Red Kites

[anna62]

Morning all,
Does anyone know if we have Red Kites in the area? I am fairly sure that i have just seen one in the Duke St. area which then headed down towards Eastbank St. and i lost site of it. Very excited if there are as i think they are beautiful birds

[Alikado]

Morning all,
Does anyone know if we have Red Kites in the area? I am fairly sure that i have just seen one in the Duke St. area which then headed down towards Eastbank St. and i lost site of it. Very excited if there are as i think they are beautiful birds

I think in the past when I've visited Martin Mere I've seen a board there with recent feathered visitors on and the Red Kite was on it. I have seen Buzzards over Birkdale so it could be one of those.

[anna62]

I think in the past when I've visited Martin Mere I've seen a board there with recent feathered visitors on and the Red Kite was on it. I have seen Buzzards over Birkdale so it could be one of those.

Thanks for that. I don't think it was a buzzard, as colouring not quite right, but as i'm no expert it could well have been

[Kippax]

Thanks for that. I don't think it was a buzzard, as colouring not quite right, but as i'm no expert it could well have been

Red Kites tail feathers form quite a deep V shape whereas a Buzzards is square.

[gsgsgs]

If you are ever in The Brecon Beacons a visit to Girgin Farm is a must.

[Kritou]

And what happens to all those red kites when the daily feed of meat is discontinued?

[gsgsgs]

And what happens to all those red kites when the daily feed of meat is discontinued?

Hypothetical question so can't be answered, however unlikely to happen. We chose to visit based on this being (as far as I am aware) to only red kite feeding centre affiliated to and set up at the request of the RSPB.

"Gigrin became the Official Red Kite Feeding Station in the winter of 1992/93 following a request from the RSPB who had witnessed the late Mr Powell feeding the kites as and when food (rabbit) was available. The RSPB had noted this spectacle and came to the farm with a proposal – that we should open to the public as the red kite feeding station as it would have an impact on the young kites that were being lost over the winter, and would also draw people away from nesting sites where losses occurred due to the disturbance."

[Kritou]

Hypothetical question so can't be answered, however unlikely to happen. We chose to visit based on this being (as far as I am aware) to only red kite feeding centre affiliated to and set up at the request of the RSPB.

"Gigrin became the Official Red Kite Feeding Station in the winter of 1992/93 following a request from the RSPB who had witnessed the late Mr Powell feeding the kites as and when food (rabbit) was available. The RSPB had noted this spectacle and came to the farm with a proposal – that we should open to the public as the red kite feeding station as it would have an impact on the young kites that were being lost over the winter, and would also draw people away from nesting sites where losses occurred due to the disturbance."

I have been to Gigrin Farm a couple of times and it is indeed an interesting site/sight. The questions some may ask are juvenile birds losing the knowledge of how to hunt/scavenge for themselves and is the current setup escalating the spread of the birds into the wider area?

[s.port_history]

There are a number of Red Kites which nest on or around Scaribrick Hall School. I have also seen them fighting with seagulls over scraps dropped by the crowds at McDonalds, Kew (towards dusk). The seagulls were dive bombing them.

[gsgsgs]

I have been to Gigrin Farm a couple of times and it is indeed an interesting site/sight. The questions some may ask are juvenile birds losing the knowledge of how to hunt/scavenge for themselves and is the current setup escalating the spread of the birds into the wider area?

"Red kites, being hungry when they awake, will search for food during the morning and early afternoon. The food we put out for them is only a top up, to help them, and will not prevent them from their natural hunting.

The kites you see visiting are unlikely to have been here the day before as there is a rolling population of red kites during the week."

[Kritou]

Thanks for that information

[Kafoozalum]

If you are lucky you may see an occasional wandering Red Kite passing through the area. One has been seen over Birkdale in the last few days, still pretty scarce in this area. Plenty of Buzzards about with the plumage being quite variable. As a footnote you are much more likely to see a Raven in this area these days. there are several about.