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Burhinus's avatar

What a cracking bird to kick start the year. I did see one on New Years Day to add to my annual target of seeing 200 species. My first bird was Wood Pigeon.

Rachel Goddard's avatar

Oh wonderful! My first bird was a magpie - regularly seen but still appreciated. I agree that it is still a joy and moment of awe to see a Red Kite, especially on the South Downs. We've only had them over my bit for a few years and I still get a rush.

Alison Rosby's avatar

That sounds like a perfect start to the day/year!

We live in Oxfordshire close to where the red kite release was in the early ‘90s, and there are now huge numbers. My neighbour had a turkey carcass dropped onto her glazed kitchen roof yesterday by a red kite- it has gone into a sort of gully and is completely inaccessible!

Alison Rosby's avatar

Hopefully another one will be along to retrieve it! Another neighbour was sitting in the garden last summer and had a raw pork chop dropped onto them, presumably stolen from a barbecue!

Sophie Norris-Wagstaff's avatar

Oh my goodness, that must've been a shock. And how unfortunate to not be able to retrieve it easily 😕