Northern Kites (1 Viewer)

[June Atkinson]

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.

What a superb shot Carl! Not only do we see the acrobatic nature of the flight, but it shows the feathered wing tips so clearly.
It's very interesting, too, because only a week ago the female WT32, Red Arrow, adopted by St. Joseph's R.C. Primary, was over in the Barlow Burn, seemingly holding territory there with WT51. The latter bird also seems to have moved away from the Burn.

It gets more exciting by the day..................

 

[June Atkinson]

Just flagging up this recently established web site, which is currently running a webcam on a Chilterns' nest.
http://www.redkites.net/section78595_25177.html

Here we can see the female with one, if not two eggs in the nest.

And here, in the Derwent Valley, the Project Team is being kept very busy trying to locate all of the nest sites.........more news later

 

[Mickr]

June,

The number of Kites visible seems to have dropped to almost nil at the minute. I could see up to 10 or 12 regularly only two weeks ago, since then it's been the odd one which tends to make me think they have other things to do.

 

[June Atkinson]

Kites - where are you?

June,

The number of Kites visible seems to have dropped to almost nil at the minute. I could see up to 10 or 12 regularly only two weeks ago, since then it's been the odd one which tends to make me think they have other things to do.

Yes, Mick, they do seem to be a little evasive at the moment.
I was out with another NK Volunteer acting as guides for a group from Felling using Express Travel. Although we went round the usual places we only saw single kites in three separate locations: Barlow, Highfield and down near Blaydon, seen from the Path Head Mill.
It's probably because they are very busy nest-building and mating. Have a look at the Chilterns' webcam Video clips - excellent coverage of the two parents changing places and one revealing the two eggs in the nest. :clap:

Really good stuff.......... on http://www.redkites.net/section101414.html

 

[IanF]

I checked the Teesdale area today but couldn't locate any Kites, though conditions looked ideal.

 

[Mickr]

I managed to see WT15 in a tree today and two others together flying towards Far Pasture, I couldn't see any tags on the two as they were too far away.

 

[June Atkinson]

Northern Kites Events 2007

Here are details of forthcoming events.

6 May Red Kite Ramble in Gibside Estate

20 May Kielder Spring Festival

21 May - 16 June Exhibition of red kite artwork at Saltwell Towers

22 May Red Kite Day at Cragside

28 May Northumberland County Show

9 June BBC Springwatch Festival at Blaydon Burn

14 & 15 July Chopwell Forest Festival

27 - 29 July Gateshead Summer Flower Show

8 August Red Kite Day at Cragside

10 August Red Kite Day at Seven Stories – centre for children's books

23 August Red Kite Day at Wallington

24 - 26 August Stockton Summer Show

2 Sept Red Kite Ramble in Gibside Estate

9 Sept Red Kite Ramble in Teesdale

15 & 16 Sept Tanfield Gala Weekend


More detailed information:
http://www.northernkites.org.uk/events.htm
or telephone Northern Kites 0191 496 1555
or [email protected]

 

[Stewart J.]

Many thanks for that June

Stewart

 

[Mickr]

Any plans for a Kite nest watch this year?

 

[June Atkinson]

Kitewatch 2007

Any plans for a Kite nest watch this year?

Yes, Mick, there is to be a Kitewatch run jointly by Gateshead Council and the Northern Kites Project Team.
As last year, it will be held in June and July. I presume the main viewing point will be the Nine Arches Viaduct, but if there is a change of venue, I'll post info here.


Meanwhile, may I flag up the Webcam in the Chilterns. There are video clips showing
Action on the nest, the comings and goings of the parent kites and, yes, in the early one you can actaully see the two eggs!! What clever birds!:clap:

Go to www.redkites.net and choose the video clips from the left-hand menu.

 

[Mickr]

Yes, Mick, there is to be a Kitewatch run jointly by Gateshead Council and the Northern Kites Project Team.
As last year, it will be held in June and July. I presume the main viewing point will be the Nine Arches Viaduct, but if there is a change of venue, I'll post info here.


Meanwhile, may I flag up the Webcam in the Chilterns. There are video clips showing
Action on the nest, the comings and goings of the parent kites and, yes, in the early one you can actaully see the two eggs!! What clever birds!:clap:

Go to www.redkites.net and choose the video clips from the left-hand menu.

Good news June, things seem to be ticking along quite well.

I think I managed to photograph a Kite with no wing tags on Sunday in the Derwent Valley.

