Pair of Red Kites Spotted

We are pleased to report a quite fantastic sighting of a pair of Red Kites on The Ridge and close to Harthill.

Red Kites are active during the day which is a bonus for bird-spotters, and this particular pair were soaring in clear, sunny skies with their magnificent markings and distinctive forked tails on full view.

Whether or not these magnificent birds are actually breeding in our area is still an unknown, but it is likely to be just a matter of time.

The RSPB has produced a useful map showing the distribution of Red Kites in the British Isles and it can be seen that this elegant 'bird of prey' is already resident in North East Wales, and is also very close to us, right here in this part of Cheshire.

What is remarkable is that Red Kites were saved from national extinction by one of the world's longest-running protection programmes and this unmistakable bird, with its reddish-brown body, angled wings and deeply forked tail, has become commonplace over much of England and Wales.

Keep your eyes open and continue to let us know if you see one (or a pair)!