Red kite Leicestershire (1 Viewer)

[abellemed]

Anyone see the red kite which I saw whilst driving home at about 4.50pm today near Stoney Stanton? It was flapping slowly upwards above farmland and I got a good view of forked tail, so knew it couldn't be anything else. (Must admit I've looked at a few videos online though, as I knew it wasn't a buzzard, since I got home, just to be sure!)
Will keep an eye open on way to work tomorrow, in case it is still around and not en route elsewhere (hopefully avoiding driving into ditch as I nearly did this afternoon).

 

[Adey Baker]

There's occasionally sightings reported in the general area (such as yesterday on this website: http://www.burbagebirders.co.uk/Sightings1.htm near Desford) so it's always worth keeping an eye upwards - so long as you don't indeed drive into a ditch.

Where precisely were you 'near Stoney Stanton' - I work at Stanton and always keep one eye on any bird activity, when safe to do so!

 

[abellemed]

There's occasionally sightings reported in the general area (such as yesterday on this website: http://www.burbagebirders.co.uk/Sightings1.htm near Desford) so it's always worth keeping an eye upwards - so long as you don't indeed drive into a ditch.

Where precisely were you 'near Stoney Stanton' - I work at Stanton and always keep one eye on any bird activity, when safe to do so!

I had just left before the Sapcote Garden Centre corner towards Stanton and was approaching the first farmhouse on the right hand side of the road when I saw it over the fields on left hand side of road, where normally I see quite a few rooks gathering. I was immediately struck by the large raptor size, wing-beat and generally it being an unusual sighting.
I don't normally post (work full time in NHS, have large demanding veg patch/garden and loads of DIY on house) but this time I felt it imperative!
I've always been a keen birdwatcher, having in past gone up to W Scotland just to see eiders/eagles/g northern divers etc... and am a lapsed RSPB member. I've followed the Loch Garten ospreys since being online and am waiting for EJ & Odin's eggs to hatch... Just out of interest, I never knew about the Burbage site so I will visit it in a minute! Maybe I will be encouraged to post more often due to your kind reply as it has given me a bit of confidence!
Eileen

 

[Adey Baker]

Not sure that all of the reports on the Burbage site are always 'fully authenticated' (being polite!) but with a bird like Red Kite it should be OK. As you saw the forked tail on a large bird of prey then your sighting is fine - the only other possibility being Black Kite which doesn't have such a noticeable fork in the tail and is extremely rare in Leics.

I work full time and also tend my allotment on my way home from work!

This Birdforum thread is for any sightings you may like to read about in Leics and Rutland: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=122923 and the Leics and Rutland Ornithlogical Society latest news page here: http://www.lros.org.uk/News.htm is always worth a quick look to see what's about that's considered newsworthy.

Incidentally, I saw a Red Kite (below) myself over The Outwoods, Burbage back in June 2006, so there's always a chance of one somewhere or other:

 

[birstel]

kite sighting

Kite seen over western part of Birstall in Leics, gliding overhead quite low heading in a southerly direction at 09.33 hrs on 5th July 2009. Was anybody else priviledged to see it ?

 

[Steve Lister]

Red Kites have been seen more frequently than usual in central Leics this spring/summer, maybe just one bird wandering around though.
Let me know your name and I will add the record to the society files.
And welcome to BirdForum.

Steve

 

[P.C]

Kite seen on 5th July

Kite seen over western part of Birstall in Leics, gliding overhead quite low heading in a southerly direction at 09.33 hrs on 5th July 2009. Was anybody else priviledged to see it ?

I saw my first Kite on Sunday 5th July around 13:00 over Welham.
I identified it by the shape of the tail and was so eager to view it with my binoculars that I never considered zooming in with my camera and taking photo!

 

[totaljohn]

saw my first red kite from a train somewhere just south of market harborough (about) a couple of years ago actually.. about 30ft up by the tracks..

 

[Andy 99]

I've now seen a red kite on five occasions in Burbage

 

[Adey Baker]

I've now seen a red kite on five occasions in Burbage

This thread dates from 2009 and in the intervening 12 years Red Kites have become much more common over the county and are seen frequently in our area. They're on my 'garden list' and are regularly reported around Hinckley, though they're not quite up to Buzzard numbers yet!

 

[Bermazza]

I live in Earl Shilton and I'm sure they're Red Kites or Buzzards but I've just seen about 8-10. Definitely minimal 8 together flying above me near Church Street! It's amazing to see that many together, they must be a family. I'm finding it hard to distinguish between the 2 birds as the sun makes my eyes water even with my binoculars it's hard!

 

[Bermazza]

I live in Earl Shilton and I'm sure they're Red Kites or Buzzards but I've just seen about 8-10. Definitely minimal 8 together flying above me near Church Street! It's amazing to see that many together, they must be a family. I'm finding it hard to distinguish between the 2 birds as the sun makes my eyes water even with my binoculars it's hard!

Think they're more likely buzzards, I'm going to look at the tails next time!

 

[KC Foggin]

I'm just going to jump in here and wish you a warm welcome to you from those of us on staff here at BirdForum
We're glad you found us and please join in wherever you like

 

[Kits]

Welcome to Birdforum. I hope you enjoy your visits.

 

[PeteHod]

Think they're more likely buzzards, I'm going to look at the tails next time!

On Monday 1/11/21 at about 3:30pm I'm sure I saw 2 Red Kites in the Rempstone/Hoton area, flying over the chicken farm. They definitely had the forked tails and were gliding. Having spent the previous week in Mid Wales looking at them (30 at one point) the birds seen this week looked identical.

 

[Andy 99]

Not sure that all of the reports on the Burbage site are always 'fully authenticated' (being polite!) but with a bird like Red Kite it should be OK. As you saw the forked tail on a large bird of prey then your sighting is fine - the only other possibility being Black Kite which doesn't have such a noticeable fork in the tail and is extremely rare in Leics.

I work full time and also tend my allotment on my way home from work!

This Birdforum thread is for any sightings you may like to read about in Leics and Rutland: Leicestershire and Rutland Birding/Local Patches and the Leics and Rutland Ornithlogical Society latest news page here: http://www.lros.org.uk/News.htm is always worth a quick look to see what's about that's considered newsworthy.

Incidentally, I saw a Red Kite (below) myself over The Outwoods, Burbage back in June 2006, so there's always a chance of one somewhere or other:

I can confirm I've seen a red kite on four occasions in Burbage, and I know the difference between this and eg a buzzard.
Best regards
Andy Clayton

 

[Adey Baker]

I can confirm I've seen a red kite on four occasions in Burbage, and I know the difference between this and eg a buzzard.
Best regards
Andy Clayton

You're replying to a comment from 12 years ago, Andy. As I commented earlier this year in post #10 in this thread they've become much more common and are hardly worth reporting nowadays (apart from sending records into LROS along with any other common birds that you make a note of )