 

[hen harrier]

Three Red Kites. Top of Wolsingham Bank. 075355 Grid ref

Hello June thought you would like to know that I saw three Red Kites on my way home from Hamsterly today 13th May 2007. They were being harrased by crows and a Curlew after a ariel skirmish they all flew of over what would be Larch Hill Plantation and went down in that area. Sorry I did not get any numbers I had to pull of the road quick in order to watch with my bins. It started at 3:37pm and was over by 3:45pm. I hope this is of some use to you and your information service that you run. All the best Hen Harrier.

 

[June Atkinson]

Hamsterley Kites

Hello June thought you would like to know that I saw three Red Kites on my way home from Hamsterly today 13th May 2007. They were being harrased by crows and a Curlew after a ariel skirmish they all flew of over what would be Larch Hill Plantation and went down in that area. Sorry I did not get any numbers I had to pull of the road quick in order to watch with my bins. It started at 3:37pm and was over by 3:45pm. I hope this is of some use to you and your information service that you run. All the best Hen Harrier.

Thanks so much for this info - hope it's okay to pass it on to Ken Sanderson who is our main tracker and lives in Teesdale. If he gets this this evening, I know he is coming over to Whickham tomorrow; he will probably come via Hamsterley and do a check, just in case they are still in the area.

Sounds as though you had a great day out!:clap:

 

[June Atkinson]

Reported sightings of 3 kites

Hello June thought you would like to know that I saw three Red Kites on my way home from Hamsterly today 13th May 2007. They were being harrased by crows and a Curlew after a ariel skirmish they all flew of over what would be Larch Hill Plantation and went down in that area. Sorry I did not get any numbers I had to pull of the road quick in order to watch with my bins. It started at 3:37pm and was over by 3:45pm. I hope this is of some use to you and your information service that you run. All the best Hen Harrier.

Ken Sanderson was very grateful for this info. He went to check them out this morning before coming to the NK Gateshead Office.
He identified one, WT47 at Grid Referenece 066335. :t: He saw no evidence of the other two, but thinks they had probably just drifted away.

This highlights a bit of a mystery, as WT47, a female called Pippin, had been reported as one of the pair with a nest in the Bolton Abbey Estate, in Wharfedale. We'll try to get some answers on this one. It could be that the Wharfedale kite's radio frequency is very similar to Pippin's. I'll let you know if and when we get an explanation.

Leonard and I have been out today, trying to locate some nesting birds. We saw activity in the lower Derwent Valley, but nothing else anywhere! They were probably all sheltering from the weather!

 

[June Atkinson]

It must seem very quiet at present, but some day soon, we shall have news of chicks, hopefully.
And there is definitely going to be a Kitewatch this year, beginning 2nd June.
Watch for more news of where this will be and what we hope to show you.....

 

[craigthirlwell]

I spent a couple of hours in barlow burn today. Very queit. Only two kites about, wt34 (who went missing for a while i think) and a 2006 bird (i didn't get the number).

Whilst wandering about i flushed out a SE owl. It's worth keeping an eye out for.

 

[June Atkinson]

Barlow Burn

I spent a couple of hours in barlow burn today. Very queit. Only two kites about, wt34 (who went missing for a while i think) and a 2006 bird (i didn't get the number).

Whilst wandering about i flushed out a SE owl. It's worth keeping an eye out for.

The second 2006 bird would probably be WT80. Again, things have been pretty quiet in that area, but, fingers crossed, we may have some good news.
It could be, however, that these birds, with the young 2006 one, could be practising at nest-building.
If they are doing it for real, I doubt both would be airborne together - unless, of course, there has been some hatching.
We need to wait for definite evidence before thinking along these lines, I suppose......

 

[Mickr]

WT15 has been very active today, he seemed to be going out from the nest area and returning a lot, I wonder if he has extra mouths to feed?

 

[June Atkinson]

Wt15 Red Philip

WT15 has been very active today, he seemed to be going out from the nest area and returning a lot, I wonder if he has extra mouths to feed?

Lovely shot of Red Philip, Mick.:clap:

I haven't heard any news so far, but when I go into the Kite Office on Monday, i hope we shall hear some definite news........will post if I do.

 

[Mickr]

Lovely shot of Red Philip, Mick.:clap:

I haven't heard any news so far, but when I go into the Kite Office on Monday, i hope we shall hear some definite news........will post if I do.

They had young about a week earlier than this last year so good news is possible, I've just been back to the 22nd May 2006 posts about something being on the news.