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[Misc] Red Kite Sightings



Surf's Up

Well-known member
Jul 17, 2011
10,147
Here
I saw my first East Sussex Red Kite the other day, hovering over the A27 by the Ditchling turn off, presumably looking for an easy road kill meal. Wonderful to see. Any other sightings? I guess they're relatively common in the Sussex countryside?
 














Taybha

Whalewhine
Oct 8, 2008
27,135
Uwantsumorwat
They're fantastic to watch on the hunt , we have quite a lot here and some have realised the roads are easy pickings swooping down to spook off the crows and maggies for a easy meal , i will try and take some camera phone photos of them as they must be roosted up quite close as i see them daily , along with a huge whiteish owl early mornings .
 






Papa Lazarou

Living in a De Zerbi wonderland
Jul 7, 2003
18,838
Worthing
There are a small group that live on the Angmering Estate. They apparently have a hunting range of all the way to Sompting. I've seen them flying high over Durrington heading East.
 


*Gullsworth*

My Hair is like his hair
Jan 20, 2006
9,351
West...West.......WEST SUSSEX
All the time in Petworth. Red kites and Buzzards always having set too's with crows. Never see the same between Buzzards and Kites, both are pretty territorial. One Buzzard regularly on the fence post just out side our place. Red kites don't seems to perch as much. Easy to distinguish in flight, Kite more colourful and has a forked tail, the buzzard has a stockier body.
 


Theatre of Trees

Well-known member
Jul 5, 2003
7,718
TQ2905
Loads at Arundel over the hills above the wetlands centre

The Downs between Burpham and Amberley in particular there are a number of them who I believe nest in Angmering Woods. Last time I was up there there were a pair of Red Kites and Buzzards circling in the sky above just about tolerating each other's presence.
 






Lincolnshire Seagull

Active member
Jul 9, 2009
761
I am currently staying, despite my name, in West Berkshire, and they are commonplace here. As posted above, they do seem to like chasing magpies away from roadkill. Despite seeing them every day, it is still a thrill to see one gliding overhead.
 


Thunder Bolt

Ordinary Supporter
They're after all the carrion, which is in fact motorists, who've wasted away over the years, waiting in traffic.
Seriously they're nice to watch, but are a distraction when doing 70 mph :lolol:

Fortunately, I'm mostly a passenger nowadays, on the motorways, so have lots of time to see them.
 






Mtoto

Well-known member
Sep 28, 2003
1,838
I think they are all the result of a project to re-introduce Red Kites organised by the RSPB about 20 years ago not far from High Wycombe. It was only a few dozen at most to begin with and it's been an astonishing success - they've been spreading along the motorway network, feeding off the roadkill, ever since.

Must be 15 years since I first saw one of them, on the M4 near Wycombe. Nearly crashed the car because it was such a surprise - I thought they'd been extinct in England for centuries. Then about 30 seconds further down the road, there was another one, and two more 30 seconds after that. Fantastic to watch, but I'd been wondering why they hadn't made their way around the M25 and down the M23. Now it seems as though they have.
 


spence

British and Proud
Oct 15, 2014
9,811
Crawley
There's even a Black Kite. Didn't know that
 


AIT76

The wisdom of a fool
Jul 29, 2004
444
They appear to have reached Hampshire now - saw a pair over Old Winchester Hill quite regularly over the summer.

Absolutely magnificent birds.
 




WATFORD zero

Well-known member
NSC Patreon
Jul 10, 2003
25,656
Last 10 years has seen a huge increase in Buzzards around Sussex. Often see them on A27 at hollingbury, North of portslade/mile oak and adur Valley, and lots north of the Downs, but I haven't seen any red kites locally yet.

I'll keep looking
 


banjo

GOSBTS
Oct 25, 2011
13,232
Deep south
A5027EA8-50EA-4674-A9F9-70E10C0FD05B.jpeg

Perfect weather for them.
 



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