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Northern Kites (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter June Atkinson
- Start date
June Atkinson
Well-known member
Ruby Ale, rather than the bird!
Glug, glug, that was good! You look as if you're enjoying that Craig.:t:
Glug, glug, that was good! You look as if you're enjoying that Craig.:t:
June Atkinson
Well-known member
Last report of 2007
Courtesy of Ken Sanderson, who went out tracking on Monday with Judy and Caroline.
17th December 2007
31 kites recorded in Gateshead:
22 kites roosted on the Gibside Estate;
4 kites roosted at Sherburn Towers, including WT40, Ziggy, adopted by Emmanuel College, Gateshead;
2 kites roosted at Beda Hills (WT38 and WT 56);
1 kite roosted at Low Friarage (WT44);
1 kite roosted at Priestfield (WT63).
It appeared that the main roost was going to be at Sherburn Towers as birds were gathering there, but just before dark 15 kites "got up" and made their way to Gibside.
Courtesy of Ken Sanderson, who went out tracking on Monday with Judy and Caroline.
17th December 2007
31 kites recorded in Gateshead:
22 kites roosted on the Gibside Estate;
4 kites roosted at Sherburn Towers, including WT40, Ziggy, adopted by Emmanuel College, Gateshead;
2 kites roosted at Beda Hills (WT38 and WT 56);
1 kite roosted at Low Friarage (WT44);
1 kite roosted at Priestfield (WT63).
It appeared that the main roost was going to be at Sherburn Towers as birds were gathering there, but just before dark 15 kites "got up" and made their way to Gibside.
Never thought i would see a picture of Vic Reeves drinking from a Red Kite bottle ,on the forum .
craigthirlwell
Well-known member
Never thought i would see a picture of Vic Reeves drinking from a Red Kite bottle ,on the forum .
The dove from above was all my idea.
It's nice to be mistaken for somebody different, i'm sick of people calling me brad pitt
Stewart J.
Well-known member
Hi June et al, this letter was published in yesterdays Hexham Courant and I thought it may interest you and the group. Apologies if your already aware.
Birds of prey
Published on 28/12/2007
OVER the last few years in the West Allen Valleys I have seen and heard day and night a marked increase in the numbers of birds of prey. Besides the daytime hunters, I regularly see barn owls, hear tawny owls and some weeks ago saw a little owl for the first time on a fence post near our house.
The buzzards seem to come and go according to the population of rabbits and the ravages of myxomatosis but in mid-September I noticed a pair of red kites (untagged I believe) above a rabbit warren on one of our fields. They are now almost a daily spectacle – such beautiful birds, scavenging for carrion. The only bird of prey I haven’t seen so much of recently as in the past is the day-flying small eared owl.
I was delighted the other day also to see and hear a pair of ravens croaking above our wood. There is also a resident pair of merlins about.
So over the last decade there appears from my viewpoint to have been a marked increase in these wonderful birds and no shortage of our songbirds: thrushes, blackbirds, larks, stonechats etc.
We are so lucky to live in this natural heaven for birds and we should thank the landowners, farmers and gamekeepers who have it in their power to preserve the habitat so important for these beautiful creatures.
Despite the fact that the gamekeepers have to look after their game birds, the birds of prey seem to be tolerated by these knowledgeable and countrywise folk as part of the natural ecology of the uplands.
JIM HICK,
Ninebanks,
Allendale
All the best to you and Leonard for 2008
Stewart
Birds of prey
Published on 28/12/2007
OVER the last few years in the West Allen Valleys I have seen and heard day and night a marked increase in the numbers of birds of prey. Besides the daytime hunters, I regularly see barn owls, hear tawny owls and some weeks ago saw a little owl for the first time on a fence post near our house.
The buzzards seem to come and go according to the population of rabbits and the ravages of myxomatosis but in mid-September I noticed a pair of red kites (untagged I believe) above a rabbit warren on one of our fields. They are now almost a daily spectacle – such beautiful birds, scavenging for carrion. The only bird of prey I haven’t seen so much of recently as in the past is the day-flying small eared owl.
I was delighted the other day also to see and hear a pair of ravens croaking above our wood. There is also a resident pair of merlins about.
