Hobbies and Crafts

Jane...you are lucky are'nt you. We really must visit the Rhadar (spelling) site again,its amazing is'nt it Island??

Your photo of the Long Tailed tit is on the blog.

Ann...l'm going to add one on your photo blog...don't faint..lol

jude xx

Island .Thanks ! just looked at the link.I think the Kites are just amazing.
I feel so lucky to see them around here each day .

Jane, leucism isn't specific to kites, it can occur in any animal only affecting the fur of feathers.

I'm not sure how long this link will be good for as they are working on moving http://redkitenews.blogspot.com/
Well worth a visit.

That's interesting Island.I will look Leucistic Kites up.

Jane, no it isn't albino it is leucistic. There are two known ones who visit Gigrin farm from time to time. Unusual for kites the white ones feed on the ground rather than swoop and grab. I think the reason for this is because they (the whites) are afraid of having the food taken from them if in flight.
I sent a pic of a white to Jude a while ago to put on the blog.

I wish Ann lol.I.m not technical and have no tripod ,and my camera is just a diddy digital one.

Island was the White Red Kite an Albino ? I have heard of a White one.

We often see a Heron around .Not recently though.I think I sent Jude a pic some way back of a daft Heron perched in the top of one of our conifers at the bottom of the garden/It did look silly :-D :-D

Apparently last year sometime two were spotted flying overhead here by OH and next door neighbour, and also he has seen them when playing golf at Cleeve Hil. I have seen them when travelling down to daughter, we usually see them near Newbury. Magnificent birds.

Ann, I should have added that my first red kite sighting in Brecon was about eight years ago so I'm sure they have drifted further north/east since then.
They really are unmistakable as they cruise and you will know when you see one. They also cruise quite a way up in the sky so have probably been surveying your garden for some time.

I spotted a heron go flapping by this afternoon - nothing unusual about herons except I don't usually see them from my window. I don't 'think' it was someones tea cloth LOL

edit A white red kite which was in rehab in mid Wales turned up in Boston Lincs not so long ago. So they do travel quite far.

Jane lovely to have the long tailed tits so close. What you really need is the camera set up on a tripod with a remote release. :-D No I guessed you wouldn't have one. Neither have I since I managed to 'lose' my tripod somewhere. :-(

Jude I have just sent a pic of the LLT looking in my window :-D.They have been really funny today,but are so fast I just can't get a decent pic .The trouble is because the Coconut is so close to my window they see me move and then poof they disappear.The coconut is empty AGAIN.That has only taken 2 days .So I will be off to get more tomorrow.

Ann my geog is pants lol.My Sis will be thrilled to know they were Kites.She always loves to see them when she is up with me.
Don't know about my pic yet as camera still on charge.

Jane just checked on line and yes red kites have been seen near Tewkesbury, also near Cheltenham at Leckhampton so they could fly over me soon. Did you miss my previous post we posted at the same time. Hope you have got a good photo.

I think I have just got a pic of a Long TT peeping in my window,but am having to charge up the battery on the camera.I'll look later and see if it's any good.

Jane erm, my geography is not that good but the M4 is not near Tewkesbury. Just the M5 and M50. The M4 is Bristol way.

Island, quite a way from Brecon as well although it wouldn't surprise me if they had drifted this way. Hope so would be nice to see them here. :-)

Hi Jane, I remember seeing a red kite for the first time from the west side of the Brecon Beacons, they are unmistakable as they cruise the thermals.

I doubt I'll be seeing them from my window any day soon, even though they were once a common sight in London, so I always recommend a trip to Gigrin Farm in Rhayadar, mid Wales where they take your breath away. :-D


Just reading back. Yes, gulls do chase other birds, particularly if the other bird has food or if the gull sees the other bird as food. They will also chase other birds that venture into their territory on land or in the sky.

Hi Island
Well my sisters house is very close to the M5 not far from where it joins M4( i think) so it does sound likely then :-D :-D.She will be chuffed if they are Kites.

Jane, there are red kites all along the M4 corridor so it is highly likely to see them in Tewkesbury.

I wouldn't rule them out Jane although I have not seen any near here. I'll see if I can find out.

Ann.You are near Tewkesbury (I think).Are there any Red Kites in that area?
I ask ,because I was just talking to my Sister and she says she has just seen 2 birds of prey that she hasn't seen there before and the description of them sounded very much like Kites.She mentioned the 2 white spots under the wings.

Quite right Ken! There is no such bird as a 'seagull'.

In the UK we have Herring Gull, Lesser Black Back Gull, Great Black Back Gull and Black Headed Gull being the most common as any birder worth their salt will know.
Even so, an awful lot of people stubbornly refuse to accept this. My late m-i-l even invented 'land gulls' and insisted that is the name of those not by the sea LOL Landfill Gulls anyone? :-0 :-D