With all of the excitement of this year new chicks, sometimes I think the original birds from last year can be a bit forgotten. Today, though, I had great views of red kite 30, released in July 2007. Somehow kite 30 has ended up without a name, and today our very own 'Jane Doe' flew up in front of my car as I was out radio-tracking on local back roads. She landed in a neighboring field still with the half rabbit leg she had foraged. I was able to easily read the wing tags with my binoculars and then had a quick opportunity to admire what a beautiful adult she has become. The slick silver-grey head, forked red tail and newly moulted red trousers look awesome in the autumn sunshine - yet another time when I wished I had my camera with me!
I left her to enjoy her lunch though, while I headed off to find my own.
With the bright and sunny days that we had in early-September a lot of the newly released red kites left the area immediately around the release site and headed off for an explore. The fun since then has been in trying to find them!
Whilst down at the Scottish Red Kite Meeting this week though a couple found us! At Argaty Red Kites in amongst the 25 or so red kites that waiting for feeding time were two Aberdeen birds. We saw Stinky Pete (28) sitting in a dead tree and heard newly released 49 using the radio transceiver. 49 had also been seen at the weekend, feeding on worms in the fields.
I'm so pleased that our birds have found a great new place to hang out. Argaty now has a warm visitor centre with very welcome hot chocolate!