howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
a comeback is happening in our fair land for the above mentioned bird.
was near to extinction in the 50's due to our farmers use of pesticides, they gave been spotted recently in the ashford area regularly, and now close by in st margarets.
will wait to read more details about his great bird of prey from our twitcher friends on here, andy, ian and phil.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
Spotted this red beak along the Dour at lunchtime whilst in Ian`s territory.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
The red kite was reintroduced to the Chilterns in Buckinghamshire about 15 years ago - if you ever drive along the M40 through the Stokenchurch cutting it's a common sight to see them circling overhead; they have really prospered in that part of the world to the extent where they have had colonies taken from there and moved to other parts. Mid Wales is one particularly successful area and another is the North Downs around Boxhill/Dorking, but I wasn't aware of their proximity to us down here. This is great news, but I hope their presence doesn't spell the end for the much rarer Peregrine Falcons which can be seen at St Margarets and Samphire Hoe from time to time.
We're very well off for birds of prey around here; Kestrels/Windhovers are plentiful, Buzzards are becoming an increasingly everyday sight after centuries of absence from here and the UK as a whole, I've seen more Sparrowhawks this spring than ever before, we have two well documented mating pairs of Peregrines nearby, Barn Owls are doing well locally and now this. It's really gratifying to see that years of hard work by the RSPB is seeing rewards like this. There's still much to do, particularly with regard to Swallows, Lapwings and the humble House Sparrow, but this is a massive step in the right direction.
True friends stab you in the front.
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
Beautiful birds, yes Andy I have had the pleasure of seeing them along the M40.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
Howard, apologies for putting other birds on here, but I`ve just worked out how to do my pics without cropping them. Thank you David H for vallen jpegger. I took the above at Kearsney Abbey this afternoon.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
Nice photo Colin.
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
I took this odd cute pairing on Saturday in Southened cemetery.
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
Mmm..... Rabbit and Wood Pigeon pie
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
that was what i was thinking barry,with mushroom and cider sause,new spuds and salad.yum yum.
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
If any one remembers my postings on the Welsh trip I did, I mentioned the number of Red Kites i saw on the way back.
I think I lost count at 40 and a few Buzzards all the way to the M25 and that was in the middle of February.
It sure is nice to see.
The Swifts are still missing though.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Colin - did you take those pictures? They are fabulous! We have some great talents here on this forum.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
About 4 years ago I saw a red kite stoop into a ditch beside Barville Road, just before the Tilmanstone roundabout on the A256. It then flew off towards Ashley with a rabbit in its claws. Fantastic sight. Unfortunately I was driving at the time, HiD was knitting and we didn't get a chance to get the camera out in time!
And more recently, a peregrine helped itself to a pigeon in our back garden at Blakes one afternoon while we were sitting enjoying our lunch.
PG.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
Bern, Colin never took that photo....If he did I'll hang my dhoodhaas in burtons window.
Peter, if you'r going to lay in your secluded spot at the back of Blakes naked, cover your bits before they become unattatched very quickly.
OUCH
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
It was not a Naked Lunch. I didn't enjoy the book, I haven't seen the film and nothing else by William S Burroughs ever impressed me much either.
PG.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
A lovely picture and pairing there Jeane, it could start something on here. Thank you Bern, glad you liked it. So much to see, so little time to see it all. Ian, you can let the ladies on here know when you`ll be performing in Burton`s window mate.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Just saw this kite in my neighbours backgarden, and it looked very threatening:
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
Come on Colin, where did you get the photo?
If you did take it you should enter it in a compotition.
Sid your scaring me into not posting now.
I'm triple reading everything I write now and after I post I hate to think whats coming back.
Stand by..............................................
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
Ian, I didn`t image that kite above mate, that came off the internet. Only the two below it are mine. I got confused there. I can`t get shots like that first one, (kite).
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
