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  • A Sad Farewell

    It is with much sadness that we have to report the death of one of our best loved kites. 'Special K' (so named after the letter on his wing tag and because he was a serial visitor) was often to be found hanging around the centre. If you visited...

  • Wonderful Winter Walks

    We are now into November, so it is time once again for Top Lodge to start up our exceedingly popular series of walks to see the red kites coming into roost. Many places around the country have feeding stations that attract kites to allow people to see...

  • And they are off.....

    The kite chicks that is. They have finally taken the plunge and are now no longer on the nest. over the last couple of weeks they had only been appearing at infrequent intervals. Usually just after the parents had dropped some food off at the nest. Mum...

  • Hop to it!

    If you've been meaning to come to Top Lodge to see the kite chicks on the nest, you'd better get your skates on. The three chicks are getting ever more adventuresome. In preparation for their first flight they have taken to 'branch hopping'...
    Published 07-06-2009 2:24 PM by chris andrews

  • I am not a number!

    I'm a free...... kite? Our three red kite chicks are now sporting their very fetching wing tags. These light plastic tags clip over the kites' wings and allow them to be identified from a distance. Reports of their movements will help us understand...
    Published 06-18-2009 2:59 PM by chris andrews

  • One out, all out!

    The great news from the centre is that our blue tits have fledged. Of the eight chicks, four left yesterday and the remaining ones left today. They can still be seen around the centre though, being fed by their parents. As can other baby birds such as...
    Published 06-05-2009 3:23 PM by chris andrews

  • Lets go spy a kite

    I'm pleased to announce that the red kite nest camera is back up and running, with three fluffy chicks on the nest. They look to be about a fortnight old and we look forward to watching them grow up, probably leaving the nest towards the end of July...
    Published 05-29-2009 12:21 PM by chris andrews

  • 'Special K' becomes a visitors' favourite

    If you come to the Top Lodge centre you may very well see a kite drifting overhead. If you do, chances are it will be the bird that has been nicknamed 'Special K'. Why the odd name? Well, it is really called Purple K, the name referring to the...
    Published 04-10-2009 4:08 PM by chris andrews

  • Christmas is coming..

    But we certainly are not getting fat. In fact we are busier than ever with two exciting events to prepare for. This Sunday sees the start of our red kite roost walk season. We are running walks to see the entirely natural spectacle of red kites coming...
    Published 11-12-2008 1:38 PM by chris andrews

  • An eventful time

    Today is a busy day for us here at Top Lodge, as we are holding a 'Meet the RSPB' event. Visitors can come along to hear about all the marvelous work the RSPB does, both locally with the red kites and also across the rest of the country and internationally...
    Published 08-24-2008 12:37 PM by chris andrews

  • A clean sweep

    In the last post to this blog we reported that the eldest chick had flown the nest. We are pleased to announce that all three chicks are now airborne. The youngest chick hung on in the nest for ages, but finally went on 11 July. The chicks do reappear...
    Published 07-14-2008 10:07 AM by chris andrews

  • We have lift off!

    The exciting news is that the eldest chick is now airborne. It has been keeping us all on tenterhooks for the past few days by hopping around on branches near the nest and disappearing from view. But finally on Monday it took the plunge and made its maiden...
    Published 07-02-2008 10:59 AM by chris andrews

  • Out on a limb

    The chicks are still in the nest, but the largest one is getting increasingly adventurous. When its not too windy it often spends time hopping out onto branches next to the nest, and then vigourously flapping. Probably much to the relief of its siblings...
    Published 06-24-2008 11:23 AM by chris andrews

  • In a flap

    The chicks are continuing to grow, and are fast losing their downy white feathers for something more adult looking. They've also taken to standing on the edge of the nest, vigourously exercising their wings. All very important to build up muscles...
    Published 06-16-2008 4:26 PM by chris andrews

  • My, haven't they grown!

    A common sound to be heard whenever children visit relatives, but equally true for our kite chicks. Seeing them every day, you don't appreciate how quickly they are growing in size, but having just come back from 4 days off the increase was quite...
    Published 06-04-2008 4:30 PM by chris andrews
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