Red Kites near M40 in Oxfordshire? (1 Viewer)

[Linwolf]

On a drive down to London and back over the last few days I spotted a number (at least 8) of birds of prey over a distance of a few miles in the M40/Oxfordshire area.

Sorry no pics but they clearly had the white patches on the underside of the wings and the forked tail.

Am I right? are they Red Kites?

 

[White*Kite]

They probably are, as they're quite a common sight in that area due to being reintroduced from Continental stock. Certainly if they had a long forked tail they can't be anything else! Beautiful birds, my favourite. =)

 

[paul goode]

On a drive down to London and back over the last few days I spotted a number (at least 8) of birds of prey over a distance of a few miles in the M40/Oxfordshire area.

Sorry no pics but they clearly had the white patches on the underside of the wings and the forked tail.

Am I right? are they Red Kites?

Hi,

Yes they are Red Kites. The Chilterns is one of the best places in the country to see them. This area was one of the first reintroduction schemes and the population is doing very well.

Regards

Paul Goode

 

[JWN Andrewes]

Highest density along the M40 seems to be around J5.

James

 

[Linwolf]

Thanks

 

[lockbreeze926]

Highest density along the M40 seems to be around J5.

James

On a good day, if you leave the M40 at J5 and head five miles or so in virtually any direction, you can have 50 kites without leaving the car. I've heard people having 80 in the same circumstances and roosting numbers in winter much higher again.

It's an astonishing success story and so welcome in Britain's tamed landscape.

 

[Brenty]

On a good day, if you leave the M40 at J5 and head five miles or so in virtually any direction, you can have 50 kites without leaving the car. I've heard people having 80 in the same circumstances and roosting numbers in winter much higher again.

It's an astonishing success story and so welcome in Britain's tamed landscape.

There's a nice Nature Reserve nearby called Aston Rowant which is on the escarpment and give fantatsic views of the Kites. The woods on the reserve are full of blue bells in Spring.

 

[The Barn Owl]

On a good day, if you leave the M40 at J5 and head five miles or so in virtually any direction, you can have 50 kites without leaving the car.

And what a fantastic sight it is! Only been once and we went expecting that we might see 1 or 2 if we were very lucky. Didn't take long to prove us wrong. At least 50 in a few minutes, with 12 in the same view at one point. Magic

Sam

 

[ashrich]

There's a nice Nature Reserve nearby called Aston Rowant which is on the escarpment and give fantatsic views of the Kites. The woods on the reserve are full of blue bells in Spring.

Also quite good for passage Ring Ouzel in spring , as for the Red Kites , well I see loads every day as I live in the heart of the area , we also get more than our fair share of Buzzards as well , not uncommon to see 10 up at a time .

Ashley

 

[Chris Monk]

Web site for all things Kite

For further information on the Red Kite in the UK try the Welsh Kite Trust web site:

http://www.gigrin.co.uk/w/index.htm

It has news on all the reintroduction projects in England and Scotland as well as the revival in fortunes of the Welsh Kites.

 

[ColD]

Last November saw a flock of 40+ whilst heading out of London at the Stokenchurch junction M40 all low across the motorway a brilliant sight. Have seen them near Buckingham and Bicester also

 

[Chris Monk]

Good book on Kites

For further information on the Red Kite in the UK try the Welsh Kite Trust web site:

http://www.gigrin.co.uk/w/index.htm

It has news on all the reintroduction projects in England and Scotland as well as the revival in fortunes of the Welsh Kites.

Also, The Red Kite by Ian Carter, Arlequin Press is a good read.