Iver Heath garden - Red Kites late June, early July 2020

We sourced a new garden net in the hope of catching some of the kites that quarter the gardens on the look out for food, having managed to catch three, at about this time of year, in 2019.

The net has 60*60 mesh so catching the smaller birds visiting the feeding station must be delayed until the more usual superfine net is up. Between the 29th June and 7th July we managed to catch and ring six birds. Chicken wings were used as bait.

The first bird captured was adult.

GR23101, age 6

The second we aged as a 5 due to the hint of brown remaining in the eye, white borders to the streaking on the body feathers, pale tipped greater coverts and under wing coverts consistent with a bird in its second year.

GR23102

The third capture on the 01/07.

GR23105

All the birds have been in full wing moult.

GR23106 was ringed by MRB and was aged as a 5.

GR23106

Juvenile pattern under wing coverts.

The next two birds were both 5s.

GR23107

GR23107

This bird seemed a little behind the other 5s and was in the process of changing the central retrices.

Birds of Aragon  proved very helpful while processing these captures.

According to the Identification Guide to Birds in the Hand by DemonGin it is possible to sex some birds on wing length and weight, but the overlaps are extensive. All fell into the indeterminate range on wing length, and two just into the weight range for male.

By catch while using the net included Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Ring-necked Parakeet and Great Spotted Woodpecker.