Red Kites in Surrey (1 Viewer)

[michaelpeer]

Having not seen red kites south of the M4 I was surprised to see one over Albury in Surrey in early May. A week later I was in my garden in Ewhurst, not far from the border with west sussex and about five miles south of Albury, when I saw one over my house about 20 metres up and circling over the pet rabbits in a wire mesh pen in our next door garden. In mid May a kite was circling over Ewhurst church being mobbed by two crows. I have not seen one since - could this be the same bird exploring new territory?

 

[ktw]

red kite in surrey

I live in Walliswood, and twice this week I have seen a large male circling our fields! Amazing

 

[June Atkinson]

Red Kites exploring new territory


Both of these instances suggest that kites from a re-introduction - probably the Chilterns rather than South Wales - are dispersing in the hope of finding new territory for themselves.

Have a look at this map which gives the order in which kites have been re-introduced. http://www.friendsofredkites.org.uk/page6.htm
Cumbria also re-introduced some in Grizedale Forest from 2011 and a group of kites was relocated to near Inverness recently.
Have a look here to see the colour codes for each group and each year.
http://www.friendsofredkites.org.uk/page11.htm

I live in Walliswood, and twice this week I have seen a large male circling our fields! Amazing

 

[Amarillo]

Both of these instances suggest that kites from a re-introduction - probably the Chilterns rather than South Wales - are dispersing in the hope of finding new territory for themselves.

I hope they are spreading because they are starting to reach quite unnatural densities in some places. Where I live in Didcot, South Oxfordshire they are constantly above the town and I think too many people are feeding them. Someone a few doors down from me certainly does and we regularly have a flock of 20+ circling over the garden,, which is nice to see, but I'd rather they spread further afield than reached these kind of densities.

 

[Tony Price]

Red Kite in Blackpool.

I saw a Red Kite this morning over the M55 in Kirkham near Blackpool. I have only seen them along the M4 corridor previously although I did see two near Cambridge last week. To see one up hear was amazing but I couldn't believe my eyes so I googled it and found that other people who post on here had seen one in roughly the same area in 2011.

 

[EmgeeOne]

Having not seen red kites south of the M4 I was surprised to see one over Albury in Surrey in early May. A week later I was in my garden in Ewhurst, not far from the border with west sussex and about five miles south of Albury, when I saw one over my house about 20 metres up and circling over the pet rabbits in a wire mesh pen in our next door garden. In mid May a kite was circling over Ewhurst church being mobbed by two crows. I have not seen one since - could this be the same bird exploring new territory?

Interesting reading this-I saw single Red Kite over Albury two weeks ago (September 2013),the first I have seen in Surrey and near the hill road leading up towards Farley Green.The road often has a number of pheasant casualties from passing traffic and this carrion may have proved the attraction.

 

[joannec]

Having not seen red kites south of the M4 I was surprised to see one over Albury in Surrey in early May. A week later I was in my garden in Ewhurst, not far from the border with west sussex and about five miles south of Albury, when I saw one over my house about 20 metres up and circling over the pet rabbits in a wire mesh pen in our next door garden. In mid May a kite was circling over Ewhurst church being mobbed by two crows. I have not seen one since - could this be the same bird exploring new territory?

Red Kites have breed in West Sussex and come from the dispersed Chilterns re-introductions. Some are tagged but many are not and they can be seen almost anywhere in Sussex now. The breeding population is probably set to expand.

 

[Farnboro John]

It may be worth remembering that the Red Kite was a very common sight in towns in medieval times so the densities being described are perhaps not that odd - though the poster may be distressed to think that Red Kites find not much has changed in the Chilterns since.

John

 

[Helen O]

Just to let you know, the kites are seen regularly in Surrey, and beyond, I receive dozens and dozens of emails reporting sightings from all over the UK, and beyond,including Europe and the North Sea!

Mid May is late, most of them are already nesting by then.

By their very nature, kites will congregate in large numbers when there is a food source.