The Amber Listed Red Kite

The Red Kite Milvus milvus is a magnificent raptor. I was lucky enough to see a pair of these birds in May 2013 whilst on holiday in the Dordogne region of France. In the UK this bird is Amber listed in terms of conservation importance, just a step down from Red status. (See RSPB for Amber list criteria)  http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/status_explained.aspx

The recently published paper by the Rare Breeding Birds Panel indicates that the Red Kite has become less scarce in the UK with a 5 year mean population of 1,191 breeding pairs. News to be cautiously welcomed. Territory coverage is listed as 'moderate'. In 2011 records show confirmed and/or probable 1,234 breeding pairs across the UK and Northern Ireland.

The Red Kite

For those of us living in the South East of England the following numbers of breeding pairs were included in the record: Bedfordshire 4, Berkshire 31, Buckinghamshire 52, Hertfordshire 31, Oxfordshire 42 and Sussex 3. (Perhaps a visit to Buckinghamshire would prove worthwhile...)

the figure of 1,234 pairs for 2011 is the highest total every recorded by the RBBP.