Any birdwatchers around to help me ID this bird?

[hereismydog]

Any birdwatching enthusiasts around? I’ve been hooked on Merlin ID for the last couple of weeks but it couldn’t identify this bird above my garden this morning. It was massive and there were a couple of herring gulls screaming and swooping at it in the air to chase it away so they were obviously quite afraid of it! I think it’s a red kite based on its size and tail shape but I’m very new to birdwatching

I’m 2.5 miles from the coast in Kent, for context. Images are horribly grainy because I zoomed right in!

Red Kite. The tail confirms.

Yep red kite

I agree Red Kite. They seem to be a lot more common now.

Thank you @dailyconniptions @Stickthatupyourdojo @Tel12!

It was amazing to watch, only happened to glance up to see what the gulls were so angry about and there it was 😍

As red kites are carrion feeders, they tend to get mobbed by gulls and carrion crows as competitors. I know when the kite is near because the three resident crows go bananas.

(Of course, a kite isn't averse to nabbing a chick, which only exacerbates the situation)

Stunning bird:
www.livingwithbirds.com/tweetapedia/21-facts-on-red-kite

Red Kite. Watch out for spectacular aerial displays Kites V crows, like watching the Battle of Britain.

Also when they are around the little birds go quiet and start tweeting when they gone.

www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife-explorer/birds/birds-prey/red-kite

Definitely.. lots round here

Ooh! The crows live a little further down the road, we don’t get many around my house because there are so many gulls. It’s a shame because I’ve always loved crows, I think they are beautiful birds.

Interesting point re the little birds too, you are right! The app didn’t pick up any of my usual wrens, sparrows, linnets or blackbirds while the kite was overhead.

Fully enjoying my new birdwatching era

Even my cat goes undercover when they are around. I live inland so don’t have any gulls. Enjoy your Kites. They are massive if they swoop low.

They are very noisy - we used to have a pair near our house and the shouting when they flew over !

I've been to one of those places where they feed the kites at a certain time each day, and you can see them start to gather in the trees about an hour before actual feeding time, and then when the food is out they just swoop in from every angle, and you get to see them really up close, its an amazing sight, really exciting( it was this place in case anyone is interested https://www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk/helping-it-happen/case-studies/red-kite-feeding-station)

If you are just getting into bird watching I recommend getting a book which has a good 'silhouettes' identification section and also one oof those song ID apps on your phone , as you can often hear them before you see them.

https://www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk/helping-it-happen/case-studies/red-kite-feeding-station

don;t think the link worked first time