20+ red kite seen from coach taking me down to London on Friday 29/06; Oxon and Bucks. Also a pair of buzzard, for a bit of variety.

51 Red Kite today, almost all in Buckinghamshire

At least 50 Red Kites seen along the motorway this afternoon. S couple of small groups up to six in number.

24 on the southward journey through Oxon-Bucks this morning

20 Red Kite along the M40 through Oxon-Bucks this morning, with a further 2 at the M25/M4 junction 

31 Red Kite seen along the M40 today, including 1 in Warwickshire, the first time I've seen one in that part of the motorway

With persistent rain and fog in parts, only 7 Red Kite seen from the M40 yesterday, the final one just 1 mile outside the M25, then a further 2 along the M25 itself just south of the M40

-- Edited by dave broome on Sunday 11th of December 2016 10:56:59 AM

53 Red Kite today through Oxon-Bucks, including quite a few on a short detour from the M40 through Wycombe

34 Red Kite seen along the Oxon-Bucks M40 this morning

Many thanks for this info, will bear it in mind next time travelling that way.

Phil

Travelled down through Oxon and Berkshire to Newbury on Sunday, by train as normal. 9 Red Kites at various places that I remembered to note down. A new one for me was from the platform at Didcot, one bird probably only 50 yards away, had something in its claws, and it was eating from its claws on the wing. Seemed remarkable to me, I assumed they ate from a perch. Later, in a taxi to my hotel, went past 3 birds all on the ground in a field, 2 picking at some carrion and a third skulking in the background. Reminiscent of vultures! They are so common around that area, easily the most common bird of prey, I see more Red Kites than Buzzards every time. You have to imagine that as their population grows and with them being tolerant of people and confident in urban areas that they will spread around the UK again.

I travel to Newbury a lot for work, and the stretch between Didcot and Reading is the place I always see at least a couple of kites from the train. I think this is towards the south of their stronghold. Stayed in a fairly out of town hotel recently, so I got up at 6 and went for a walk; saw one perched for the first time. Stunning thing to look at. Didn't seem to bother the partridges that were fussing around at the time though...

One of my colleagues has had them in his garden. Can you imagine?

Friday's trip down to London produced a rather low minimum total of 16 birds, but it was interesting that the majority of the birds were in Bucks rather than Oxfordshire, with the largest group over High Wycombe and a bird only 400 metres or so from the M25 the nearest I've seen to London. Similar, but smaller effect on the M1 on my return on Sunday

31 Red Kite yesterday through Oxon-Bucks. Compared to just 2 Kestrel between Wigan and London, how things have changed, Kestrel used to be a common site along motorways.

32 Red Kites seen around J6-J5 this afternoon including 2 stacks of 5 birds enjoying the thermals, 2 birds that looked like they came out of someone's garden a birds, birds getting mobbed by buzzards and drifting at head height along the motorway. Great views of a bird I remember watching when I'll lived in the Brecon Beacons. Glad I wasn't driving today !!

Originally posted by Paul Richardson today:

Sunny morning yesterday driving up from London - 25 Red Kites in total between High Wycombe and the first few miles of lowland beyond the Chilterns escarpment. Amazing to see them, some swooping quite low over the motorway and distinctly disturbing my concentration!

On my way down the M40 today I took a cheeky detour off at Junction 5 to Stokenchurch. Had some great views of around 15 Red Kites. Awesome looking birds and a real pleasure to see them soaring above at just tens of feet above. When I rejoined the motorway there were around 40 kites circling together. Great sight.

-- Edited by Adam Jones on Saturday 25th of February 2012 03:48:16 AM

Mike Chorley wrote:

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as in ...of the day

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That would be 2300-0000hrs

Mike Chorley wrote:

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Friday 2nd December.

Despite the overcast and the comparatively late hour (16.00 - 16.10)

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1600-1610, late 10 minutes?

Friday 29th Sept.

12 noon coach to London. delayed half an hour so the driver detored down the M40 instead of the M1

Minimum of29 Red Kites, starting with two quatering the verges several miles north of the A34 and finishing with a single flying across the motorway at High Wycombe.
Also 6 Buzzards, possible Hobby, 3 helicopters, 2 gliders and several light aircraft to draw the eye off target!

at least 8 Red Kites at the Oxford services, junction 8a on the M40 at 10.30 this morning.
Some food had been placed on a grass embankment. This brought the birds in really close.

went to twickenham to watch the rugby today and saw at least 15 red kites on the way downoh and england won as well

10 Red Kites seen by myself and Jason Atkinson from the Van in the rain from Junction 6 to High Wycombe area, en route to Rainham Marshes.

Unfortunately Jason mentioned as well that he saw a dead Red Kite lying in one of the motorway lanes whilst driving.

-- Edited by Phil Owen on Monday 21st of February 2011 10:12:44 PM

just drove back from legoland with the kids. One single red kite within the legoland site was an excellent spot for us until we hit the motorway, from about the moment we hit the M40 until just after j6 we counted in excess of 30 red kites out and about the sides of the carriageway, we saw 4 that were only 20 to 25 feet up watching the sides of the motorway all in all they are great to watch even at speed on a motorway.