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[Misc] The Official NSC Bird Spotting Thread.







BN9 BHA

BN9 BHA

DOCKERS
NSC Patron
Jul 14, 2013
22,207
Newhaven
MJsGhost said:
We seem surrounded by them around me (out in the sticks). I often see them quite close up in the mornings when I'm walking the dog. They sit high up in a line of trees bordering the fields and swoop down and across to the other side. They also sit on telegraph poles alongside the lane to my village.

I saw this the other day. At first, I assumed this was a buzzard as it usually would be, but then (too late to get a decent photo) realised it was a kite!

View attachment 187027
By no means the first time I'd seen one here (one has circled over my garden), but had I been more awake, I'd have seen this pretty close up on the ground!
Click to expand...
Is this in Sussex?
I have only seen Red Kites flying next to the M40, Hampshire and when I was in Gloucestershire last year.
 


BrightonCottager

BrightonCottager

Well-known member
Sep 30, 2013
2,542
Brighton
BN9 BHA said:
Is this in Sussex?
I have only seen Red Kites flying next to the M40, Hampshire and when I was in Gloucestershire last year.
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I've seen red kites over the Chatri area.

When I last visited the Council recycling centre in Harefield, (not far from the M40 & @AmexRuislip ) there were 3 of them trying to scavenge on the refuse. They are so common up there no-one pays them much notice. They were very common scavengers in medieval times, apparently - our version of carrion vultures (but prettier).
 










AmexRuislip

AmexRuislip

Retired Spy 🕵️‍♂️
Feb 2, 2014
34,275
Ruislip
BrightonCottager said:
I've seen red kites over the Chatri area.

When I last visited the Council recycling centre in Harefield, (not far from the M40 & @AmexRuislip ) there were 3 of them trying to scavenge on the refuse. They are so common up there no-one pays them much notice. They were very common scavengers in medieval times, apparently - our version of carrion vultures (but prettier).
Click to expand...
I'm so glad you mentioned I live near and not in the tip :)
 


Bry Nylon

Bry Nylon

Test your smoke alarm
Helpful Moderator
Jul 21, 2003
20,372
Playing snooker
IMG_5258.jpeg
 




S

Skuller

Well-known member
Jun 3, 2017
313
I know it’s not a bird, but I had a hawk-moth feeding off my petunias yesterday. I just love their size and the way they hover (like a hummingbird) near a flower and unwind their long proboscis into the nectar.
 


WATFORD zero

WATFORD zero

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 10, 2003
27,341
BN9 BHA said:
Is this in Sussex?
I have only seen Red Kites flying next to the M40, Hampshire and when I was in Gloucestershire last year.
Click to expand...

IIRC the Buzzards started to become common round Brighton/Sussex about 15 years ago. Previous to that I had a company in Swindon and would be there 2-3 times a month so watched them gradually work their way Eastwards from there.

I saw my first red kite over Ditchling Beacon about 3/4 years ago and now see one every fortnight or so around Brighton. Prior to that always saw loads at the beginning of the M40 around High Wycombe.
 


chip

chip

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2003
1,082
Glorious Goodwood
Lots of red kites around this way. I often see them from the A27 between chi and Havant. Lots of carrion to be found I guess. Must have been around for at least 10 years but can't remeber when I first saw them. The look majestic from Harting Down.
 




AmexRuislip

AmexRuislip

Retired Spy 🕵️‍♂️
Feb 2, 2014
34,275
Ruislip
BrightonCottager said:
I've seen red kites over the Chatri area.

When I last visited the Council recycling centre in Harefield, (not far from the M40 & @AmexRuislip ) there were 3 of them trying to scavenge on the refuse. They are so common up there no-one pays them much notice. They were very common scavengers in medieval times, apparently - our version of carrion vultures (but prettier).
Click to expand...
WATFORD zero said:
IIRC the Buzzards started to become common round Brighton/Sussex about 15 years ago. Previous to that I had a company in Swindon and would be there 2-3 times a month so watched them gradually work their way Eastwards from there.