So over the last decade there appears from my viewpoint to have been a marked increase in these wonderful birds and no shortage of our songbirds: thrushes, blackbirds, larks, stonechats etc.
We are so lucky to live in this natural heaven for birds and we should thank the landowners, farmers and gamekeepers who have it in their power to preserve the habitat so important for these beautiful creatures.
Despite the fact that the gamekeepers have to look after their game birds, the birds of prey seem to be tolerated by these knowledgeable and countrywise folk as part of the natural ecology of the uplands.
JIM HICK,
Ninebanks,
Allendale
All the best to you and Leonard for 2008
Stewart
June Atkinson
Well-known member
Living harmoniously together
Thank you very much for flagging up this encouraging letter, Stewart.:t:
We all remember that it was in Tynedale that we lost our first red kite to carbofuran poisoning. It is good to hear from a resident in Ninebanks of such a variety of birds, including red kites, living harmoniously together with other creatures, including those reared by Gamekeepers.
In Yorkshire, our WT2, Scarlet, has reared four chicks in the last two years; she and her partner have a territory which is, in fact, on a farm where there is game, and a Gamekeeper. Here it has been proved that red kites and game live happily together and that the kites are no threat to the game birds. Sadly, this is not true in Scotland, where the cases of death by poisoning are rising.
Happy New Year to everyone!B
Thank you very much for flagging up this encouraging letter, Stewart.:t:
We all remember that it was in Tynedale that we lost our first red kite to carbofuran poisoning. It is good to hear from a resident in Ninebanks of such a variety of birds, including red kites, living harmoniously together with other creatures, including those reared by Gamekeepers.
In Yorkshire, our WT2, Scarlet, has reared four chicks in the last two years; she and her partner have a territory which is, in fact, on a farm where there is game, and a Gamekeeper. Here it has been proved that red kites and game live happily together and that the kites are no threat to the game birds. Sadly, this is not true in Scotland, where the cases of death by poisoning are rising.
Happy New Year to everyone!B
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June Atkinson
Well-known member
Kites' Movements - up-date
Courtesy of Ken Sanderson, Volunteer and Tracker, Northern Kites:
Monitoring 2nd January 2008
There were six kites in the Barlow Burn at 14.00hrs.
Kites from the breeding pairs of Beda Hills and Hookergate(WT24) were observed on territory and a purple wing tagged juvenile was noted at Highfield, along with a green tagged bird.
At Sherburn Towers kites were coming in from the North West (presumably those that had been recorded in the Barlow Burn earlier), but they were not settling and moving on over towards Gibside.
Guessing that this was not going to be the main roost that night we relocated to Lochaugh and monitored from there. We watched quite a few birds come over but noted that they were not flying directly to the west wood on Gibside. Instead they were skirting round the Gibside pairs territory by flying east and then dropping into the valley bottom and tracking up towards the monument before cutting across to the west wood. They looked to be using a channel between the two existing breeding pairs territory.
It was also noted that a lot of the kites were arriving at the roost site in pairs
Just before dark the kites must have been disturbed because they all “got up”( we counted 22 in th air at one time) and spiralled to a good height before splitting. Most kites returned to the west wood but six birds carried on and appeared to be going to Sherburn Towers.
When everything settled down we recorded 16 kites roosting on the Gibside Estate and 4 at Sherburn Towers (so there must have been a couple with transmitters not working).
The Cattyside wood pair, WT21 and W51 were both recorded at roost on the Gibside Estate. None of the other successful breeding birds were recorded at either of the main roosts so it is presumed that they were roosting on territory.
WT89 roosted in the Lintzford area and the D&G G/P 10 roosted at Gibside.
It was also noted that only one of the non-breeding orange tagged females, WT33, was at one of the main roosts (Sherburn Towers). The others, WT32, WT40, WT43 and WT60 were not recorded at Gibside or Sherburn Towers. Could these birds be roosting in their own territories?
All very interesting. It suggests that the kites are beginning to establish their own territories in the Lower Derwent Valley:t:
Courtesy of Ken Sanderson, Volunteer and Tracker, Northern Kites:
Monitoring 2nd January 2008
There were six kites in the Barlow Burn at 14.00hrs.
Kites from the breeding pairs of Beda Hills and Hookergate(WT24) were observed on territory and a purple wing tagged juvenile was noted at Highfield, along with a green tagged bird.
