62 Red Kite today en route to London, which included 7 just on to the M25 between the M40 and M4. Others almost all in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, other than 3 in Warwickshire several miles N of Warwick, further north than Ive seen them previously
30+ yesterday on the coach down to Wembley, some flying Low over the motorway absolutely amazing sight! Sorry don't really travel on that stretch so can't give exact locations , but most were seen around the Chiltern Hills.
54 counted from the comfort of the passenger seat as we headed north late morning. First ones noted from the A40 just inside the M25, last ones just south of Banbury, this is the furthest north I have seen them along the M40.
25 Red Kite from about junction 7 down to 4 today. Increasing towards junction 4. At least 6 around the Wycombe wanderers stadium for the match. Very distracting.
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
Yesterday while working in Marlow i observed 19 Red Kites over the town center all in the air together at one time, I also saw at least 20 travelling from Marlow to the m40 and then 43 along the m40 as far as just past Bicester. I couldn't stop looking up while in Marlow but the locals don't seem to notice them, amazing to see.
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?
A trip down on Saturday saw a count of 30 between J8 and J2 with at least a dozen circling over Lane End which may suggest someone feeding there. Count could have been higher if the daughter put her phone down! Oxford services saw a bird patrolling the car park no more than 10 yards away, superb lazy flight, pity I did not take my camera, make that stupid, as I've often seen them here. Return journey saw a detour because of an accident, off at J6 then up to Chinnor, Thame and back on at 8A. Eighteen counted on this short stretch, nearly all at tree top level and four following a tractor ploughing a field.
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 !!
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!
Whilst travelling down the M40 on Mon 3rd April I counted easily over 30 Red Kites including 3 or 4 pairs doing a twisting/tumbling flight and chasing each other round in tight circles (displaying?)
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
Despite the overcast and the comparatively late hour (16.00 - 16.10), managed 15 birds along the west side of the M40 - a line of 7 just north of the Chilterns, a group of 7 near Penley Wood and 1 heading west from the Park Lane area.
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!
Total of 33 birds, the majority between Beaconsfield services and the B4009, with 9 birds together in one of the Chiltern valleys the largest group. There were probably more, but the views to the south were rather limited.
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.
24/02/2011 - It took me and Sid quite a long time to find any Red Kites today but once beyond junction 7 of the M40 we spotted at least 15 upto the following junction (6). Fab views as several cruised low over the motorway directly overhead.
Just had a couple of work days in the Oxford area - not much time for birding but did see a number of Red Kites on the journeys down and up with one over the M40 between J13 and Warwick services - they come ever closer from the south.
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.
while driving up the m40 this morning saw 7 red kites over motorway very low at times giving excellent views just wish we had them in oldham beautiful birds also 5 ring neck parakeets in catford area of london
untill a few years ago i lived in didcot had red kite on my garden list.
anyway to the point of the post, last year on 27th june we drove back from london and having lived in the area i decided to to get my current other half to play the count the kite game as we came back.
came up the m40 turned off for lunch by the thames at wallingford, accompanied by kites eyeing our food. then over to whitehorse hill at uffiington via didcot and wantage, then back up the back roads through banbury.
the total kite count for the day was 51 with 8 over the cooling towers of didcot powerstation. we even had one fly below us while we were stood by the eye of the white horse, which was the first one i'd seen over there.