Now that we’ve moved our dining table to its winter position – i.e. from the conservatory at the back of the house to the front sitting room window – we can eat breakfast while watching a red kite scanning the town. It comes most days, drifting over the High Street, circling high above nearby gardens. With a wing span of around six feet (180 cm) it is one of Britain’s largest birds of prey (i.e. bigger than a buzzard and easily distinguished from that particular raptor by the forked tail.)
A few years ago the species was believed to be near extinction. In the early 20th century the birds were targeted by gamekeepers who thought they were eating their pheasants. Not so, it seems. The birds’ main menu comprises carrion and worms and sometimes small mammals. In fact, back in Tudor times, kites also frequented towns in large numbers, filling an essential function as street refuse cleaners.
When we lived in Kenya, their cousins, the black kites, performed similar duties. Less welcome, we discovered there, was the cousins’ tendency to ‘gate-crash’ Nairobi’s ambassadorial garden parties. They had learned to spot the distracted guest, one with wine glass and plate politely poised and as they hung on the words of some ministerial bigwig. In the birds swooped, snatching up the undefended sailfish canape or piri piri chicken wing. Whoosh and away.
That scene jogs another black kite memory. An indelible brain cell recording. One used to roost in our front garden on Mbabane Road. It would perch in the jacaranda tree and mew all night long. A mournful cry.
But back to the red kite. Here in Shropshire and Wales, and some illegal shooting incidents apart, they are mostly thriving. This thanks to a re-introduction programme late last century which helped boost remnant populations. And while of course we are more than happy to see them, we can only hope they do not recover the habits of their distant ancestors.
The Wildlife Trusts website explains (also see a nice video clip of a kite in flight):
Red kites were common in Shakespearean London, where they fed on scraps in the streets and collected rags or stole hung-out washing for nest-building materials. Shakespeare even referred to this habit in ‘The Winter’s Tale’ when he wrote: ‘When the kite builds, look to lesser linen’. The nest of a red kite is an untidy affair, often built on top of an old crow’s nest. It is lined with sheep’s wool and decorated with all kinds of objects like paper, plastic and cloth.
I will let you know how my washing fares when drying weather resumes.
I loved your narrative and images. We have kites here, but I don’t think as big. My birding friend could tell us!
It’s actually hard to get a sense of scale. They fly so high. My impression is that the black kites weren’t as big as the red ones, but that could be wrong!
I’ll try to remember to ask my friend Laura. Remembering being the operative word!!
Remembering indeed!
😁
Yes the Kites are doing well. A good number here in Norfolk which is a fair distance from the release site in Northants. Was a time they were a great rarity here and drew a good crowd of twitchers when one was spotted. Now I’ve seen more kites than buzzards on some days when I’ve been out and about.
In our neck of the woods we’ve noticed them extending their territory – i.e. heading out of Wales/South Shropshire to the outskirts of Wolverhampton. We’ve plenty of buzzards too.
Well my first thought was kites of the paper kind. I never was good at flying them but they are fun to watch. Not as fun as your kites but we go with what we have.
A good philosophy, Beverly – to go with what we’ve got 🙂
A beautiful creature, and what a lovely breakfast time occupation. Smiling to think of Graham’s undies in peril.
Graham’s undies indeed!
We have watched kites become common here, a few pairs having been introduced – I can’t remember when, not so long ago – to Harewood, maybe 15 miles or so away as the kite flies. Now they’re an absorbing and frequent sight. Wonderful stuff!
They are very soothing to watch.
We often saw them over the woodland in Ludlow, such majestic birds and your second photo is superb. No kites here, just St Ives gulls who have the same habits of your Kenyan black kites!
Gulls can be pretty lethal on the food snatching front, can’t they. Had to dash into the car in Aberdovey after buying fish and chips!
I’ve had my head almost knocked off twice! They are heavier than you think!
Oooh. Nasty!
That second photo is fantastic Tish! My sister lives an hour west of us in Berkshire and has had red kites in the area for years. I love to see them when we visit, but she tells me her neighbour, who has a chihuahua, won’t let the dog in the garden when she can’t be out with it for fear a kite will snatch it. Recently I’ve seen one a couple of times in our London suburb, Ealing, so they’re definitely spreading. I’m pleased to see them here but then I don’t have a small dog to worry about!
I wonder if they would take a small dog. They are mainly carrion feeders, but then once you’ve had the thought they might…
There seem to be a few stories about such attacks online but I have no idea how credible they are: https://www.altonherald.com/news/kite-attacks-second-small-dog-165640. Enough for a dog owner to want to be on the safe side I suspect
That sounds v. hair-raising.
Quite a magnificent bird.
It is, isn’t it 🙂
Interesting story as always.
Thanks, Pete.
What a beautiful bird! Is it classified as a hawk? Here in the northeast of America, everyone loves watching soaring hawks. Red tails ate the favorite. They keep crows away.
Love that image of soaring red tail hawks, Jennie. Kites are a separate sub-family, but all the birds of prey seem to belong to family of Accipitridae, or so Wiki tells me 🙂
Thank you!
Dear Tish
we have regularly red kites flying around our coast here. They an attraction for most visitors here.
Your last picture is perfect. Thanks for sharing
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Good to hear you have lots of kites too, Fab Four. That second photo, alas is not mine, but from our local Shropshire Star.