At Sherburn Towers kites were coming in from the North West (presumably those that had been recorded in the Barlow Burn earlier), but they were not settling and moving on over towards Gibside.
Guessing that this was not going to be the main roost that night we relocated to Lochaugh and monitored from there. We watched quite a few birds come over but noted that they were not flying directly to the west wood on Gibside. Instead they were skirting round the Gibside pairs territory by flying east and then dropping into the valley bottom and tracking up towards the monument before cutting across to the west wood. They looked to be using a channel between the two existing breeding pairs territory.
It was also noted that a lot of the kites were arriving at the roost site in pairs
Just before dark the kites must have been disturbed because they all “got up”( we counted 22 in th air at one time) and spiralled to a good height before splitting. Most kites returned to the west wood but six birds carried on and appeared to be going to Sherburn Towers.
When everything settled down we recorded 16 kites roosting on the Gibside Estate and 4 at Sherburn Towers (so there must have been a couple with transmitters not working).
The Cattyside wood pair, WT21 and W51 were both recorded at roost on the Gibside Estate. None of the other successful breeding birds were recorded at either of the main roosts so it is presumed that they were roosting on territory.
WT89 roosted in the Lintzford area and the D&G G/P 10 roosted at Gibside.
It was also noted that only one of the non-breeding orange tagged females, WT33, was at one of the main roosts (Sherburn Towers). The others, WT32, WT40, WT43 and WT60 were not recorded at Gibside or Sherburn Towers. Could these birds be roosting in their own territories?
All very interesting. It suggests that the kites are beginning to establish their own territories in the Lower Derwent Valley:t:
June Atkinson
Well-known member
Roost Watch Week
Each day next week, from 2pm, there will be Staff and Volunteers at Sherburn Towers, Rowlands Gill, to help you enjoy the spectacle of the Red Kites coming in to roost.
If you are a Birdforum member, please make yourself known to us. Bring your thermals and coffee flasks too - it can get a bit parky at the Bus Stop!!:t:
Each day next week, from 2pm, there will be Staff and Volunteers at Sherburn Towers, Rowlands Gill, to help you enjoy the spectacle of the Red Kites coming in to roost.
If you are a Birdforum member, please make yourself known to us. Bring your thermals and coffee flasks too - it can get a bit parky at the Bus Stop!!
:t:
craigthirlwell
Well-known member
June Atkinson
Well-known member
Roost Watch
It is running from today, Monday until Sunday 20th January. Although the time is supposed to be 2 - 5p.m., we think it might be too dark before then.
I went out tracking this morning with Ken Sanderson and two other Volunteers. We had good sightings in several locations, including further up the Derwent Valley, where it looks as though some possible pairings are forming and territories are being established.
Thanks for posting your pics, Craig. I took my camera today, but the weather wasn't very kind, and I only got one at the Bus Stop, and then it was too far away!!
We went for a light lunch at the Lintzford Garden Centre - a relatively new Centre with a very pleasant café - and the soup was delicious!!
It is running from today, Monday until Sunday 20th January. Although the time is supposed to be 2 - 5p.m., we think it might be too dark before then.
I went out tracking this morning with Ken Sanderson and two other Volunteers. We had good sightings in several locations, including further up the Derwent Valley, where it looks as though some possible pairings are forming and territories are being established.
Thanks for posting your pics, Craig. I took my camera today, but the weather wasn't very kind, and I only got one at the Bus Stop, and then it was too far away!!
We went for a light lunch at the Lintzford Garden Centre - a relatively new Centre with a very pleasant café - and the soup was delicious!!
craigthirlwell
Well-known member
June Atkinson
Well-known member
Kite and you in the wind!
I can well imagine it Craig - but wouldn't it have been great, being up there alongside WT43?
Craig, would you be willing to send your pic into the Kite Office, or allow me to save a copy for our Image Database. It's rare that one can see the tag as clearly as it is here!
And would you allow me to add it to my CD Rom, for Talks which I shall be giving this year? In both cases, you will get an acknowledgement.
Here is an up-date about the kites and their whereabouts - in general.
Nothing much new was learned from this week's monitoring, just confirmation of territories. Hamsterley Mill; just west of Chopwell village and in the Barlow Burn.
