Tailless Red Kite

The/A “Tail-less” Red Kite has been seen recently over the north side of the parish after an absence of a couple of years.

If this is the same one it has been seen in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire since leaving Cholsey but appears to be back in the area.

The bird in question appeared to have been hatched without a pygostle (parsons nose) and therefore unable to grow tail feathers. We do not know if it is a male or a female as impossible to tell in the field.

However it survived well and held its own but maybe had problems finding a mate, hence its wonderings.

photo courtesy Alan