Red Kite in Hanslope?

[Mrs Trackside]

Gary and myself were just out in the back garden when a large bird came flying through the tree (literally).

It was definitely a bird of prey, about the size of a raven (maybe slightly smaller) with a red breast and white under wings. At first I thought it was a kestrel (it was those sort of colours), but something about it wasn't kestrel like, but I can't put my finger on what.

I've only seen one red kite and that was about 10 years ago at London zoo. So what's the chances of seeing a red kite near Milton Keynes?

[Blipi]

Did it have a forked tail?

[pupp]

See quite a few in this area (East Northants), but adult birds are much bigger than a Raven or Crow. Skin will have some ideas

[Mrs Trackside]

That definitely looks similar, but the wings had more white on them. I'm not sure whether it had a forked tail, it moved to quick for either of us to make a proper mental note of it before it flew away.

[350wedge]

Red Kites are beautiful birds and very large when adult size. There are a lot around High Wycombe area and the surrounding Chilterns, even out as far as Aylesbury occasionally. I dont think I've ever seen one around MK though. They tend to circle very High up then swoop down on their prey. I'm no expert on them but i think they go for animals on the ground rather than birds.

[Mrs Trackside]

This one flew down very suddenly, I don't know where it came from, but as it flew through the tree it clipped it's wing on a branch. It was aiming for (I assume) a group of birds because the birds started making a hell of commotion in the garden it flew into. Then it took off and sat in the tree it had clipped it's wing on for about a minute before it took off and flew further into the village.

It's back was similar to a kestrel and I remember being able to see where it had clipped it's wing, but I can't remember if it's wings were "fingered" like the ones in the photos.

What other birds of prey have red breasts, apart from Robins? It definitely wasn't a robin.

I've found this picture which gives me a comparison of size. I'd say the size of the bird's body is about right, but the wing span looks wider than I noticed the bird in my garden had



This is a juvenile red kite and the size and colouring are definitely similar (although the red on the breast was brighter)

[muppetdave]

I've been up and down the A40 a fair bit recently and have seen heaps of Red Kites - I saw two circling together the day after boxing day. I'd have thought it would be fairly likely you'd have seen one around MK

[mark r skinner]

Dunno how far you are from the Chilterns Mrs T, but that`s the location of one of the reintroduction programmes. The other local area is Fineshade woods, up the A43, NE of Corby. A good friend of mine works on the project and he says 2006 was the best breeding season to date. "Size of a Raven" ????? There`s no Ravens in Northants. The best size comparison is with a Common Buzzard. Both birds are a similar size, but the Kite has longer, narrower wings, and the forked tail should be obvious.
As for the "red breast".....possibly a male Sparrowhawk ? Similar size to a Kestrel and sometimes chase small birds in back gardens (which Kestrels never do). Also note- Sparrowhawks are only half the size of Red Kites.
HTH

[dougc]

I've seen a couple of these just South of MK, a little closer than I would have liked at altitude on a run back from Sywell to White Waltham airfield. We had to navigate around them at about 1500ft as Red Kite vs single prop light aircraft is only going to end in damage to both parties. They were circling in wide loops and had no intention of getting out of the way. Much bigger than I was expecting when we got close to them.

[mark r skinner]

Something like www.english-nature.co.uk/redkite I think???

[Mrs Trackside]

Here's where we are in conjunction with the Chilterns. I've put a red cross near the top of the map and written in what looks like a 5 year olds hand "Hanslope". The chilterns are on the bottom of the map and below

[mark r skinner]

Looks like you`re nearer to the Chiltern birds, although I don`t know the specific release area. Is my Kite id any use ?

[Mrs Trackside]

mark r skinner said:

"Size of a Raven" ????? There`s no Ravens in Northants. The best size comparison is with a Common Buzzard. Both birds are a similar size, but the Kite has longer, narrower wings, and the forked tail should be obvious.
As for the "red breast".....possibly a male Sparrowhawk ? Similar size to a Kestrel and sometimes chase small birds in back gardens (which Kestrels never do). Also note- Sparrowhawks are only half the size of Red Kites.
HTH

I couldn't think of another bird to compare it to apart from a raven. I grew up in London and I've seen quite a lot of ravens (including the ones at the tower). They're a large bird!!

I don't think I've seen a buzzard, but looking at this picture, it's a similar size to a raven (maybe slightly bigger), but that's close to the size of the bird we saw.



This is a sparrow hawk, right? It's much too small. The bird was definitely bigger than this

[mark r skinner]

Correct. And that`s a female Sparrowhawk. (larger than the male and no "red breast"
A quick delve into "Collins" reveals - "A boyant and leisurely flight, with constant twisting of tail" Lengh 61-72cm Wingspan 140-165cm.

[Mrs Trackside]

This bird is very similar in size (maybe slightly bigger), shape and colouring, but the breast was definitely very obviously red, like a russett colour, similar to the colour where this birds shoulder/chesty bit meets it's head (I've circled it in lilac to make it easier to identify)

[Mrs Trackside]

This site's got a better picture of a common buzzard and a raven with the same person, and the pictures are above and below each other to make comparison easier

www.millenniumschools.co.uk/pub/cumbria/scotby/f.html?1140603890

I can't honestly say I remember our bird having a large (over five foot) wingspan though!

[Mrs Trackside]

Found this!!

See the bird that the man with the white hair is holding, on the right hand side of the screen, second picture down. Well that's very similar, but the chest was "more red"

www.powderham.co.uk/Visiting/birds-of-prey-Powderham.htm

[mark r skinner]

You`re getting me confused now! Trouble is, these pics don`t show the birds in natural postures or surroundings. Add to that the light in photos is ALWAYS inconsistent. (That`s why the best field guides are illustrated with acrylic paint)
Wonder if it`s possible to google a kite watchpoint in the Chilterns ? I know a good place near Corby that`s had a count of seventy (70) birds at this time of year....

[mark r skinner]

mark r skinner said:

You`re getting me confused now! Trouble is, these pics don`t show the birds in natural postures or surroundings. Add to that the light in photos is ALWAYS inconsistent. (That`s why the best field guides are illustrated with acrylic paint)
Wonder if it`s possible to google a kite watchpoint in the Chilterns ? I know a good place near Corby that`s had a count of seventy (70) birds at this time of year....

Yes, there`s 8 or 9. I googled "red kite chilterns" and there`s loads of info. Dunno how to post a link though.
Some muppet on the the Chilterns website doesn`t know the difference between hay and straw though.

[Mrs Trackside]

To post a link, you just copy the URL (website address) fromt the address box at the top of your screen and post it. You don't need anything else.