We did see Bobs with her parents at Beda Hills and A5 juvenile was with her mum in the Barlow Burn.
WT40 (Ziggy) and WT59 have been seen together all week at the roost watch(Sherburn Towers) so it almost certain that they are a pair now. WT24 and WT59 appear to have split and this suggests that their nest last year is very likely to have failed.
Rhianne had 32 members of the public at the roost watch on Sunday which was a good end to the week. Numbers prior to this had been a little disappointing. Good views of kites were had all week even though the main roost was on the Gibside Estate.
Glad you had a good, though very short visit!!:t:
I can well imagine it Craig - but wouldn't it have been great, being up there alongside WT43?
Craig, would you be willing to send your pic into the Kite Office, or allow me to save a copy for our Image Database. It's rare that one can see the tag as clearly as it is here!
And would you allow me to add it to my CD Rom, for Talks which I shall be giving this year? In both cases, you will get an acknowledgement.
Here is an up-date about the kites and their whereabouts - in general.
Nothing much new was learned from this week's monitoring, just confirmation of territories. Hamsterley Mill; just west of Chopwell village and in the Barlow Burn.
We did see Bobs with her parents at Beda Hills and A5 juvenile was with her mum in the Barlow Burn.
WT40 (Ziggy) and WT59 have been seen together all week at the roost watch(Sherburn Towers) so it almost certain that they are a pair now. WT24 and WT59 appear to have split and this suggests that their nest last year is very likely to have failed.
Rhianne had 32 members of the public at the roost watch on Sunday which was a good end to the week. Numbers prior to this had been a little disappointing. Good views of kites were had all week even though the main roost was on the Gibside Estate.
Glad you had a good, though very short visit!!:t:
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craigthirlwell
Well-known member
You can do whatever you like with it June. I've emailed it to the office, to the 'info' address.
It should be slightly better quality as I had to scale in order to post it on the forum.
If there are any problems let me know and i'll send it again.
Craig
It should be slightly better quality as I had to scale in order to post it on the forum.
If there are any problems let me know and i'll send it again.
Craig
June Atkinson
Well-known member
43 flying
That's great Craig; thank you. And I'll now add it to my Image Bank for creating the CD Rom. Judy and I are doing two talks later in the year, and I'm trying to gather a good selection of images which illustrate the different aspects of the Project.:t:
That's great Craig; thank you. And I'll now add it to my Image Bank for creating the CD Rom. Judy and I are doing two talks later in the year, and I'm trying to gather a good selection of images which illustrate the different aspects of the Project.:t:
IanF
Moderator
Parked by the chevrons on the Woodland-Egglestone road at 3.00pm yesterday afternoon. Initially one Kite in the air cirlcing along the ridge to the north. It landed on a rocky outcrop only to be mobbed by a Crow/Raven.
A few minutes two further Kites came on the scene, two with no tags but one with green wing tags. no number visible but I think it may be from Dumfries&Galloway from 2006.
The three Kites interacted for 10 minutes or so often overhead but circling quite high. one peeled off to the south whilst the other two continued to 'play' for the next 20 minutes before heading off north towards Egglestone Common and Blackton. A few minutes later two Kites appeared from the south and headed west along Teesdale. Certainly three Kites about and possibly four. The most I've seen together here.
A few minutes two further Kites came on the scene, two with no tags but one with green wing tags. no number visible but I think it may be from Dumfries&Galloway from 2006.
The three Kites interacted for 10 minutes or so often overhead but circling quite high. one peeled off to the south whilst the other two continued to 'play' for the next 20 minutes before heading off north towards Egglestone Common and Blackton. A few minutes later two Kites appeared from the south and headed west along Teesdale. Certainly three Kites about and possibly four. The most I've seen together here.
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craigthirlwell
Well-known member
Great photo. Strange that only the bird on the right has feet:-O
The other two must have had a drink, they look (wait for it) ..... leglessB
June Atkinson
Well-known member
I agree; these are lovely images, which you have said I may save to use, Ian.
The weather conditions and the light were obviously just right for capturing these superb shots.
Thanks for sharing them......................
The weather conditions and the light were obviously just right for capturing these superb shots.
Thanks for sharing them......................
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