Have you seen this rare bird in the area? The Red Kite is a magnificant and graceful bird of prey. It is unmistakable with its reddish-brown body. Underneath, its chestnut body has large angled wings ending with a large white blaze and black tips and a deeply forked tail. The adult bird has a very pale head.

My husband and I saw an adult bird feeding on a dead pheasant in the road just past the Barleycroft End sewage plant at Furneux Pelham at 14.30 on Sunday 12 June '05. When it flew off, we were lucky enough to watch it in flight and see it land on a nearby telegraph pole. After 3/4 minutes it flew off towards Patmore Heath and circled for some time before we lost sight of it.

I contacted the RSPB regarding this sighting and their response was as follows:
"Red Kites have been introduced in the Chilterns (mostly Oxfordshire), Rochingham Forest (Nottinghamshire/Leicestershire) and Harewood House, Yorkshire. The first of these is the only programme that does not feed the birds artificially which means they are dispersing with at least one bird in the West Country. Most English counties now have at least one record and all indications are that the birds are likely to spread out. Red Kites have pretty much the same nesting requirements as buzzards and the two species are often found together."

We hope you are lucky enough to see it.

Yes ,there were six between Brent Pelham and Washall Green for most of last Saturday,11 June 05. They sometimes appear here when we are hay making.The cut grass makes it easier for them spot mice and other titbits.There were always two of them circling at a great hight,presumably looking out for somewhere else to feed. I have not seen any others round here for a couple of years. They do not seem to stay long, just a day or two and then move on.An occasioal visitor from the Chilterns presumably.I have often seen them in South Oxfordshire,and on the firing ranges in Germany.It is said that the nests on the latter are protected from egg collectors by the liberal use of landmines.Whether that is true or not at least the rumour seems to work. Could be an idea for the RSPB (Provisioal Wing)