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Red Kite

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    #152
    Bsal
    Registered Users Posts: 1,769 ✭✭✭Bsal


    About two weeks ago I saw one Red Kite near that windturbine, the factory is called Country Crest that operate it.


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    #153
    Cardinal Richelieu
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,407 ✭✭✭Cardinal Richelieu


    Half-cocked wrote: »
    Just south of Skerries is the place to be, apparently. There is a food processing plant in the area and the kites are hanging around for scraps. I saw 2 there on Saturday but talking to a photographer who said up to 8 could be seen there regularly.
    Bsal wrote: »
    About two weeks ago I saw one Red Kite near that windturbine, the factory is called Country Crest that operate it.

    I know the site, it was common a few years ago to see a Buzzard circle the site. Its a very well run facility so I seriously doubt they are leaving scraps out that will encourage rodents. It is do surrounded by a quite substantial area of farmland with a duck pond in one corner so ideal area for the animals that kites feed on.


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    #154
    Birdnuts
    Registered Users Posts: 9,660 ✭✭✭Birdnuts


    Cardinal Richelieu wrote: »
    I know the site, it was common a few years ago to see a Buzzard circle the site. Its a very well run facility so I seriously doubt they are leaving scraps out that will encourage rodents. It is do surrounded by a quite substantial area of farmland with a duck pond in one corner so ideal area for the animals that kites feed on.

    Although Kites are mainly scavangers, the live prey element of their diet resembles that of Barn Owls, so fresh water like ponds, canals etc. would be attractive given such habitats often have high rodent populations, especcially in arable areas. Analysis of prey items in Kite nests in Wicklow confirms this, young jackdaws and rooks also make an appearance as prey in season.


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    #155
    ThunderCat
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,385 ✭✭✭ThunderCat


    Birdnuts wrote: »
    Although Kites are mainly scavangers, the live prey element of their diet resembles that of Barn Owls, so fresh water like ponds, canals etc. would be attractive given such habitats often have high rodent populations, especcially in arable areas. Analysis of prey items in Kite nests in Wicklow confirms this, young jackdaws and rooks also make an appearance as prey in season.

    Impressive enough given the fact rooks are fairly large and strong. Would a female sparrowhawk prey on rooks? I take it a male sparrowhawk would leave well alone? Also, are there any corvids that arnt taken by birds of prey? Raven maybe?


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    #156
    cuddlycavies
    Registered Users Posts: 970 ✭✭✭cuddlycavies


    I remember seeing dead raven remains under the nest at Lugala years ago.


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    #157
    slowburner
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 5,219 Mod ✭✭✭✭slowburner


    cuddlycavies wrote: »
    I remember seeing dead raven remains under the nest at Lugala years ago.
    A peregrine's nest?


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    #158
    Birdnuts
    Registered Users Posts: 9,660 ✭✭✭Birdnuts


    slowburner wrote: »
    A peregrine's nest?

    Sounds like it allright, since Kites only started nesting in Wicklow in the last 2 years.

    PS: Raven remains have been found in active Golden Eagle nests up in Donegal


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    #159
    Birdnuts
    Registered Users Posts: 9,660 ✭✭✭Birdnuts


    ThunderCat wrote: »
    Impressive enough given the fact rooks are fairly large and strong. Would a female sparrowhawk prey on rooks? I take it a male sparrowhawk would leave well alone? Also, are there any corvids that arnt taken by birds of prey? Raven maybe?

    These were young birds recently out of the nest - adult rooks would be a much more formidible challenge and would probably have to be injured before a Kite would have a go IMO. Primarily scavangers, Kites are all tail and wing and do not have the muscle mass of other similiar seized raptors that rely much more on live prey.

    As for sparrow hawks,I have seen female sparrow-hawks take Wood Pigeons so a Jackaw or young rook would definatly be potential prey.


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    #160
    slowburner
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 5,219 Mod ✭✭✭✭slowburner


    Birdnuts wrote: »
    Sounds like it allright, since Kites only started nesting in Wicklow in the last 2 years.

