[MGJohn]

Visiting the Amateur Entomologists' Society's Annual Exhibition at Kempton Park Racecourse on Saturday 17th October, on the return journey to Gloucestershire, I diverted via the M40 Motorway rather than the more direct route using the M4. The reason being to see if we could spot any Red Kites alongside the M40 in the Chiltern Hills area to show my two sons and a lifelong friend with similar Natural History interests who were keen to see some. Usually the best laid plans and all that but, not this time.

No less than 35 Red Kites counted and were seen on that journey home including one single sighting where I counted nine birds close together on the north side of the Motorway on the run down to Oxford. There may have been more in that particular group but, even with one eye on the road at motorway speeds, I was able to see and count nine....

Even on the outskirts of Oxford City one was seen flying low directly above my car...

Two Buzzards and one Sparrow hawk female were seen flying close over the Motorway too ... not a single Kestrel seen ~ the Bird of prey usually the most likely to be seen hovering over the grassy banks alongside the Motorways.

Remarkable.... That made a refreshing change and a successful day was had by all ....

[halftwo]

That's a good number John, I usually manage around 20 on the M40.
Great to see them - especially as I live in an area where they are still a county rarety.

[John B (not the sloop)]

I tend to give up around the 22 mark when doing the M40 trip back to Glos. The train ride from Stroud to London can be a happy hunting ground from soon after Swindon all the way to Reading too.

[Jhanlon]

Last year I diverted off the motorway at Stokenchurch to see how many I could find. The results were impressive! After stopping at several spots I managed nearly 100 from one spot including a feeding flock of about 50 birds. I followed this group and found someone was chucking out scraps into a small farm yard. Was treated to views down to a few metres. Great stuff!

Originally Posted by John B (not the sloop)

I tend to give up around the 22 mark when doing the M40 trip back to Glos. The train ride from Stroud to London can be a happy hunting ground from soon after Swindon all the way to Reading too.

[HnehpetS]

I recommend leaving the counting to passengers - we don't want to lose forum members now do we.
Says he who was recently watching a red kite while driving down a single carriage way - nearly up the kerb and in the hedge, if my daughter hadn't given me the - DAD!

[George Edwards]

I think this is much much more dangerous than people realise!

I used to "car-bird" until I had an exceedingly close call this summer on the motorway - in this incident I was not actually looking at birds, but trying to swat a mosquito.

Nevertheless I definitely thought I was a much more competent driver than I turned out be and now will not answer the phone or grab a map while driving, and even think twice before tuning the radio or eating an apple.

But it's very difficult to convince someone who has not had an accident just how dangerous it is to take your eyes off the road, especially on the motorway …

[terry jz]

seeing the red kites is indeed a treat as are the buzzard but your thread does raise a good point
where are all the kestrels that you normally see along motorways are we in some sort of kes decline?

[captaincarot]

on 27th of june bornwild and i traveled back from seeing AC/DC at wembley by way of the m40 and a tour round oxfordshire, through wallingford over to white horse hill then back to the m40 and on to manchester, bornwild had never seen a red kite before that day, she stopped counting at 45 :)

this included 9 circling over the cooling towers at didcot powerstation.

not a bad haul for a days kite spotting.

[Himalaya]

I hardly see kestrels on the motorway where I live but there are no Kites and no Buzzards. Although there are plenty of Crows which would also rob Kestrels right?

[DavidinParis]

Originally Posted by terry jz

seeing the red kites is indeed a treat as are the buzzard but your thread does raise a good point
where are all the kestrels that you normally see along motorways are we in some sort of kes decline?

I seem to recall a theory being floated a few years back that Kestrel numbers over motorways has declined because the terrain that they like to hunt over - the grassed verges - has matured and now contain many taller plants that are less favourable for the Kestrel's hunting methods. The taller plants obscure vision and provide greater cover for potential prey items. Given that most motorways were developed between 1960 and around 1985 there may be some logic in this.

Make of it what you will!

David

[Chris Belcher]

Thanks John B for the hint about the train! I'm off to London next week and alwast take the bins there so hopefully will add the Kites to the list. When in Leeds I think everyone at work saw the Harewood Hse kites but me!

[billsbirding]

Nice one (MJ) John. I also went to the Entomologist's fair on the 17th. At 15 years old, it is my first one and I have never seen anything like it!!.. Wierd? Wonderful? I can't really decide... but I had great fun and almost bought a couple of moths myself! Anyway, I just thought I'd point out that I live relitively close to Kempton Park Race Course (in Esher) and I have seen 2 Red Kites over Esher in the past 2 years, even though I haven't seen any on the A40, I have seen them on the A3 and M25. They are expanding their range!