlands Gill, Gateshead. Suitable for all ages but please be aware the route is over rough ground.
Cost: FREE EVENT
(Booking is essential)
For further information contact: Chopwell Woods on 01207 542231

Saltwell Park Show
Saturday 21st April and Sunday 22nd April, 10am - 4.30pm
Northern Kites staff and volunteers will be joining the Gateshead Council Countryside Team at the Saltwell Park Show in Gateshead. Come along to enjoy all elements of the show and find out more about red kites. Children can enjoy free red kite activities.
Cost: FREE EVENT
(Booking is not required)
For further information contact: Gateshead Council Events Team: 0191 4333000

Red Kite Ramble in Gibside Estate
Sunday 6th May, starts at 12pm (Booking is essential)
Join Northern Kites for this guided walk to see red kites while exploring the beautiful National Trust’s Gibside Estate near Rowlands Gill, Gateshead. Suitable for all ages but please be aware the route is over rough ground.
Cost: National Trust admission prices apply, plus an additional charge for the event (to include refreshments).
(Booking is essential)
For further information contact: The Gibside Estate on 01207 541824

 

[Mickr]

I've taken a photograph yesterday and one of the wing tags is visible.

 

[June Atkinson]

Red Kite WT6

I've taken a photograph yesterday and one of the wing tags is visible.

It certainly looks like WT6. We do have other combinations: WT16, WT36, WT56, WT66 and WT76 all known to be in the Gateshead area, but the digit does seem to be a distinct 6.

WT6 is Flame, adopted by Highfield Primary. But more importantly, Flame paired with Ruby last year and they built a nest in the Lockhaugh area.
Unfortunately the nest was destroyed in a gale and they never had the chance to build another.

We are very hopeful that they will try again this season.

Please keep snapping - it's good to see such graceful birds in flight. :clap:

 

[Mickr]

It certainly looks like WT6. We do have other combinations: WT16, WT36, WT56, WT66 and WT76 all known to be in the Gateshead area, but the digit does seem to be a distinct 6.

WT6 is Flame, adopted by Highfield Primary. But more importantly, Flame paired with Ruby last year and they built a nest in the Lockhaugh area.
Unfortunately the nest was destroyed in a gale and they never had the chance to build another.

We are very hopeful that they will try again this season.

Please keep snapping - it's good to see such graceful birds in flight. :clap:

It was 6, I could clearly see that from the original when zoomed in. I've probably got hundreds of photographs but will keep taking them. I've just been checking some taken a week ago and noticed something strange on one photograph, I have no idea what it is and didn't notice it while taking the photograph. Here's a link if anybody wants to have a guess at what's at the top of the photograph, just left of centre, I have no idea.

 

[Mickr]

I spotted WT16 in a tree today, I have a few photographs which I'll try and upload somewhere as they are quite good. The most interesting thing about seeing WT16 is where the tree was.

 

[June Atkinson]

Wt16

I spotted WT16 in a tree today, I have a few photographs which I'll try and upload somewhere as they are quite good. The most interesting thing about seeing WT16 is where the tree was.

Interesting, Mick. :t:
WT16 is Flag, the female which is the Mum of Baby Geordie, born last summer at the Viaduct nest.
Flag is adopted by Oakfield Infants. The father of Geordie is Red Philip, adopted by St. Philip Neri R.C. Primary School.

All the children from the two schools walked along to the Viaduct to see "their" clever kite parents and Geordie. What a wonderful day it was for them - and they were on the Telly! :clap:

We hope that the pair will set up their territory again this year and maybe create a lot of excitement again.

For the sake of security, would it be possible to reduce the possibility of people recognising the exact tree or possible nest site in any image displayed, perhaps by cropping? Many thanks.

 

[Mickr]

Interesting, Mick. :t:
WT16 is Flag, the female which is the Mum of Baby Geordie, born last summer at the Viaduct nest.
Flag is adopted by Oakfield Infants. The father of Geordie is Red Philip, adopted by St. Philip Neri R.C. Primary School.

All the children from the two schools walked along to the Viaduct to see "their" clever kite parents and Geordie. What a wonderful day it was for them - and they were on the Telly! :clap:

We hope that the pair will set up their territory again this year and maybe create a lot of excitement again.

For the sake of security, would it be possible to reduce the possibility of people recognising the exact tree or possible nest site in any image displayed, perhaps by cropping? Many thanks.

WT16 was actually with WT77 and WT61, I can only see the numbers on photographs with individual birds so I have no idea which of them was being chased off. WT16 was the only one of the three that I could see in a tree and came out when another Kite came into view, I could hear WT16 calling from the trees.

Have you any idea where Red Philip is or was last spotted?

Can a full list of the WT/bird information be found anywhere? I've seen a list of details which stops as WT20 but nothing above that.

