
I was walking with the dogs across the farm a few days ago when I stopped to watch a red kite soaring above the two small ponds near the top of our land. I began to ponder how I, perhaps, take these majestic birds for granted; they are seen quite commonly in our part of the world but I am regularly surprised that people living just in other parts of Britain are not even able to recognise a red kite in flight, often mistaking them for a buzzard. I was reminded, not for the first time, how lucky I am to live the life that I do, but this encounter inspired me to collate a few facts for you regarding this remarkable bird of prey that we so nearly lost not even a century ago.