SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

I know this is slightly beyond the Leeds boundary but...Are there any bird watchers out there in the big wide world of SL?I'm certainly no expert,just an interested amateur who keeps his eyes open when out and about.I was on holiday last week and took my girlfriend to Sutton Bank to show her the finest view in Yorkshire.While walking along the footpath at the top we heard a rustling sound in the long grass.We approached with caution and saw,a couple of yards away,a Great Bustard.It ran away rather than flying and was the size and shape of a turkey with all the correct colours and markings.IMO it can't have been anything else.I knew they'd been re-introduced in some parts of the country after being extinct for many years.It would make my day if someone could verify my sighting!

stevief wrote: While walking along the footpath at the top we heard a rustling sound in the long grass. Are you sure ye weren't in the long grass yourselves!!!    

You want to get yerself round gipton mate its full of Bustards lol

See here http://greatbustard.org/ there's some youtube footage too.

A pair of red kites have been in my area( guiseley) over the last couple of weeks. I have seen them quite regularly around the Pool,Arthington,Harewood area over the last few years since some were released as part of a breeding programme.But it's the first time I've seen them round here.

Lilysmum wrote: A pair of red kites have been in my area( guiseley) over the last couple of weeks. I have seen them quite regularly around the Pool,Arthington,Harewood area over the last few years since some were released as part of a breeding programme.But it's the first time I've seen them round here. I see them quite often over Otley. They are easily distinguishable by their size (big!), forked tail, accompanying crows, and lazy "bin-liner in the wind" flight!

There has been a Red Kite flying over and around Seacroft/Gipton (brave bird) for the past few months, I live at Killingbeck (backing onto the cemetery) and I often see it chasing the tail wind of the swifts near us.Did a bit of research and Harewood House succesfully bred a few breeding pairs and let them fly off into the wilderness.My son (aged 11) loves to see it, and of ourse its great to see such magnificent birds flying so freely and happily nearby

tinks wrote: There has been a Red Kite flying over and around Seacroft/Gipton (brave bird) for the past few months, I live at Killingbeck (backing onto the cemetery) and I often see it chasing the tail wind of the swifts near us.Did a bit of research and Harewood House succesfully bred a few breeding pairs and let them fly off into the wilderness.My son (aged 11) loves to see it, and of ourse its great to see such magnificent birds flying so freely and happily nearby Rumour has it that there are a pair of Red Kites living on top of the flats in Gipton. Certainly I've seen them down that way and it seems to fit with your sightings.I've seen them on Otley Chevin too, as well as around Harewood / Pool.

Red Kites are now regularly seen over Knaresborough - presumably from their base in Harewood

There's at least one very active pair of kites around Harewood and they do cover a huge area, so Otley wouldn't be beyond them.The great bustard is a recent reintroduction to the UK but I thought they were a bit further north than Sutton Bank. However, they probably travel too, so it's great that they have reached Yorkshire.