Red Kite in Garden

[boblong]

I know Billy in a previous thread extolled the virtues of the marsh harrier....but we don't get those in Earley . We do however get many Red Kites and I thought you might like the attached pic from this afternoon - we had 5 swooping down to feed .

Bob.

[rolf]

Superb Bob, lovely garden as well I might add.

[Catherine]

How lucky can you get?

You sure know how to get people jealous!!!

Fantastic shot of a great bird (and a really beautiful garden!)

[boblong]

Thanks, Rolf and Catherine. We love our garden and it's well used by quite a variety of birds (we do put out lots of feeders). Having said that, we're moving away in (hopefully) 8 weeks time, so will really miss it - will just have to make sure the birds visit the new one!

Bob.

[rolf]

Are you moving away from Reading altogether Bob?

[boblong]

Yep, down to Sidmouth on the south Devon coast. Wonderful bird havens down there, including on the River Otter. Can't wait!

Bob.

[Billy]

no i am green having a red kite in your garden!! they are stunning birds... see marsh harriers are comical and red kites are cool... love the shot...

[maureen]

That's great Bob, look forward to your spottings and photos from down there.

[boblong]

Will be happy to keep posting from there, assuming we can have "foreigners" (non-Thames Valley) peeps posting on this forum! Although I see I won't be the only one, with Catherine stretching the geographical boundaries a tad!

Bob.

[Catherine]

Oh, yes, I have stretched the geographical boundaries more than you might think, Bob!

We're not only far from the Thames Valley, but I often post pics from SW Scotland - which we left nearly 4 years ago!

There are active members here from all parts of England, the UK and Europe. I hope the new site name will show everyone that and encourage even more!

[boblong]

Sounds good - this is certainly the most comprehensive forum I've found, so continue to post I shall! If all goes to plan, we'll be heading south-west in mid-June.

Bob.

[Billy]

waves bob im now in foreign lands!! lol cant wait to see some more pics...

[boblong]

lol. Being a tad on the slow side (!), I didn't really notice the full name of the forum before Catherine mentioned it - the http address (visible all the time) is thamesvalleybirds, hence my "foreign" line. I promise to buck up - yet another of those "senior moments" I seem to have these days......

Bob.

[rolf]

I'll probably be moving the forum over to the new domain next week Bob, shouldn't be too painful.

[ladylouise62]

I've got lots of shots of Red Kites in the air, but never one coming down to land like that - so add me to the 'jealous' list It's a lovely garden, must have taken some work to get it like that- will you have a decent sized garden where you are going?

[boblong]

A quick update from me, since I haven't been on for many months! Eventually moved house as planned mid-June from Earley to Sidmouth and now treat every day as a holiday.....which really means going birding or hiking, or both! Louise, sorry but I missed your last reply re garden. Our new one is half the size and we certainly don't get Red Kites down here - but the upside is a great area with a wide variety of places to visit. Am happily stuck between Seaton Marsh, Exminster Marsh, the Otter Valley etc. and spend my time looking for new birds that I didn't come across in Berkshire. Have attached a couple of pics that I really love - not the best quality but the birds are just "wow"!

Good to see the forum is still as active as when I left! Best regards, Bob.

[rolf]

Lucky devil Bob, sounds like a birder's paradise.

[Catherine]

You have moved to a lovely area, Bob, birds or not!

Love the shot of the Long-eared Owl. I've never seen one in real life apart from in a falconer's display at the County Show/other.

What a lovely garden you had in Earley. How is your new one coming on?

[boblong]

It really is a lovely area, and a 'birder's paradise', as Rolf said. Re the LEO, I'd love to say it took me hours of patience and skill to find it, but.....during the day it's taken to roosting in a tree right beside the car park on Exminster Marsh!

The garden's coming on and we've been working to 'put our mark' on it. It's on a slope this time, so we get good views - though no red kites, we still get a good variety, including blackcaps, goldcrests and........once had a sparrowhawk sat beside the pond munching on a chaffinch!