Red kites

Today I was out with the Dunscore Birdwatching Group, at the RSPB reserve on Loch Ken and then at the red kite feeding station at Bellymack Farm near Laurieston. At Loch Ken we had a close up view of willow tits on the feeders - very pretty birds.

The Red kites seemed reluctant to come down to the meat which the farmer had put out in the field for them. They circled around and perched in nearby trees, perhaps 50 or 60 in view at one time. The farmer said that in 10 years of feeding the kites, she had only had food leftover three times. This may have been the fourth. Anyway, it was just wonderful to watch those beautiful birds in flight, using their tails to steer.

I took some photos of the cuddly version instead.