Red Kites in Shropshire

DXP55

DXP55

DXP55

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Shropshire
Out in front garden and looked up at what I first thought was a Buzzard but as it circled round at chimney top height it was a Red Kite-
I have seen them down by Oxford but never seen one in Shropshire.
Effortless flight just riding on the breeze.

ps -after a bit of searching it seems as though it was a juvenile -had a lot of grey in it - we get loads of Buzzards so we know their shape and this seems definitely a Kite. -

At the time I was out the front it was because UPVC window man was here and as soon as I pointed he said Kite as well.

Not seen a sparrow hawk or barn owl since we have been here or even bats all of which we had at old house.
 
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We were surprised at how many we see on the M40 last week. Must have been 15 in a 5 miles stretch.
 
A fair few seagulls around here, which initially struck me as odd since here is about as far from the sea as it's possible to get in Britain. Apparently Stoke on Trent is manky enough to attract scavengers of all kinds, including seagulls. Which didn't surprise me.
 
I find the unneccessary capital B in buzzard to be both alarming but also pretty hot. Like magma*

* Magma is the molten or semi-molten natural material from which all igneous rocks are formed. Magma is found beneath the surface of the Earth, and evidence of magmatism has also been discovered on other terrestrial planets and some natural satellites.
 
Angilion said:
A fair few seagulls around here, which initially struck me as odd since here is about as far from the sea as it's possible to get in Britain. Apparently Stoke on Trent is manky enough to attract scavengers of all kinds, including seagulls. Which didn't surprise me.
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seagulls are the new pidgeons and up north they learnt to tear open binbags to find food
 
Bucks here, red kites are everywhere and they're not shy either. I've often seen them swooping down to grab something from gardens, roadside and pub gardens!

We also get lots of seagulls, poop machines aiming for the car. :mad:
 
Kites are a plenty down here and gorgeous, very vocal!

See them squabbling with Crows, Magpies and Seagulls who try to ward them off. Nothing comes off it, they tend to fight by bearing their claws at the intruder before they get close, its quite a sight to watch.
 
Yeah kites can't really be mistaken.
That silhouette is distinctive.

If you're interested there's a red kite feeding station in mid Wales where you can pay a small amount to watch 100+ swoop down.
It's quite a spectacle.

We get them all over mid and south Wales. Used to have loads in Lincolnshire too. They are doing very well.
 
413x said:
Yeah kites can't really be mistaken.
That silhouette is distinctive.

If you're interested there's a red kite feeding station in mid Wales where you can pay a small amount to watch 100+ swoop down.
It's quite a spectacle.

We get them all over mid and south Wales. Used to have loads in Lincolnshire too. They are doing very well.
Click to expand...

I've been to the feeding station. It is rather spectacular!

A heron turned up and started guzzling scraps, which was pretty cool.
 
They're spreading all around the UK slowly. Even seen one flying above my house where I live in Southampton, though they're not regular visitors just yet. Very common a bit further North. I get to soar with Buzzards and Kites whilst gliding at Lasham.

Still waiting to see one of the Sea Eagles that were released on the Isle of Wight a few years ago.
 
Love Red Kites. Where my partner is from in Wales they have loads of them always about. There is a butcher in Talgarth that often throws out old cuts of meat and it's not uncommon to see about 15-20 birds in the sky.

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Terrible photo on my phone but there were loads around this day but I could only get 3 in the shot

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I lied. I have 5 here
 
Absolutely loads where I live, seem to see more of them than pigeons. Have some large trees near the back of my back garden, I see them perched there sometimes, see them fly along at my roof level. They are primarily scavengers, feeding on bits people leave in gardens or put out for other birds. The Mrs has a habit of leaving scraps out or throwaway food, which attracts all sorts including foxes and monk jack deer. The funniest I have seen is a squirrel trying to drag away a chicken drumstick.

Red kites look amazing when they come down to road level - like you can be driving along and in front of you they fly up from some roadkill on the road, at that distance they seem quite big with their wings fully open (if that's the correct term).
 
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