After the excitements of our hunting Peregrine pair last Saturday at the rock, my pulse had only just returned to normal on Monday, when a flying visit sent it rocketing skyward once again. Standing on the viewpoint at Monday lunchtime, something caught my eye circling high above the rock – a pair of Red Kites. I lived in the Wye Valley for two years, yet I never saw one, let alone two. The Red Kite (Milvus milvus) is an iconic bird, which fills me with unassailable joy each time I see them in flight.
Almost the entire world breeding population of 18,000-24,000 breeding pairs is in Europe, with a few tens of pairs in Morocco. Around two thirds of the birds breed in Germany, with significant populations in France and Spain.
The small remnant population that survived the persecution in the old oakwoods of mid-Wales has spread, but is still restricted within Wales. In England the reintroduced birds can be found in the Buckinghamshire/Oxfordshire area, in Northamptonshire (right next door to where I went to school!) and in Yorkshire north of Leeds.
The Scottish population is centered around the release sites in Dumfries and Galloway, Stirling-shire and west Perthshire, around Black Isle in Ross-shire, and on the outskirts of Aberdeen City.
Non-breeding birds are regularly seen in all parts of Britain, and have recently become regular visitors to Northern Ireland. The English and Scottish breeding populations are expanding only slowly from the population centers, resulting in high densities of birds within the core areas.
In 2003 there were around 625-675 breeding pairs in Britain - 350-400 in Wales, 220 in England and 57 in Scotland.
British kites are mainly sedentary, although juvenile birds range widely during the winter months (records have been received as far as Spain and Portugal), returning the following spring to the area they fledged from. Small numbers of continental migrants are regularly seen in southern and eastern Britain during spring.
It difficult to say for sure where the Red Kites we saw on Monday came from, but my guess is that they’re non-breeding birds from the Welsh population, that are slowly spreading over the border into the Marches. May they long continue to do so.
Dear Ed, On the way down to Cornwall by train mid-may I saw two Red Kites, both in Berkshire. One soaring over Reading Train station the other soaring about 2 miles further west. I'd heard they were making a come-back. It was a thrill to see them.
Hi
I saw a Red Kite at Thetford Forest in Norfolk on 23rd May while driving through in the car. Perhaps one of the continental birds? Unfortunately views were brief, so not sure of age.
Hi Ed,
Chris Griffin's Mum here! Phil and I saw a lone red kite fly over our garden nr Ellesmere, Shropshire about a month ago. As we're in the Welsh Marches, I assume that they are beginning to widen their territory. Perhaps we'll be seeing them more regularly in future - I do hope so!
Great blog, very interesting. Glad all is going well there.
Hi Ed
Steve Watson here - after the amazing day on June 4 2011 I wrote to various friends and acquaintances with a detailed account of the hunting on that red-letter day. In summary there were 13 hunting flights, all at high intensity, and of those 5 successful captures. All the hunts were visible from the viewpoint and that is what makes Symonds Yat such a first class site for witnessing the amazing flight capabilities of these wonderful, powerful raptors.
On the subject of Red Kites, Jemima Parry-Jones emailed me to say that she has seen 5 over Newent this year and some interacted with her Eagles!
It was good to see you again up at the Rock on Saturday.
sparrow15 - It is a thrill to see them. You're quite right. The Chilterns birds have moved into Berkshire proper now and are a common sight there.
sussex birder - Could have been a continental bird or maybe one of the Northamptonshire troop?
Mary - Great to hear from you! I'm glad you're enjoying the blog. It sounds like you had one of the Welsh birds over you. Sightings are increasing regularly along the Marches.
Steve - A pleasure as ever. JPJ's sighting is of particular interest, as she has made a point of saying how significant it was. I'm sure she's more clued-up than anyone else with regard to raptor sightings in the area, as I'm certain many people contact her with what's about. See you soon.
3 weeks ago, there was a group of about 8 Kites over a school in Woodley Berks, and they are often seen in two's or three's over that area.
There are so many over Didcot, i decided they were massing for an attack...as in The Birds!
I often see them over Reading West where my Dad lives.
Margaret (Bournemouth)