forest of dean redneck 11,530 Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 Seen a lot in Surrey, the photos you've put up are probably taken around the feeding stations which are dotted about, they are primarily carrion eaters and I wouldn't think they would put much of a dent in the rabbit population and little in the hare.... I would say disease and the constant wet weather would have a lot more of an affect Cheers Be interesting to know facts. There's very few where I am, infact your very lucky to see even one but in larger numbers I'd imagine they could make a dent in the rabbit population. They love a rabbit. Or a pheasant . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stewie 3,387 Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 Seen a lot in Surrey, the photos you've put up are probably taken around the feeding stations which are dotted about, they are primarily carrion eaters and I wouldn't think they would put much of a dent in the rabbit population and little in the hare.... I would say disease and the constant wet weather would have a lot more of an affect Cheers Be interesting to know facts. There's very few where I am, infact your very lucky to see even one but in larger numbers I'd imagine they could make a dent in the rabbit population. They love a rabbit. Never see them where I live mate, worked in Bracknell for 6 months and we would see them every day, a lovely looking bird... Never seen big numbers together and from what I understand the big gatherings you see are around he feeding stations... I'm sure they would take a few rabbits but couldn't see them making a big dent in the population..... Maybe not... Someone surely knows. The only one I have seen was about 5 mins from my house. It was on the ground and funnily enough it had killed a rabbit...:-) The dogs put it up, I didn't realise it was a kite until it was up in the sky and I saw the fork. It flew off in the direction of the lomond hills and on asking around its seen regular that way. I've always been led to believe that there main prey was rabbit? Then again if you listened to the 'buzzard experts' they only eat slugs and carrion... Lol did it carry the rabbit off mate?? No it had a big fat Lab about to grab it so it decided to f**k off sluggish.... Lol No worries...... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stewie 3,387 Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 I will donate a fiver to charity if anyone can produce video footage of a red kite catching and killing a rabbit....... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Richie10 345 Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 A chap I know in Devon was clearing a Chicken shed, now red kites are rare in Devon so he noticed the bird hanging around. Cleaning the sheds drives the rats out, he watched as the Kite picked off a few running off. They definately take live prey. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cammy12 176 Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 no seen a kite hear but the buzzard is geting to big for his boots he been trying to get my bantams every morning this week, the rabbits are really thin on the ground hear this year so i do think he is geting hungray. only seen 1 kite when i was keeper in perthshire and it was happily pulling the breast out a warm partridge, dont know if it killed it but it didnt finnish it Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kevin-Day 9 Posted December 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 Yeah we have the od buzzard but not that many, but the kites look like they are the problem they must be taking the young hare and rabbits,as numbers are really down now, and its not from over working as I have 3 patches and rotate, I have see od kites in 1 area but around aston I seen around 6 pares all over the hare fields, once they have cleaned up they will move on I gess. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fitchet 788 Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 Me and a feller was off here was up on abit of land we got and we were talking about the red kites killing some of the smaller piglets. Farmer reckons fox will kill the odd few. We once counted 10 buzzards on one field whilst ferreting. Far too many of them about i think. But they are stunning creatures. At Quote Link to post Share on other sites
General lee 979 Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 I'm in Bracknell and there's loads of red kites here I see them in flocks of 5 or 6 regular I've seen them take starlings doves and all types of song birds I've seen them eating rabbits even seen them eating laying hens but I've never seen them actually kill a rabbit or chicken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kevin-Day 9 Posted January 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2013 Well good news and bad, I walked 6 large stubble fields today which held lots of hare just to see if they were still around, and guess what not one was seen! I was stopped by a keeper on the way back, he ask what I was up-to as they do! So I asked him if he had problems with Red kites, he said them thinks had been taking all his birds! not a happy chap The good news is not one Kite here now good job too i say, why have they imported these birds into Britain they must be off there silly heads.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tegater 789 Posted January 3, 2013 Report Share Posted January 3, 2013 Well good news and bad, I walked 6 large stubble fields today which held lots of hare just to see if they were still around, and guess what not one was seen! I was stopped by a keeper on the way back, he ask what I was up-to as they do! So I asked him if he had problems with Red kites, he said them thinks had been taking all his birds! not a happy chap The good news is not one Kite here now good job too i say, why have they imported these birds into Britain they must be off there silly heads.. When were they imported? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fitchet 788 Posted January 3, 2013 Report Share Posted January 3, 2013 Was up on my permission yesterday and asked the landowner if he had ever seen a kite take a rabbit or hare. He reckons he witnessed this one get killed by a kite. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kevin-Day 9 Posted January 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2013 Well good news and bad, I walked 6 large stubble fields today which held lots of hare just to see if they were still around, and guess what not one was seen! I was stopped by a keeper on the way back, he ask what I was up-to as they do! So I asked him if he had problems with Red kites, he said them thinks had been taking all his birds! not a happy chap The good news is not one Kite here now good job too i say, why have they imported these birds into Britain they must be off there silly heads.. When were they imported? They was only around 20 pares left in wales. The RSPB and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee therefore initiated the re-introduction of kites at two separate locations - one in southeastern England the other in north Scotland - imported Red Kites of Spanish and Swedish origin respectively. These re-introductions began in 1989 and have since successfully re-established breeding populations at both localities. Equally successful releases have since been undertaken at other sites in both countries, so that by 2000 England could boast 132 breeding pairs, and Scotland 39 pairs Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tegater 789 Posted January 3, 2013 Report Share Posted January 3, 2013 Re introduced yes but they have been here for literally hundreds of years. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying they cause no harm, because just the fact that they are flying will put game birds off leaving cover to feed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kevin-Day 9 Posted January 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 They was a small number of Red kite in wales, I myself have been to wales to see them over the hills back in the 1970s. But they died out in England and Scotland years ago, check the records over the last 100 years, the birds which were over Aston in a 12 bird flock have cleared these fields and moved to another area, the odd pare would not be so bad on other wide-life but birds moving in small flocks 6 to 12 is silly! bad news for people which like as I do to see a range of other wide-life!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cleanspade 3,322 Posted January 4, 2013 Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 Better have the like, back then! have a like for that lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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