 

[June Atkinson]

WT16 was actually with WT77 and WT61, I can only see the numbers on photographs with individual birds so I have no idea which of them was being chased off. WT16 was the only one of the three that I could see in a tree and came out when another Kite came into view, I could hear WT16 calling from the trees.

Have you any idea where Red Philip is or was last spotted?

Can a full list of the WT/bird information be found anywhere? I've seen a list of details which stops as WT20 but nothing above that.

Go to: http://www.northernkites.org.uk/updates.htm

This gives the general overview. I'll try to find out about Red Philip, WT15; he doesn't feature in any of the recent reports, but he must be around.
WT61 is a female. But she is too young to breed, being released only last year.
I think we'll book a couple of the Mobility Scooters and have a little excursion along from Swalwell to the Viaduct. Take the binocs and a camera, methinks!
Strangely, when I try to access your photo site, I get an Illegal Error message and the whole things crashes! I'll have a go, using your url away from BF. See if that works. Do please send any of your images to the Kite Office - they're always welcome. Anyone whose images might be used in the Public Arena usually gives permission, if you're happy with this.

 

[Mickr]

Go to: http://www.northernkites.org.uk/updates.htm

This gives the general overview. I'll try to find out about Red Philip, WT15; he doesn't feature in any of the recent reports, but he must be around.
WT61 is a female. But she is too young to breed, being released only last year.
I think we'll book a couple of the Mobility Scooters and have a little excursion along from Swalwell to the Viaduct. Take the binocs and a camera, methinks!
Strangely, when I try to access your photo site, I get an Illegal Error message and the whole things crashes! I'll have a go, using your url away from BF. See if that works. Do please send any of your images to the Kite Office - they're always welcome. Anyone whose images might be used in the Public Arena usually gives permission, if you're happy with this.

I've uploaded some cropped photographs which show tags.

 

[CarlRoberts]

Hello all,

I've just been out over the weekend checking up on a number of suspected mating territories, trying to get confirmation on tag numbers and such like. Anyhow not managed to confirm much at all, will more than likely have to drop by the office to collect the tracking equipment to get positive ID on a couple of birds.

I did however get some good photos whilst taking a walk with my wife today around Gibside.

Tag 19 - Photo taken from the Gibside estate overlooking far pastures pond.

Regards

Carl.

 

[craigthirlwell]

Spot on photos carl. Welcome to the forum.

 

[craigthirlwell]

What are the chances of the 1st year northern red kites breeding?
I know that the central scotland kites (german stock) didn't attempt it, however some of the chiltern birds did and were successful. As our Northern Kites are from the same genetic stock as the chiltern birds (spanish birds which do breed in their first bird) what are the chances?
Is first year breeding determined by environment or genetics?

 

[Chris Monk]

What are the chances of the 1st year northern red kites breeding?
I know that the central scotland kites (german stock) didn't attempt it, however some of the chiltern birds did and were successful. As our Northern Kites are from the same genetic stock as the chiltern birds (spanish birds which do breed in their first bird) what are the chances?
Is first year breeding determined by environment or genetics?

I'd say not very high if both birds are 1st year birds but slightly better if one of the birds is older than that. In the midlands Kites attempted breeding at one year old but invariably they either gave up during nest building, the nest collapsed or there were no eggs produced.

 

[Mickr]

I managed to see WT15 (Red Philip) today in the same place that I photographed WT16 so I can only guess that they'll be a twosome again this year.

 

[treecreeper]

I'd say not very high if both birds are 1st year birds but slightly better if one of the birds is older than that. In the midlands Kites attempted breeding at one year old but invariably they either gave up during nest building, the nest collapsed or there were no eggs produced.

Good point. One of our year-old females successfully bred last year with a mature male, but I can't remember whether this was in Teesdale or at Harewood. Apparently, this success was only considered possible because the female was paired with an experienced mate.

Tom

 

[June Atkinson]

Newsflash - Incomers

Courtesy of Ken Sanderson, Northern Kites Volunteer and Tracker.


<<A Black Isle kite has been seen at Eggleston.
Its wing tags are blue/orange M, making it a 2005 bird.

A Dumfries and Galloway kite has been "picked up" between Burnhopefield and Lintzford,. Its wing tag combination is green/green M, making it a 2006 release.>>


They may be incomers, but this is to be welcomed; if they stay, and possibly pair with one of the Northern Kites, it will be helping to enrich the gene pool of this group. :clap:

 

[Mickr]

I've seen WT40, WT15 & WT16 in the Derwent Valley today, the last photograph shows a Kite carrying a feather.


http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/2897/wt16mb0.jpg

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/1781/img167croprf9.jpg

http://img125.imageshack.us/my.php?image=wt40wq9.jpg

http://img102.imageshack.us/my.php?image=featheryj4.jpg

 

[CarlRoberts]

Got a cracking photo of WT32 (Red Arrow) during a flight display. The Kite was tumbling about the sky clutching some nesting material. The photo was taken from Gibside and the kites can bee seen soaring about the grounds on a regular basis.