![]() The head is pale, with older birds developing almost white heads, and the long, red tail is deeply forked and used as a stabiliser in flight, twisting back and forth – a characteristic clue to the Red Kite’s identity. They are predominantly rufous red, with dark wing tips and pale outer wings. Red Kites are extremely long-winged and long-tailed and very large, with slightly larger bodies and very much longer wings than a Buzzard. In 1989, six Swedish birds were released at a site in Scotland and a further four birds were released in the Chilterns. ![]() The population retreated, finding a final refuge in the valleys of central Wales. Once a common bird over much of the country, even haunting the litter-ridden and filthy streets, Red Kites were seen as disease-carrying vermin and bounties were paid for their carcasses. The reintroduction of this species to Britain must rate as one of the conservation success stories of the modern era. Old English names for the kite range from puttock to gled and glead a number of place names, such as Gleadthorpe in Northamptonshire and Gledehill in Yorkshire, are reminders of these names.The sight of a Red Kite, or two, or three, gently soaring over our countryside is now, once more, a familiar thing.It is thought that Britain's kite population could eventually reach around 50,000 pairs, which is more than double the current world population.Though Britain's kite population is booming, this is not the case in many other European countries, where numbers are generally in sharp decline.In the spring, adults weigh around 900gm, which is considerably less than a mallard. In the Chilterns, the kites' enthusiasm for carrion is valued by deer stalkers, who leave the entrails from shot deer for the kites to clean up. ![]() ![]()
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