Just interested to know how far they're spreading now. Being based in Reading, they're very common- I see at least one or two every day- but they definitely seem to be moving southwards. The furthest south I've seen one was in Winchester a few years ago. The northern population seems to be spreading as well. Is there any part of the UK that they aren't beginning to reach?
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Red kite range? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Seatallen
- Start date
david kelly
Getting grizzlier.
Not sure how far they are spreading, but I've also seen plenty in Reading, awesome birds.
Stevie babe
Well-known member
Agree they are now relatively common in the Reading area. Reading / Wokingham areas seem to be a defined limit on their south and eastward spread. Almost as marked as crossing into Dorset from Hampshire knowing that you will now see Buzzards.
I've heard there are one or two breeding pairs of Red Kites in West Sussex and Surrey but not seen them there yet.
I've heard there are one or two breeding pairs of Red Kites in West Sussex and Surrey but not seen them there yet.
I love them. Only this morning two flew very low over the garden. It seems amazing that it's been such a short time since the local introduction. The first time I saw one (flying over the car near Watlington Hill) I couldn't believe it!
As I say, I have seen one in Winchester (flew over the hospital when I was visiting my now departed dad) which suggests they're moving southwards.
Was interested in the comment about buzzards though- are they that uncommon in Hampshire then? I've seen a fair old few up on the downs around Winchester (old stamping ground) and there's plenty on the Berkshire downs.
As I say, I have seen one in Winchester (flew over the hospital when I was visiting my now departed dad) which suggests they're moving southwards.
Was interested in the comment about buzzards though- are they that uncommon in Hampshire then? I've seen a fair old few up on the downs around Winchester (old stamping ground) and there's plenty on the Berkshire downs.
Mike Price
Well-known member
Not seen one around the north peak district yet, though with the current levels of persecution it would probably be poisoned or shoot long before we got to see it. 
Just been reading about the Galloway Kites and they have moved to Northern Ireland, Kintyre, Stirlingshire and even Oxfordshire.
http://www.gallowaykitetrail.com/tracking-red-kites-ken-bridge-hotel-i31.html
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burnsomebridges
Active member
I spotted one this afternoon just north of Winchester, Hampshire and have seen several around Marlborough in Wiltshire.
Helen O
Anything that flies
Hello everyone
I receive dozens and dozens of emails about sightings of kites from all over the country Many of them are in the far south west including Devon and Cornwall.
For obvious reasons, with any wing tags, it is impossible to from where they originate - perhaps from the Welsh stock, the Chilterns, or elsewhere.
I receive dozens and dozens of emails about sightings of kites from all over the country Many of them are in the far south west including Devon and Cornwall.
For obvious reasons, with any wing tags, it is impossible to from where they originate - perhaps from the Welsh stock, the Chilterns, or elsewhere.
alan_rymer
Well-known member
From Helens site:
http://www.redkites.net/index.html
Colour of tag on LEFT wing:
Chilterns ...................Yellow
East Midlands .......... White
Yorkshire ..................Orange
Wales ...................... Black
Central Scotland ...... Red
North Scotland ......... Blue
Dumfries & Galloway..Green
North East England .. Pink
Aberdeen ..................Purple
Right wing:
1999 - Black
2000 - Pink
2001 - Blue
2002 – White
2003 – Red
2004 – Yellow
2005 - Orange
2006 – Green
2007 - Purple
2008 - Black
2009 - Pink
Helen O
Anything that flies
Hi Alan, long time no see!
Although all kite sightings are welcome, it is those with wing tags which are of particular interest, for obvious reasons. However, if the numbers/letters are not easily read, at least the colours indicate the originating area.
An important observation (apart from the numbers) is noting which wing carries a specific colour. For example, does the left wing contains a yellow wing tag with a black strip, and the right wing contain a black one with a yellow strip, this indicates a 2008 Chilterns bird. Vice versa tells us it would be a 2004 bird from Wales. Hence the importance of which wing contains which coloured tag
I do, however, forward any sightings that are of potential significance to the relevant contacts in other reintroduction areas, ensuring those interested parties are aware of sightings of 'their' kites.
Bluejam - I hope to put this info eventually onto the website, it is on my list of 'things to do'!
Although all kite sightings are welcome, it is those with wing tags which are of particular interest, for obvious reasons. However, if the numbers/letters are not easily read, at least the colours indicate the originating area.
An important observation (apart from the numbers) is noting which wing carries a specific colour. For example, does the left wing contains a yellow wing tag with a black strip, and the right wing contain a black one with a yellow strip, this indicates a 2008 Chilterns bird. Vice versa tells us it would be a 2004 bird from Wales. Hence the importance of which wing contains which coloured tag
I do, however, forward any sightings that are of potential significance to the relevant contacts in other reintroduction areas, ensuring those interested parties are aware of sightings of 'their' kites.
Bluejam - I hope to put this info eventually onto the website, it is on my list of 'things to do'!
stuart C smith
swansong
last year we [reading area] had 24 overhead at one time, today two flew down into my garden to rob the crows of food, always four or five overhead most days.
deborah4
Well-known member
Still a very scarce breeding pair here. They first bred in 2004. Juveniles of one regular breeding pair in 2008 were fitted with radio/wing tags - yellow/left wing, black/right wing and labelled 'K' and 'L'. Another 2008 Sussex offspring of one of our breeding pairs, B2 and B3, was radio/wingtagged and labeled 'M'. A third breeding pair was non productive.
A total of 101 different records of RK for E/W Sussex in 2008, with peak periods May and November including several tagged birds from outside the County including:
Yellow '5'/green (southern england 2006)
White '58'/purple (east midlands 2007)
Blue 'R'/purple (black isle, Scotland 2007)
(source SBR)
alan_rymer
Well-known member
Hi Helen
I still look out for all your posting about the Kites. You're doing good work!
Still got the Zeiss?
Alan
