Our Red Kite Histories

Kite No: A0.

Wing Tag Left/Right: Pink/Purple.

Kite Name: Spirit 2.

Fledged: 2007 Friarside, Gateshead. 

Male/Female: Unknown.

Parents:  Father - WT53 Winlaton Blaze  /  Mother - WT44 Morgan.

Adopt/Befriend a kite school: Farne Primary School, Newbiggin Hall, Newcastle.

Brief Summary: WTA0, along with sibling WTA1, was raised in a nest in Gateshead this summer. WTA0 was fitted with wing tags and a leg ring on 21st June. WTA0 fledged in July 2007. WTA0 can only be identified by a visual sighting. One such sighting places WTA0 at Barlow Burn, in Gateshead, on 14th August 2007.

Latest Sighting: A report of A0 being at the pre roost on 09/11/2012 is a dubious record since it had not been seen since August 2007. 

Kite No: A1.

Wing Tag Left/Right: Pink/Purple.

Kite Name: Cragside Flame.

Fledged: 2007 Friarside, Gateshead.

Male/Female: Unknown.

Parents: Father - WT53 Winlaton Blaze  /  Mother - WT44 Morgan.

Adopt a Kite School: Cragside C of E First School, Cramlington, Northumberland.

Brief Summary: WTA1, along with sibling WTA0, was raised in a nest in Gateshead this summer. WTA1 was fitted with wing tags and a leg ring on 21st June and fledged in July 2007. WTA1 can only be identified by a visual sighting. WTA1 was not recorded again until 3rd October 2007 when a photograph confirmed WTA1 was flying over Barlow Fell.

From 26th to 31st October 2007, WTA1 was recorded in Teesdale and was seen roosting with WTA7. WTA1 did not remain in Teesdale for long and by 5th November 2007 had rejoined the kites in Gateshead.

On 11th February 2008, WTA1 was seen with five other kites feeding in a field and perching on fence posts just north of the Barlow Burn.

On 2nd December 2008, Cragside Flame was seen at the red kite winter roost near Sherburn Towers housing estate in Rowlands Gill, Gateshead.

Latest Sighting: January 2013 - Cragside Flame was recorded at the main winter roost at Paddock Hill.

Kite No: A2.

Wing Tag Left/Right: Pink/Purple.

Kite Name: Silky Striker.

Fledged: 2007 Gibside, Gateshead.

Male/Female: Unknown.

Parents: Father - WT6 Flame  /  Mother - WT19 Ruby.

Adopt a Kite School: New Silksworth Junior School, Sunderland.

Brief Summary: WTA2 was raised in a nest in Gateshead this summer. WTA2 was fitted with wing tags and a leg ring on 12th July and fledged late-July 2007.

WTA2 can only be identified by a visual sighting and was regularly recorded around Rowlands Gill. On 5th November, WTA2 and five other kites were seen feeding on a pheasant carcass in a field in the area.

Silky Striker was next seen on 23rd June 2008 at Cut Thorn Farm, Gibside, with WTB0 and another purple tagged kite.

Since 2nd October 2008, Silky Striker has regularly been recorded at the the red kite winter roost near Sherburn Towers housing estate in Rowlands Gill, Gateshead.

On 24th February 2009, a photograph was taken of Silky Striker taking off from a field near Thornley Kennels in Rowlands Gill, Gateshead.

In early April 2009, Silky Striker was recorded at Barlow Fell in Gateshead. In October Silky Striker was recorded twice at the Sherburn Towers winter roost.

In March 2010 Silky Striker was seen perched in a tree near Highfield, and later in the same month was recorded at Sherburn Towers early one morning being quite vocal.

In August  Silky Striker was recorded twice at  the Sherburn Towers roost, again being quite vocal.

1st April 2012 - identified from photograph whilst perched in a tree in Highfield, Rowlands Gill. Also seen with nesting material.

01/11/2012 - recorded at the pre roost gathering, Hollinside Manor.

10/11/2012 - noted at Sherburn Towers farm being very vocal, especially when other kites were in the vicinity, almost certainly on territory.

16/12/2012 - recorded at Sherburn Towers farm again, perched in one of the trees in the woodland surrounding farm. Very vocal.

June 2013 - Silky Striker and his untagged partner were seen on territory were he was bringing in food for the female, but the nest was later confirmed as having failed.

February 2014 - A2 was back on his territory at Sherburn Towers.

April 2014 - kites were seen carrying nesting material in to the wood, and later the untagged female was seen incubating.

May 2014 -  the pair were seen near the nest  at Sherburn Towers with a lot of corvids present - it was later confirmed the nest had failed.

