Red Kites

Not red but I’ve just been tipped off that a Black Kite is presently wandering about North Yorkshire. Anyone seen one? A few black winged kites have also been seen in recent weeks.

We used to have a Black Kite as a regular visitor around Blythburgh in Suffolk.  Haven’t seen it recently though

Well, what a long and important life this bird achieved. One of the original reintroductions.

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23532569.oldest-red-kite-record-found-oxfordshire/

Very sad news indeed. Earlier in May I was watching two of these wonderful birds in Fryup Dale whilst staying at The North Yorkshire Moors CaMC site. Who is doing this and why is this still happening! It’s terrible!

https://www.birdguides.com/news/three-red-kites-shot-on-north-york-moors/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter=310723&utm_campaign=822039_BG%20%20Weekly%20News%20from%20BirdGuides%2031%2F07%2F2023&dm_i=73DM,HMAF,ZVCQL,27UI5,1

 I see on the local BBC South news last night that Red Kites are causing problems in parts of Oxfordshire and taking food out of people's hands and folk have been asked not to put food out for these birds as they are becoming used to folk being about.

Very much a case like our coastal resorts with gulls. This is not the fault of the birds at all, just careless, thoughtless and selfish behaviours from humans who should know better. With the gulls, there are signs everywhere in the towns, even fines threatened but still folk throw them chips! Now the birds are pinching and bombing them to drop their fish suppers, when will people learn?

Who are these people ans where from I wonder. The  two weeks in the countryside holiday makers who know everything about the countryside from Countryfile.

Some certainly, fish but I suspect it would be a bit disingenuous and unhelpful to label them all thus.  I reckon they walk amongst us no matter where they are from, like I’m sure the enlightened ones can be found living in both towns and rural settings . More a case of out of their backyards they don’t seem to care. Some will be day trippers maybe even locals.

On the CL that I referred to in my OP we were requested by the owner NOT to feed the kites. This request went unheeded by another of the visitors who openly admitted that he knew he shouldn’t feed the kites but he did whenever he had his BBQ going, “the owner isn’t around so he won’t know”. Totally irresponsible in my eyes.

Just like those idiots at the seaside that throw chips to the Herring Gulls and now those same birds are stealing food from peoples hands.