13 Mar 10 Gigrin Farm, Powys, Wales

A 5am start saw me, Patricia and the girls in Rhayader, mid Wales by just after midday. The initial plan had been to drop them in Shrewsbury, where we were staying the night, and carry on down to Gigrin to hopefully see the Black Kite that had spent most of the winter there. However, Patricia and the girls decided that the better option was to accompany me to Wales and leave the shopping to the Sunday.

The weather conditions were good, with double figure temperatures, light winds and fairly bright. We got into the hide just after 1pm and already there were at least 20 Red Kites flying around with several Buzzard and Ravens. The latters "cronking" calls very much in evidence.

As 2pm approached the number of Kites increased steadily and after much scanning I picked a likely candidate for the Black Kite but I quickly lost it amongst all the other Kites. However, just after 2pm the tractor arrived with the meat and the driver quickly scattered it and departed leaving the feast to by now up to 100 Red Kites. The food enticed the Kites closer still and I soon picked out the Black Kite in the throng. It was obviously darker, smaller with only a very shallow fork in the tail. The dark mask indicated that it was a juvenile bird. It all made the 322 miles worth it, bird 387 for Britain !

From a digiscoping point of view none of the Kites land, they merely swoop down and snatch food and are off again. They don't even perch in any of the adjacient trees ! Also slightly disapppointing was the Ravens that appear very shy and did not give me any opportunity for photography. Yes, digiscoping is all well and good, but to capture the Kites I really need a DLSR. Well its my birthday in May, so we'll see ! Anyway some of the Buzzards definitely do land and allowed me to get the following shots: