Finally I have seen a red kite in Essex. Well I am about 90% sure that it was a kite. I was driving on the M25 yesterday between Bell Common Tunnel and Waltham Abbey when a large bird of prey glided across my vision. There was no way that I could take my eyes off the traffic to get a better look but the whole "feel" of the sighting was of a kite rather than a buzzard and I think that I have seen enough of both in the past few years to trust my judgement on that.
Taking my usual walk today it was striking how the autumn colours had come on in the last few days. When the sun came out I really regretted not having the camera with me. There wasn't much to see in the way of variety or numbers of birds. A couple of probable skylarks put up on a cultivated field but the gem was naturally a red kite. Circling over the fields behind my house at tree top height it finally came over my head as I reached the edge of the field. Living where I do I suppose that I should be blasé about them by now but when one comes overhead there is no choice. I still just stop and say "wow!"
Comments