Friends of Red Kites

Our latest Newsletter can be found at friendsofredkites.org.uk/newsletters which includes our up to date breeding information which isn't great.

Last week I had a wet but wonderful trip to @NT_Gibside to discuss our family fun day to mark the 20th anniversary of red kites being released into the Derwent Valley @FriendsKites 📆 Save the date: 7 July!

Red Kite 20th Anniversary Commemorative Events. Please visit friendsofredkites.org.uk/events for details.

@PeterMClayton It looks like the kite is taking material to line his or her nest.

A Red Kite from last weekend

Sightings of Red Kites wanted from North-East England. Your sightings can help @FriendsKites monitor this fragile population in an area where kites (& Hen Harriers) are frequent victims of shooting and poisoning on some local grouse moors. More info ⬇️ raptorpersecutionuk.org/2024/04/11/sig…

@ROBBIE4560 @FriendsKites @ChrisGPackham @IoloWilliams2 @N_E_R_F @Markthebirder @jeanthorpeRR @DurhamBirdClub @NorthPenninesNL @NorthPennChief Please report to @FriendsKites website. Link via their Twitter profile or via the blog. Thks

As we head towards the end of March our kites are very active in finding and/or defending breeding territories. Please let us know if you see anything that could be active breeding bahaviour in North East England. We will follow up all sightings in the coming weeks.

@nowttosay1 H5 is a male, he is 10 years old this year. He successfully raised 2 chicks in 2023 so fingers crossed for another good breeding season for H5 and partner.

@FriendsKites I’ve seen H5 on a number of occasions at Far Pastures fingers crossed for the coming breeding season.

I haven’t been out much with the camera lately but here are some images from Far Pastures on the 29th Feb. more on notmanywords.blogspot.com

@pinklady38 Hi Tracey. They're really nice photographs.

@FriendsKites juvenile and parent #derwent

The east coast of the U.K. is being hit badly by avian influenza for a second consecutive summer. Vulnerable populations are threatened further and it’s depressing to see. The blog has the story: isleofmaynnr.wordpress.com

Join us at our annual conference 18th Nov 2023 in Barnsley

A red kite has been found killed near Stanhope in Weardale in the #NorthPenninesAONB. Director of the @NorthPennAONB, Chris Woodley-Stewart, responds to this news: northpennines.org.uk/red-kite-found… Our blog post includes information on how to report #wildlifecrime #RaptorPersecution

Northern England Raptor Forum (@N_E_R_F ) conference booking now open! (Conference: 18 Nov 2023). An opportunity to hear about the latest updates in UK raptor conservation 🦅 Places are limited so early booking advisable! Programme & booking details ⬇️ raptorpersecutionuk.org/2023/06/29/nor…

Will the UK government ever do anything to stop this?@DefraNature

@SheilaHarries @RaptorPersUK @DefraGovUK @RichardHRBenyon @theresecoffey @pow_rebecca @ChrisGPackham @IoloWilliams2 @N_E_R_F @BlanaidDenman @natalieben @Team4Nature @LeagueACS @Animal_Watch @DrAmirKhanGP The roads around the moors are littered with dead animals killed by cars. It's unlikely that kites in these areas need to kill anything. They're not going to chase an animal when they can eat roadkill with very little effort.

@RaptorPersUK @DefraGovUK @RichardHRBenyon @theresecoffey @pow_rebecca @ChrisGPackham @IoloWilliams2 @N_E_R_F @FriendsKites @BlanaidDenman @natalieben @Team4Nature @LeagueACS @Animal_Watch @DrAmirKhanGP So -let me get this right. They've killed a creature because it needs to live, as nature meant, by eating other creatures, so that people, who dont need to eat those same creatures, can blast them out of the sky for - what? FUN?

Red kite found shot & poisoned in notorious grouse moor area of North Pennines AONB. Cue predictable silence from @DefraGovUK Ministers @RichardHRBenyon @theresecoffey @pow_rebecca Details of latest victim ⬇️⬇️ raptorpersecutionuk.org/2023/06/28/red…

@RaptorPersUK @DefraGovUK @RichardHRBenyon @theresecoffey @pow_rebecca @ChrisGPackham @IoloWilliams2 @N_E_R_F @BlanaidDenman @natalieben @Team4Nature @LeagueACS @Animal_Watch @DrAmirKhanGP Sadly, persecution is likely to be the reason that the red kites numbers are not where they should be at this stage of the Gateshead re-introduction.

@hewitson_marc We have had kites seen around the Lambton Estate so it wouldn't be too much of a stretch for them to be in the South Hetton area. I have personally seen kites at Chester-le-Street and Peterlee.