Kites

[wellinghall]

We saw two red kites on the way home yesterday! :-)

(Well, Creatrix saw two - I only saw the first one).

Comments

[megamole.livejournal.com]

There's a bit on the M40 approach to Oxford (coming from London) where the Vale of Oxford opens up in front of you. There's where the red kites live. I've taken pellegrina to Oxford a few times now, and she invariably goes squee just as we pass that point.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

pellegrina has told me of her squeeage before, but we don't go over that way very often ourselves.

[philmophlegm.livejournal.com]

I've seen one on the M4 heading westbound just before you get to Swindon too, so they seem to be doing well in that whole south Midlands region.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

So I've heard, but we don't get over that way very often ourselves.

[ladyofastolat.livejournal.com]

I might have seen one from the A34 yesterday, but it might have been a buzzard. I was peering almost into the sun, so couldn't see clearly (and, I have to admit, am a bit hazy on how to tell the difference from below, anyway.)

I am fairly sure I saw an osprey en route to my parents' at Christmas, too, near the Cotswold Water Park not far from Cirencester.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

The big difference is that kites have a forked tail, while buzzards don't.

Kites are bigger, but it isn't always easy to tell the scale when they are some distance away.

[malaheed.livejournal.com]

If it's big and scruffy and not doing much it is a buzzard

If it's really big and not scruffy and almost surfing the sky, then it's a kite.

If you are really lucky, between junctions 4-6 on the M40 you can see upto 20-30 in a thermal.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

That sounds impressive.

[gayalondiel.livejournal.com]

*poke*

:p

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

*poke back* ;-)

[mrkinch.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous birds! I've been seeing more white-tailed kites around here than formerly, too. Very cool birds to watch.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

They are, aren't they :-)