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Red Kites; Photos added 8th March 2018
Topic Started: Jun 7 2016, 10:07 AM (4,191 Views)
Davebutterflyman
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:lol: Eric!
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Eric Hardy
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We are indeed, Ann. i read that there are 2000 breeding pairs in the Chilterns, I can't help feeling there are more.
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Eric Hardy
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Another shot of red kites taken from our garden.
The second one is a bit blurred, unfortunately

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Pam M
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I love the Kite & the moon photo Eric :wow:
We go to Rhayader in Mid-Wales at least once a year. They feed them there & it is a sight to behold with upto 400 coming in to feed :) We even have an occasional Red Kite fly within 10 miles of Brum now :wave2:
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JennyWren
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Hi Pam , is that the place with a web cam in the past from Simon King's site . I used to watch the feeding at 3pm everyday :)
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Pam M
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More than likely Jen, the place is called Gigrin Farm :)
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JennyWren
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I'm not sure of the name of the farm , Pam ... but the farmer drove out on his tractor and it seemed hundreds of kites were waiting :cool3:
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Pam M
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Sounds like the place :)
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Eric Hardy
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I would love to go to Rhayader, Pam, but I am afraid that is not possible. However we are pretty lucky to have so many round here.

On a slightly different note, I always comfort myself with the thought that they live on carrion. A friend has worried me by saying that they also prey on small birds and mammals. Can anybody enlighten me please?
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Pam M
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Hi Eric, I thought they just ate carrion & worms, but just looking on RSPB site it says they will occasionally take small mammals :)
You are lucky to have them where you live. They have done so well, a great success story :Cool:

https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/r/redkite/
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Eric Hardy
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Thank you Pam, I sometimes see them swooping down onto the common and pick something up with their claws from the long grass. I suspect they might be mice or voles.
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Davebutterflyman
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They do occasionally take other smaller live prey items but predominantly feed on carrion. This is due to the Red Kites having quite weak talons with not a great deal of crushing/holding power.
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Eric Hardy
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Another red kite photo I have just unearthed.

A rainbow and a red kite taken out of the kitchen window
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Laurie P
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:fantastic: you couldn't have planned that any better Eric.

What a wonderful combination of elements coming together at the same time :amazing:
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JennyWren
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What a super photo , Eric .. and out of the kitchen window :clap4: i think i can see two rainbows :cool:
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Eric Hardy
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Yes Jen, there is the ghost of a second rainbow. It is one of those moments I was glad to have my camera handy.
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africamfan
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Beautiful photo's Eric!
I especially love the one with the moon. How wonderful to be able to watch them from your garden!

I know what you mean about them being difficult to photograph, although you seem to have managed it very well :-) When we visited Argaty Red Kites feeding station in Scotland, I didn't get one decent photo. It was lovely to watch them though.
I do have a photo somewhere of a Heron that would sit in a tree and wait for the food to be put out and then move in to share it with the Kites!
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Eric Hardy
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Thank you Suzy. :thanku:
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Davebutterflyman
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Stunning shot of the rainbow and Red kite...what a capture!!
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Eric Hardy
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That rainbow shot Dave was just the luck of being there for the fleeting moment.
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