[Harry Hussey]

Hi there,
The initial Red Kite image is amazing, one of the best that I have seen taken in Ireland. As a result, the finer details of moult and wear are readily visible, enabling accurate ageing, though, as my own experience with ageing of Red Kite is limited, I concede that some of this may be incorrect.
So, to start, this bird is in obvious primary moult, and this means that it can't be one of this year's juveniles: the very pale iris, mainly yellowish bill and streaked underparts are also all features of older (adult-type) birds anyway. We are thus dealing with a bird in its second calendar year (i.e. born in 2009) or older. Now, I can't help but notice that the outer four (dark-tipped) primaries are retained older feathers, with a gap where the fifth primary should be. That said, it really interests me that the outermost primary is a lot more faded than the next three feathers: in Common Buzzard, during the first complete moult in a bird's second calendar year, the moult is very often incomplete, with a variable number of juvenile primaries not being replaced at all, and not moulted until the next complete moult, in the bird's third calendar year. If Red Kite has a similar moult strategy, and I don't see why it may not have, this would make this bird a 3rd calendar year, with three primaries remaining that it moulted in last year, and the outermost a juvenile feather that is almost two years old and will be replaced before too long.
Now I just need to study my copy of Forsman and see if my logical reasoning is flawed or not...
Regards,
Harry

[Rainbowsend]

Thanks Harry, so this could have been one of the original Kites that were
introduced here. The tags are still in place would these stay put throughout the moult?

[Harry Hussey]

Originally Posted by Rainbowsend

Thanks Harry, so this could have been one of the original Kites that were
introduced here. The tags are still in place would these stay put throughout the moult?

The original batch of releases was in 2007, as far as I recall, so this bird, if my reasoning is correct, would have been from the second batch of releases, in 2008.
Tags, and this is not as barbaric as it may sound, are actually stitched through an area of skin membrane on the wing, and, while some wear away a little and fall off, they are designed to stay on a bird. This does not cause pain, it's probably no different to human beings wearing earrings or something.
Of course, reading the tags, were that possible, would allow 100% accurate ageing...
Regards,
Harry

[cuddlycavies]

Anyone wanting to view these magnificent birds will be rewarded by a trip to Avoca. A half mile from the town on the Arklow road is a ruined church on the right. Immediately opposite is a panoramic view of the wooded river valley. Up to seven kites can be seen daily riding the wind thermals above.

[cuddlycavies]

photo0006.jpg

[sables2]

Hi Rainbowsend,
What a stunning picture you caught there! The rapture is SO graceful in flight. I'd LOVE to see one. Tried Broadlough Co. Wicklow. No sign. I'v been told they're pretty common around Rathdrum??
Why don't you post a 'find' to: www.irishbirding.com Your BOUND to get a name for yourself there - especially if you get a picture of birds who are uncommon and rare.

[Rainbowsend]

Thank you very much for the compliment sables2, this was taken in Rathdrum, I had been there for the day and had just about given up when I was returning down the hill into the village he flew right in front of me! A great sight for sure, you can sometimes get them over the Nll just around the Arklow bypass too.

[cuddlycavies]

Saw one soaring at Roundwood this morning. But Avoca is a dead cert if you want to see them.

[coolhandspan]

those kites still around guy????????

[sables2]

Ok Rainbowsend. Thanks for advice. Can't wait to see if i can spot one. "Patients is a virtue, have it if can - seldome in in a women, but never in a man"

[Feargal as Luimneach]

http://www.birdwatch.co.uk/channel/n...11&cate=__9764
From the link above: "This year (2010) they have managed to breed – the first breeding of Red Kites in Ireland for more than 200 years. Twelve chicks were raised from seven nests in Co Wicklow and five chicks by four pairs in Co Down".
So that's a total of 16 chicks raised North and South this year

[Rainbowsend]

that is a wonderful achievement Feargal lets hope they all survive!

[jkforde]

Damian's Clarke's email here, reckon we should bombard him with congratulatory emails! Fantastic news on a day when the news is otherwise plain depressing.

[sables2]

Yes, it is Rainbowsend - great news about the red kites.
prosperous thread by Feargal. It's AMAZING news! God, i do hope the chicks thrive and live long enough to breed themselves when the time comes.Tonight i saw the RTE programme: 'The Eagles Return'. It was TOTALLY depressing to see SO many raptors poisoned. Will farmers...(who else??) ever learn. The Norwegians have us under scrutiny, and rightly so. If it continues..the illicit negligence of our farmers, we'll have little or NO birds of prey left. They..(the Norwegian farmers) don't use poisonous bait, simply put - they'd be imprisoned i believe. These precious and beautiful birds are in our hands..literally.

[MB Lacey]

Just a reminder that any sightings should be reported to the Golden Eagle Trust, where, when etc

Here's the link http://www.goldeneagle.ie/portal.php?z=129