I took this picture a few days ago now at Sculthorpe Moor in Norfolk. I had assumed it was a distant Marsh Harrier at the time. The bird was a long way off and the picture is a very heavy crop. However now looking at it on the computer screen I think I may actually have seen and photographed my first ever Red Kite.
Andrew
Yes, deffo Red Kite - congratulations :)
psst, want to see my blog? http://mazzaswildside.blogspot.co.uk/
Thanks Aiki. Another tick for the book now. :-)
Yeah !!!!
Great spot, they certainly are creeping into Norfolk now :o)
Do you know life's just not fair, i've got one in my area that i can't find and people are taking photos of them without realising what they are lol.
Cracking photo pal and a great spot.
Regards Alan
My photos are on Flickr and Website
Well done, Andrew. You are now officially a member of the Red Kite club. They are spreading all over the place now.
Regards TJ
My Flickr photostream
A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song. (Chinese proverb)
Hi-
Red Kites pass through Norfolk in spring en route to scandinavia and back in autumn. Local birds have spread in from the re-introduction scheme and are presumably breeding.
They are at least as far East as Norwich now.
S
For advice about Birding, Identification,field guides, binoculars, scopes, tripods, etc - put 'Birding Tips' into the search box
Have heard there is one near our home, but haven't seen it yet (Bishops Stortford). Very exciting - they are smashing birds!!
Best Wishes, Rosy
Life should be full of birdsong!
You have beaten me to it. Really hoping to spot Red Kites this summer when I come over to the UK.
Caroline in Jersey
Congratulations Andrew!
I had never seen one until a couple of years ago when we travelled south through Berks and Bucks. TJ told me to look out for a big brown bird, massive wing span, forked tail, gliding on the thermals. I saw so many I lost count! I've seen many since then. Wonderful birds.
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Caroline, I don't know what part of the UK you are visiting. If you are going along the M4 anywhere from about Slough to west of Reading you've a good chance of seeing them. You've an even better chance if you go through the Chilterns along the M40 even as far as Oxford.
The picture tells the story Andrew. The first one is always special.
Thanks everyone and Caroline good luck for the summer spotting - is your passport up tro date?
Great pic, it's that lovely moment when you realise you had something that you didn't know you had. I first saw Red Kites on the M4. I drive a breakdown truck and was picking up a burnt out lorry from the motorway and while working kept getting this huge shadow fly over me. It was the moment that actually rekindled my interest in birds after many years of not really having the time. Have subsequently visited Top Lodge a couple of times and been lucky enough to see plenty of them. Stunning bird.
Slow down, look closer, appreciatte more.
Are you sure your son didn't take it for you? Well done on actually going back toi the photo and checking, quite often we dismiss things like that out of hand - " just another old harrier (insert bird of choice)". I've seen many Red Kites both in the M40 and M4 corridors and in the NorthEast of England. I have yet to see any Harriers (other than jump jets) and am hoping that will change during my Minsmere visit.
Bob, happily retired(-:)
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See my photos here.