Floating Red Kites

 

No, not the sort you can fly in the blustery weather we've ben having but you do catch sight of these kites  floating in the sky above you as you walk through Jubilee wood and  what a wonderful sight it is too .

 

 

 

 

Pencil and watercolour reference sketches

 

The red kite [Milvus milvus]was re-introduced to this area several years ago and they have been spectacularly successful in breeding and becoming a normal part of the rural landscape.  When fully grown they can have a wingspan of 2 metres and at this time of year  they are busy calling or 'mewing' to their mates, who they usually keep for life, and it's  a lovely sound as they soar above you in the bright blue sky with those distinctive forked tails and white bars under their wings. 

The young woodland provides cover for a lot of small mammals but the kites are always on the lookout  for small prey and carrion.   Next month I might be lucky enough to see their aerial displays as the breeding season starts.   Spring must be coming!