Forum Topic

Red Kite spotted in Acton

A Red Kite has just swooped into my garden and taken a wood pigeon - left loads of feathers behind.  I don't know much about birds - do we have red kites living in the area?

Jacqueline Davis ● 5447d14 Comments

A first for Acton I think, but you do not have to go that far up the M40 to see lots, Beaconsfield or so.....

Iain Muir ● 5447d

Wow how amazing!We have a Great Spotted Woodpecker family living in our garden on Cumberland Park. Will be keeping my eyes peeled :)Mind you, I get excited when the flock of geese fly across our property or when I am at Acton Mainline station. It is nice to know we have some many birds around!

Sarah Allan ● 5447d

Not so nice for the poor wood pigeon.  Haven't seen his life partner since either?  But the red kite was an amazing sight.

Jacqueline Davis ● 5447d

Red kite (Milvus milvus) is a medium-large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which includes diumal raptors such as eagles, buzzards and harriers.The Red kite is 60-66cm long with a wing span of 175-195cm.

Nicola Howard ● 5446d

That's great!I go to see them regularly in Watlington where is a big colony. I saw one a couple of years ago near Heathrow off the M4 and there's also a pair in Harpenden (Herts, just north of London) so to hear they're in Acton is good news.They're beautiful birds, but mind your sandwiches!http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-13614326To be fair, in Watlington they're fed so no wonder they've got so brave and aren't scared of humans.Hmm .. now I sound like a twitcher!  God help me .... ;-)

Sarah Harris ● 5446d

Thanks Sarah that is really useful to know.  It was incredibly beautiful and sat about 6 feet from my window before taking off with the wood pigeon. I am interested to know whether anyone else saw it.

Jacqueline Davis ● 5446d

Saw 6 or 7 whilst with my Scouts hiking in the Chilterns last weekend. Some of the scouts were a bit silly about what they were calling them egales!

James Knights ● 5446d

It appears that they are very rare in London and this sighting could mean that they are migrating from the Chilterns back into the city.  Hope so they are incredibly beautiful.  I phoned the RSPB and they said it had probably followed the M40 looking for road kill.

Jacqueline Davis ● 5445d

"followed the M40 looking for road kill" That's a bit of an unfortunate phrase!

Iain Muir ● 5445d

Whoops - I must pay attention to my English when typing here "roadkill" as in animals killed on the road.  Red kites are attracted to carrion - though this one killed and carried off a wood pigeon.

Jacqueline Davis ● 5445d

At least there have been no jokes about seeing a pair of great tits or boobies in Acton!... Oops! :)

James Vertigan ● 5444d

Got blue tits in my garden.  And my friendly robin.

Nicola Howard ● 5444d

A C T  O N

Fred Bray ● 5444d

I definitely saw that red kite, swooping above acton high street of all places - probably tuesday 18th, so not the same day

Veronica Tuke ● 5443d