Large bird of prey near Luton Airport (1 Viewer)

[Kymmy]

Hi everyone,

Was coming back home (Barton-Le-Clay) from Luton Airport and took the back route (through Tea-green and up through Lilley) and just after I got through tea green and past the water-tower there was a large bird of prey in the field/hill to the left (just before you turn north at the crossroads).

The bird was large (at least 1.5m wingspan, shortish body with long dark wings with very light patches under then along the inner section and back edge). It's flight was low (no more than 20 meters) and it would fly a bit uphill then circle round and glide a bit downhill and then turn and repeat the manouvere with each uphill section being slightly longer than the downhill part, hence making its way slowly up the hill.

From investigation I presume it could be a Kite????? Anyone know exactly what it was??

 

[DaveN]

Hi everyone,

Was coming back home (Barton-Le-Clay) from Luton Airport and took the back route (through Tea-green and up through Lilley) and just after I got through tea green and past the water-tower there was a large bird of prey in the field/hill to the left (just before you turn north at the crossroads).

The bird was large (at least 1.5m wingspan, shortish body with long dark wings with very light patches under then along the inner section and back edge). It's flight was low (no more than 20 meters) and it would fly a bit uphill then circle round and glide a bit downhill and then turn and repeat the manouvere with each uphill section being slightly longer than the downhill part, hence making its way slowly up the hill.

From investigation I presume it could be a Kite????? Anyone know exactly what it was??

We can't know exactly what it was because only you saw it but it could be a Buzzard.

 

[Kymmy]

We can't know exactly what it was because only you saw it but it could be a Buzzard.

LOL, probably not the best choice of words... Was more wonder if it's a common site in the area and if so whether someone has logged the species before :t:

 

[Quercus]

In that area, the only 2 largish birds of prey you'd expect to see are Red Kite and buzzard.

It sounds more like a buzzard, kites have very distinctive long, forked tails, are a reddish colour and (usually) pale heads, none of which you mention

 

[Quercus]

Ps next time take a wee detour along the M40... you'll see Red Kites!

 

[Kymmy]

Ps next time take a wee detour along the M40... you'll see Red Kites!

Don't often go that way

The reason why I asked is that it was just such a pleasurable surprise to see this bird and really just wondered what it was...after that encounter we now tend to keep a small pair of 12x32 binoculars in the car just in case we see such a sight again...

ThanX guys for your comments B

 

[lockbreeze926]

It certainly sounds like a Buzzard in general and if it was "in the field" in the sense of being on the ground, then it definitely was one; very rare for Red Kite to land/sit on the ground.

 

[JoanT]

It certainly sounds like a Buzzard in general and if it was "in the field" in the sense of being on the ground, then it definitely was one; very rare for Red Kite to land/sit on the ground.

Red Kites are often on the ground. In fact I saw one on the ground this morning. As others have said both Buzzard and Red Kite are the two large raptors.

Joan

 

[Kymmy]

Sorry should have typed OVER and not IN...the bird never landed..just kept doing these offset circles as it powered it's way up part of the field and circline for a shorter gliding section back down

 

[lockbreeze926]

Red Kites are often on the ground. In fact I saw one on the ground this morning. As others have said both Buzzard and Red Kite are the two large raptors.

Joan

My mistake, then - you are quite right, as apparently they do take earthworms as Buzzards do, which would be quite difficult if they never landed!

I have never personally seen any land on the ground and their characteristic behaviour when taking food items (not worms!) that I have observed is to snatch it up and carry it to a tree, rather than consuming it in situ.

 

[Helen O]

Hi John

Joan is correct, kites do land occasionally.

A common sight in the Chilterns is for 20/30 kites following a farmer when he's working the field. All the invertebrates that are churned to the top of the soil are taken for food. This is especially useful during the breeding season, where on one occasion a pair of kites spent the whole day bringing in worms every 10 minutes or so for their chicks to feed on.

Kites will and do also come down to feed on larger prey, although this isn't seen quite as often as when land to pick up worms. Having said that, it does happen in the countryside in quiet places when people are not present.

Additionally, although they will take go and sit in a tree to feed, smaller items are quite often eaten on the wing, this is common amongst kites. If they are in a tree, they run the risk of others attempting to steal the food, although this happens also when in flight.

Here is an example of one of the locals coming down onto the ground in my garden. The bird stayed there for several minutes, before flying off. The kite was a regular so was quite comfortable landing.

 

[Gyrkin]

I come from the same area that you describe and there is no way of telling for sure what you were looking at from your description. The most likely culprit is a buzzard which are now getting to be very common in Beds and Herts and spend a lot of time on the wing soaring on the updrafts. Whilst soaring they appear to be very large with broad round ended wings and a short tail.

I have also seen the occaisonal red kite but sightings are unusual in our part of the country but not impossible. They look larger than a buzzard and the long forked tail and 'crooked' wing makes them very different when in flight from the buzzard.

The other potential bird would be a sparrowhawk. I know that they are small when you see them up close, but they can spend a lot of time soaring and when viewed against a bright sky can look bigger to the casual observer than they really are.

I am also starting to see peregrine falcons on a much more regular basis in our neck of the woods, so you never know...

 

[bitterntwisted]

There's no reason it wouldn't be a Red Kite. I see them very regularly on the downs just the other side of Luton. From the description, though, it's impossible to say whether it was kite or buzzard.

Graham

 

[IanC_UK]

Wonder if these attachments will help, 1st is a Buzzard, second is a Red Kite.

 

[oncebittern]

Whilst a Buzzard is the most likely candidate by a long chalk, let's not forget that Ospreys are heading north at the moment...one was apparently seen at Hemel Hempstead today.

 

[esmondb]

An osprey on the ground in a field? Quartering a field? That would really be the most unlikely scenario

 

[DaveN]

Let's also not forget that the original post was on February 27th. A little early for an Osprey.

 

[oncebittern]

Let's also not forget that the original post was on February 27th. A little early for an Osprey.

Ah - hadn't noticed that :-C

 

[Luke_Herts]

Whilst a Buzzard is the most likely candidate by a long chalk, let's not forget that Ospreys are heading north at the moment...one was apparently seen at Hemel Hempstead today.

Was reported on birdguides i see. MMM. there was a juvenile at piccotts end hemel last summer for ages maybe its back i hope!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[teebies]

Was reported on birdguides i see. MMM. there was a juvenile at piccotts end hemel last summer for ages maybe its back i hope!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi all,

2 hours ago, i did see a redkite, on Eaton Green Rd, which leads to Tea Green village, close to Luton airport. Also there was a redkite sighting about a month ago in a friends back garden close to Luton airport.

It was very exciting, as it was beening chased by other birds.

Teebies