    PS: Raven remains have been found in active Golden Eagle nests up in Donegal
    I don't have real evidence to support this observation, but I am pretty sure that the Raven population has decreased around here, since the introduction of the Kites.
    I presume both species compete for pretty much the same food.


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    #161
    Birdnuts
    Registered Users Posts: 9,660 ✭✭✭Birdnuts


    slowburner wrote: »
    I presume both species compete for pretty much the same food.

    Only in terms that both species will scavange carrion. A Ravens diet(like other crows) is much broader then Kites and other raptors.


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    #162
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 48,629 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    there's a sizable enough article in the irish times today about the decline of raptors due to poisoning.


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    #163
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 48,629 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    here it is:
    http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0313/1224313201861.html


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    #164
    cuddlycavies
    Registered Users Posts: 970 ✭✭✭cuddlycavies


    slowburner wrote: »
    A peregrine's nest?
    yes


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    #165
    cuddlycavies
    Registered Users Posts: 970 ✭✭✭cuddlycavies


    Peregine will take almost anything on the stoop. Only bird that poses any threat is the eagle owl. He can kill any bird.


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    #166
    whyulittle
    Registered Users Posts: 3,878 ✭✭✭whyulittle


    BWI Wicklow Branch

    Saturday 24 March: Annual Spring Red Kite Watch at Avoca village. Meet at the bridge from 12.00pm onwards. Parking is available nearby opposite St. Patrick's RC Church.

    http://www.birdwatchireland.ie/Default.aspx?tabid=302


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    #167
    golfwallah
    Registered Users Posts: 1,511 ✭✭✭golfwallah


    Last Tuesday, 13th March (about 10.30am), while driving on Hearse Road, heading in direction of Donabate, I sighted 2 large birds of prey flying through the hedge rows & trees that run alongside the road.

    They were flying at a fairly leisurely pace, dodging between and above the trees at a height of about 20 feet.

    I’ve never seen birds like this before from such close range and was surprised at how big they were. I’ve seen buzzards quite a few times before but these 2 birds appeared to be much larger.

    From my angle of view, the topside colouring of the birds was brown. I couldn’t see the colouring underneath.

    I thought they might be red kites but can’t be absolutely sure.


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    #168
    Rainbowsend
    Registered Users Posts: 938 ✭✭✭Rainbowsend


    Kites are fairly easy to identify by the shape of their tail,
    a definite triangular shape that twists and turns like a rudder
    to steer them where they want to go. They wouldnt be
    overly bigger than a buzzard though.


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    #169
    golfwallah
    Registered Users Posts: 1,511 ✭✭✭golfwallah


    Rainbowsend wrote: »
    Kites are fairly easy to identify by the shape of their tail,
    a definite triangular shape that twists and turns like a rudder
    to steer them where they want to go. They wouldnt be
    overly bigger than a buzzard though.

    Thanks.

    Didn't notice tail shapes but will watch out for that next time.

    They were twisting and turning over and between trees, though, which I've never seen buzzards doing.

    Also haven't seen a pair of buzzards flying like this so close to the ground and twisting and turning so much.

    Maybe they looked a bit bigger because they were so near when I spotted them.

    Looked at some photos of red kites and buzzards on internet today and am inclined to think the pair I saw were red kites.


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    #170
    whyulittle
    Registered Users Posts: 3,878 ✭✭✭whyulittle


    Wicklow Red Kite Winter's Tale & Woodenbridge Talk

    The red kite is now a familiar sight around Wicklow farms and villages. Particularly in Avoca village throughout the year and also where notably large communal roosts occur in the winter. People from near and far have come to see the kites and many are captivated by the sight of the graceful, forked-tailed kite floating and gliding over fields, villages and woods in Wicklow.

    The Golden Eagle Trust in partnership with the National Parks & Wildlife Service and Welsh Kite Trust supported by Coillte Teoranta, the Heritage Council and Greenstar Ireland released a total of 120 red kites in Wicklow between 2007 and 2011 in Co. Wicklow. The final release of 13 Welsh kites took place during 2011. Simultaneously, in 2011 39 red kites were released in Fingal, Co. Dublin supported additionally by Fingal LEADER Partnership, Fingal County Council, Fingal Conservation Volunteers, Birdwatch Ireland, Burren Bird of Prey Centre, AOL Monster Help Day and the Irish Raptor Study Group.

