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Post by Chuckles on Jun 12, 2007 20:29:52 GMT
Spotted a large bird circling very high up over the back of our garden the other night. Shouted OH out and he said he thought it was a Red Kite. Just managed to get a couple of photo's of it before it went out of range. It was way up high so I'll show you the photo's from the camera and after I zoomed in on the PC     OH is sure it's a Red Kite from the photos so I contacted the RSPB, here is their reply for anyone who is interested in birds. Thank you for this record. Red kites have been introduced in the Chilterns (mostly Oxfordshire), Rockingham Forest (Nottinghamshire/Leicestershire), Harewood House (Yorkshire) and two sites in Scotland in addition to the surviving colony in Mid Wales. There are a number of immature birds reported far from the sites and most English counties now have at least one record. Dispersal and further colonisation is slow in red kites because they prefer to breed colonially and often return to the natal area after a period of wandering because many of the original introductions sourced birds from non-migratory populations in Spain. Recent introductions have included birds from UK stocks and there are strong signs of an expansion of range in the last few years. Regards Ian Peters - Wildlife Advisor |
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Post by oldmoleskins on Jun 12, 2007 20:44:28 GMT
Wow Cuckles, that's truly wonderful... so lucky to see it, let alone get pics like that. The RSPB "Chilterns/Oxfordshire" thing is spot-on - the only time I saw one was on the A40 towards Oxford, just as you emerge from the huge rock cutting (the same one you see in the opening credits of 'Vicar of Dibley')
OM.
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Post by 4pygmies on Jun 12, 2007 20:49:10 GMT
Fantastic! Aren't they stunning? I think it's a real privilege to see them in the skies. Well done Chuckles - good pictures.  |
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Post by snowowl on Jun 12, 2007 21:17:48 GMT
Brilliant photos chuckles it must have been awsome to have witnessed one in flight like that and well done for catching it on camera.
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Post by owainglyndwr on Jun 12, 2007 21:27:35 GMT
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Jun 12, 2007 21:30:54 GMT
WOW! Great pics Chuckles!
S x
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Post by Chuckles on Jun 12, 2007 21:47:28 GMT
I could hardly believe my eyes when I first spotted it, truly amazing to see. I was very lucky to have got my camera so quickly and get those 2 pics. It went out of site very quickly. OH has been lucky enough to have seen them before in the Chilterns. WB Links into words ;D |
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Post by owainglyndwr on Jun 12, 2007 21:59:59 GMT
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Post by nightowl on Jun 13, 2007 9:44:23 GMT
Fantastic photos Chuckles.  Really lucky! About 10 years ago, travelling up the A34 from Newbury to Oxford I thought I saw one. Couldn't believe it! Then another and another!! I was jumping up and down and pointing and my travelling companions just weren't interested!! So frustrating!  I hadn't known about the release programme at the time and just couldn't believe what I was seeing!!! But even better than that was the Osprey (!!!) I saw at Frensham Ponds, a local heathland beauty spot. The local Bird-watchers club told me there is usually a couple a year stopping off for a rest on their migration. Fantastic! |
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Jun 13, 2007 18:13:40 GMT
Fantastic shots CBB...well done you. On our recent trip to the coast I was looking out for birds of prey and saw several but all too far away to take any photos...
Aren't there some breeding pairs in Rutland now?
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Post by Chuckles on Jun 13, 2007 18:27:44 GMT
I'll ask OH when he comes back from the Chinese with my T ;D he usually knows these things.
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Post by Chuckles on Jun 13, 2007 19:05:09 GMT
I've asked the Oracle ;Dand he says they have some breeding pairs of Osprey at Rutland ;D
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Post by beejay on Jun 13, 2007 19:58:42 GMT
You are very lucky. Travelling along the M40 we have seen about a dozen pairs of them.They look fantastic.
We spent several days watching Ospreys at Bassenthwaite a couple of weeks ago & then eventually saw a sea eagle on Mull last week.
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Post by Chuckles on Jun 13, 2007 20:36:13 GMT
I've been looking on the RSPB web site and they have a section were you can alphabetically select a bird and some of them have videos and sound clips, it's really good RSPB BIRD GUIDE |
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