I saw my first red kite over Ditchling Beacon about 3/4 years ago and now see one every fortnight or so around Brighton. Prior to that always saw loads at the beginning of the M40 around High Wycombe.
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Yep the Red Kites are a common site around here nowadays.
Locally they're gliding on the thermals over our allotment getting bombed by crows and magpies.
On our travels around the area, we've seen Red Kites over Cliveden, Marlow, Amersham and even up as far as Blenheim Palace.
 


W

West Hoathly Seagull

Honorary Ruffian
Aug 26, 2003
3,544
Sharpthorne/SW11
chip said:
Lots of red kites around this way. I often see them from the A27 between chi and Havant. Lots of carrion to be found I guess. Must have been around for at least 10 years but can't remeber when I first saw them. The look majestic from Harting Down.
Click to expand...
There was a programme to release them at Chilgrove a number of years ago. My cousin used to live at Compton, and she used to see them every day. We are now getting the odd red kite here near Sharpthorne, though they are not as regular as the buzzards.
 


chip

chip

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2003
1,082
Glorious Goodwood
West Hoathly Seagull said:
There was a programme to release them at Chilgrove a number of years ago. My cousin used to live at Compton, and she used to see them every day. We are now getting the odd red kite here near Sharpthorne, though they are not as regular as the buzzards.
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Thank you, that explains everything! I know that the wildlife trust has a couple of sites on the West Dean Estate near Chilgrove, maybe something to do with it? Great that they are spreading across the downs and sharing the joy :)
 




maresfield seagull

maresfield seagull

Well-known member
May 23, 2006
2,310
Seagull on the Hill said:
I always hear them before I see them.
Click to expand...
Much like Kingfisher s
BN9 BHA said:
Is this in Sussex?
I have only seen Red Kites flying next to the M40, Hampshire and when I was in Gloucestershire last year.
Click to expand...
Red Kite spotted at Piddinghoe pond earlier this year impersonating an Osprey 😎
iirc a few pair s were released in the Lewes area a few years ago
 


BN9 BHA

BN9 BHA

DOCKERS
NSC Patron
Jul 14, 2013
22,207
Newhaven
maresfield seagull said:
Much like Kingfisher s

Red Kite spotted at Piddinghoe pond earlier this year impersonating an Osprey 😎
iirc a few pair s were released in the Lewes area a few years ago
Click to expand...
Wow!
I live not far from the pond and often walk along the river bank with my dog, also walk near Southease, never seen one.

Last year in October I regularly saw Kingfishers along the river between Piddinghoe and Rodmell.
 




Worried Man Blues

Worried Man Blues

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2009
7,111
Swansea
MTSeagulls said:
So when I get the chance I post photos of toucans, or giant macaws and parrots that eat from our papaya trees, because I never get bored of seeing them. Imagine my surprise when I saw plain old sparrows here in the tropics a couple of weeks ago.
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Sparrows always sound more exotic when you call them Weaver Finches, I've caught a few neighbours out with that!
 






dazzer6666

dazzer6666

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Mar 27, 2013
54,708
Burgess Hill
BN9 BHA said:
Wow!
I live not far from the pond and often walk along the river bank with my dog, also walk near Southease, never seen one.

Last year in October I regularly saw Kingfishers along the river between Piddinghoe and Rodmell.
Click to expand...

Seen Kites a few times towards/around Firle Beacon so might be worth diverting up the hill rather than along the river :smile: Seeing them very regularly in mid Sussex now - not quite daily but certainly every week (for example yesterday saw one above Bedelands, and another in Horsted Keynes and one near the Chattri on Saturday).

Kingfishers seem to have dramatically increased in number the last few years - I fish 2-3 times a week locally and it’s actually rare not to see one or more during a session these days. We had one zipping around the lake yesterday, and a pair working the river we were on Sunday.

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