Increase of Red Kite sightings in Bishop’s Waltham

In a few weeks time I will have lived in Bishop’s Waltham for three years and in the first year I think I may have seen 2 or 3 Red Kites. Just recently however, more and more seem to be appearing, so to see this one close to was a welcome treat.

It was one of those days, I walked some of my south patch and due perhaps to quite a few people about, saw nothing except the occasional Blackbird and Robin. The fields off the Town’s favourite pathway was way too boggy to walk through so I turned around and headed for the North Patch, this being higher ground and a good spot to see the larger birds.

Compared to the South Patch, here was fairly well populated with birds, one field having upwards of 200 Redwings with a few Fieldfares in with them.
Bird song was quite strong for midday and I picked out Great, Blue and Long Tailed Tits and the distant ‘laughter’ of a Green Woodpecker.

Photography wise though I’d not come across a lot and thought my what was to be five mile walk seemed futile except for the fact it was a lovely sunny day with just a mild breeze.

As often happens, you’re nearly home and you see something, this time a dark shape against the sun in a fairly close tree. At first I thought it would be the usual Buzzard I bump into, but upon getting closer realised it was a Red Kite. Bingo, I’ve never seen one that close.
I took a few shots of it perching, then looking at them in the camera, I heard the flap of wings, it was about to fly right above my head. Quick vertical view and clicked, in fact it was so close I couldn’t get it all into my lens !

I must say I thought it had taken objection and was about to unleash it’s lunch on me. Luckily it didn’t.
Off he or she went in search of either food or a field in which there weren’t any nosy Birdwatchers.