    Full story at goldeneagle.ie.


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    #171
    whyulittle
    Registered Users Posts: 3,878 ✭✭✭whyulittle


    Spring update

    The autumn and winter has required a lot of fieldwork and also a large amount of data entry, reports and funding claims to compile ? unfortunately it's not all about watching kites and sometimes we have to do some 'real' work! We are extremely grateful to our all project funders and the support from the public and volunteers.

    Since the winter and the disappointing loss of nine kites in Dublin during November and December to rodenticide poisoning the monitoring of the red kite populations has continued each week in both Wicklow and Dublin. The dead kites located in Co. Dublin were identified by their blue left wing and white right wing tags and were found as follows C8 (2nd Nov) A5 (5th Nov), @ (17th Nov), £ (17th Nov) ? (21st Nov), ? (2nd Dec) B0 (9th Dec) and A3 (18th Dec). Since the last bird was found, to date - touch wood - no other dead kites have been found.

    Full story at goldeneagle.ie


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    #172
    E39MSport
    Registered Users Posts: 3,730 ✭✭✭E39MSport


    So, heading up to Avoca tomorrow to see what I can see. They may be quite high up with the heat but I'll be there late enough.

    Is the garage still the best place to see them coming in to roost or are they roosting in groups at all this time of year?


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    #173
    whyulittle
    Registered Users Posts: 3,878 ✭✭✭whyulittle


    Live Irish Red Kites on your screen. :)

    http://goldeneagle.ie/portal.php?z=269


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    #174
    snowstreams
    Registered Users Posts: 1,315 ✭✭✭snowstreams


    whyulittle wrote: »
    Live Irish Red Kites on your screen. :)

    http://goldeneagle.ie/portal.php?z=269

    Did you get the webcam to work? I had to update my version of Java to 7, but it still doesnt work. Ive tried chrome, firefox and Internet explorer.
    Maybe they are working on it, it would be great to be able to watch them growing up!


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    #175
    whyulittle
    Registered Users Posts: 3,878 ✭✭✭whyulittle


    Worked for me yesterday, only showing a black screen today.


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    #176
    whyulittle
    Registered Users Posts: 3,878 ✭✭✭whyulittle


    Working now.


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    #177
    cameramonkey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,220 ✭✭✭cameramonkey


    was looking at the live camera today. the birds are big and one in particular is doing lots of wing flapping. looks like it is preparing to leave the nest. does anyone know how many kites have been produced this year in wicklow, dublin and down?


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    #178
    Birdnuts
    Registered Users Posts: 9,660 ✭✭✭Birdnuts


    cameramonkey wrote: »
    was looking at the live camera today. the birds are big and one in particular is doing lots of wing flapping. looks like it is preparing to leave the nest. does anyone know how many kites have been produced this year in wicklow, dublin and down?

    A bit early to call yet CM - though I do know that some nests have failed due to the bad weather:(


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    #179
    snowstreams
    Registered Users Posts: 1,315 ✭✭✭snowstreams


    snowstreams wrote: »
    Did you get the webcam to work? I had to update my version of Java to 7, but it still doesnt work. Ive tried chrome, firefox and Internet explorer.
    Maybe they are working on it, it would be great to be able to watch them growing up!

    I got it working at last. It worked fine on my wifes machine which had Java 6 on it. So I downgraded from Java 7 to 6 and it works now!


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    #180
    michaelmouse
    Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭michaelmouse


    Sorry for invading air space but was just wondering what the best times are to view birds of prey in general.... have some amazing creatures on my doorstep that I want to identify with a camera I bought to impress everyone on here! Absolute novice and new to bird stalking but I am fascinated.


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    #181
    Bsal
    Registered Users Posts: 1,769 ✭✭✭Bsal


    I would say best times to see birds of prey is early morning and mid afternoon.


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