Its funny how one very small post I made on this blog earlier this year has sparked off quite a few comments about Red Kite sightings in Hampshire. Thing is this is quite significant and as a member of the RSPB, it is very exciting to see that these splendid birds are living what seems to be a very comfortable existence.
My interest in this particular species goes back many years. I saw my first Kite in the Dordogne region of France whilst on holiday. My Dad and I were watching a bird of prey circling at a great height, it was almost impossible to make out what it was until it started to gradually descend. My Dad was able to identify it for me, as he got a better view of it and confirmed it as being a Red Kite. We caught sight of it a number of times after that close to the farmhouse we were staying in at the time. One day I shall tell you about some of the other creatures we saw there, Marmosets for example, yes, In France, no idea how they got there but a local guy was convinced that’s what they were and believe you me they had the whole village perplexed as much as they did us…
I digress….
Fast forward quite a few years (!!!), I hear about Red Kites being repatriated in our own country, many centuries after they were wiped out by persecution. I thought nothing of it until about 2 or 3 years ago when we were driving through Oxfordshire, I spotted one flying overhead, that was nothing though as a little further down the road we saw a group of 20! It was an incredible sight and we had to stop, just to take it all in. We were witnessing with our own eyes, something quite extraordinary, a bird that had been extinct in this country for so long, was back and in big numbers.
Since that day I have been gradually exploring various areas around Buckinghamshire/Berkshire and have seen Red Kites in Slough of all places. However the best place to see them in the South of England, has got to be Stokenchurch, Bucks. You cannot fail to spot one there, in fact you can see large flocks of them circling high above the village and further out into the Chilterns.
My research indicated that this was very much the case, that Red Kites were breeding very well in Buckinghamshire, Northern England and all over Wales. No mention anywhere of them being sighted in Hampshire (my home county) or anywhere else. So when I saw one for the first time in my own county, I was very pleased indeed. Since that first sighting, I have seen plenty more, probably about a dozen now and most of them around the Basingstoke area.
This brings me back to the comments I have received for the original post – Many people out there have also spotted them and I did a search on Google for “red kite Hampshire” and my site is listed in second place and I have outranked a page on the BBC site too! I only wrote a few words too which I find quite amusing! Its a clear indication of how powerful the blog medium is…
UPDATE 22nd June 2009
A number of people are having wonderful sightings and I am particularly interested in what Sandy was saying about Kites feeding from their garden. I would be interested in discussing this further with anyone who has such sightings, as I would love to make arrangements to come and photograph the birds in action.
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Hi, Both my wife and myself have seen a red kite on two seperate occasions this week (commencing 11.01.10) with the latest sighting this morning. Where we live in Rockbourne, Hampshire we regularly see Buzzards, but on these occasions the sightings were obvious with the the very pronounced fork tail. We have a love for kites after having seen many in mid Wales and were so excited at having seen our first over our house. The area we live in is part of the Western Downlands with many valleys and wooded areas, ideal habitat for buzzards and Kites (we hope).
Kind Regards,
Peter & Stephanie Legg
That is interesting news indeed, as I haven’t heard about them being that far over towards the New Forest. Sounds like an ideal area for them mind you, certainly good habitat around there. My life is spent between Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and my home county of Hampshire and I regularly spot them in all three counties. I am impressed this post has attracted so much interest from so many people. It is a pleasure to link up with others who share the same passion for wildlife in their daily lives. I am eager to do a project on Red Kites at some point if I can, would love to have the chance to photograph them in detail.
Hi,
I was in Woodley , Reading Fri 15th Jan 2010. Spotted around 6 Kites behind the shopping area. Amazing they seem at home in urban Berkshire.
My first sighting of these wonderful birds was in the 80’s & 90’s around Salamanca , Spain. Being a ‘regular’ driver to Portugal in the lorry, I looked forward to seeing them (sometimes stopping overnight before i reached the town to get a good view in the morning), tho’ this was not the best time. Around 30 – 40 birds gathered over a landfill site west of the town.
I am pleased they have spread out to Hampshire, only a matter of time before they reach my county, Dorset.
Regards
John Young
Hi there, l live in the village of east meon and often see a red kite flying, some times with buzzards and also on its own. weather their is one or two l am not sure.
regards eric
For the last two years we have had a pair of red kites overfly our village up to four times a day.
We believe they are hunting up and down the A33 corridor between Reading and Basingstoke
We have LOADS if kites here in Maidenhead/Ockwells Pk! They are thriving and wonderful to observe – today I saw 6 in one go!! thats the most in one place do date!
Hope they dont have their beady eyes on my chihuahuas!!
I have only read these comments today following an item about Red Kites in Gateshead on ‘The One Show’ this evening. I saw a huge bird recently over houses adjoining the fields at Kempshott , on the Southern side of Basingstoke. I watched it for about five minutes circling before it flew furthe into the urban area. I described it as ‘just like a Red kite’ but simply couldn’t believe I had seen one locally. On returning home I checked my bird book and even though I could find nothing other than a Kite which resembled what I had seen I still couldn’t believe what I had actually seen. Reading all the comments here has convinced me that I have indeed seen a Red Kite. They are such magnificent birds.
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