January 2015 - Silky Striker and Flame WT6, were identified from photographs,  around Sherburn Towers farm, Silky Striker's territory.

Silky Striker was also seen on one occasion at the main roost near the Nine Arches Viaduct with up to 40 other kites.  

February and March 2015 - Silky Striker was seen on his territory near Sherburn Towers. On one occasion he was seen with his untagged partner having brought in some food. 

April 2015 - the female was seen to be incubating, with Silky Striker close by, but the nest subsequently failed - possible predation.

October 2015 - Silky Striker was seen at Sherburn Towers with another untagged kite.
January 2016 - Silky Striker was identified on two occasions at Sherburn Towers pre-roost, on one occasion doing a lot of calling, and on the second occasion feeding on the ground whilst approximately 20 kites passed through here on their way to roost. 

February 2016 - Silky Striker was identified on one occasion at a pre-roost gathering at Sherburn Towers with eight other kites, mostly juveniles. 

January and February 2016 - Silky Striker and his untagged partner were often noted defending their territory at Sherburn Towers from other pre-roosting kites, often juveniles.

March 2016 - There was still plenty of activity, with kites carrying nesting material and on one occasion Silky Striker was seen bringing in food whilst his partner was staying near the nest site and seeing of other kites.

May 2016 - A partly built nest was located, but by the end of May there was no activity and it is believed the nest failed at the nest building stage.

October 2016 - Silky Striker was identified on his territory at Sherburn Towers perched on a pylon with WTK6 and an untagged juvenile.  

November 2016 - Silky Striker was identified on one occasion on his territory at Sherburn Towers perched on a pylon with only one other kite in attendance. 

February and March 2017 - Kites had been noted here regularly through the winter and Silky Striker and his untagged partner were often noted on their territory at Sherburn Towers.

April 2017 - Two pairs of kites were noted at Sherburn Towers before each pair flew off in different directions, so possibly no active territory here.

July 2017 - An adult kite was seen perched at the top of the tree that had previously been used as a nest site. No nest was found so outcome for this territory was unknown.

January 2018 - Silky Striker was identified early in the month at a pre-roost at Sherburn Towers, Rowlands Gill. There were a total of 10 kites recorded here.

January and March 2018 - Silky Striker and his partner were seen on their territory near Sherburn Towers.

Latest Sighting: April 2018 - there was no further activity. 

Kite No: A3.

Wing Tag Left/Right: Pink/Purple.

Kite Name: RJ.

Fledged: 2007 Derwent Park, Gateshead.

Male/Female: Male.

Parents: Father- WT15 Red Philip / Mother- WT16 Flag.

Adopt a Kite School: Ryton Community Juniors School, Gateshead.

Brief Summary: The parents of WTA3, WT15 (Red Philip) and WT16 (Flag), successfully raised a chick in 2006, becoming the first red kites to breed in the north east for nearly 200 years!

In the summer of 2007 this pair successfully raised two chicks in the Derwent Walk Country Park. WTA3, along with sibling WTA4, was fitted with wing tags and a leg ring on 28th June. WTA3 fledged in mid-July 2007. WTA3 can only be identified by a visual sighting. Since fledging in July, no sighting for WTA3 have been recorded.

On 24th February 2008, RJ was seen near Sherburn Towers housing estate in Rowlands Gill. Since mid-November 2008, RJ has regularly been recorded at the red kite winter roost near Sherburn Towers housing estate in Rowlands Gill, Gateshead.

On 23rd March 2009, RJ tried to woo WT34 (Parochial Poppy) who was seen foraging in a field of winter cereal in High Spen, Gateshead. Parochial Poppy's partner WT80 (Sky Diver) appeared and chased RJ away but after a few minutes he drifted back. RJ eventually moved on after getting chased by WT80 for a second time! The sex of RJ was unknown before this point but we can now confirm that RJ is male!

Latest Sighting: March 2009 - High Spen, Gateshead.

Kite No: A4.

Wing Tag Left/Right: Pink/Purple.

Kite Name: Farra Flame.

Born: 2007 Derwent Park, Gateshead.

Male/Female: Female.

Parents: Father- WT15 Red Philip / Mother- WT16 Flag.

Adopt a Kite School: Farringdon Primary School, Sunderland.

Brief Summary: The parents of WTA4, WT15 (Red Philip) and WT16 (Flag), successfully raised a chick in 2006, becoming the first red kites to breed in the north east for nearly 200 years! In the summer of 2007 this pair successfully raised two chicks in the Derwent Walk Country Park. WTA4, along with sibling WTA3, was fitted with wing tags and a leg ring on 28th June. WTA4 can only be identified by a visual sighting and on 6th September 2007, WTA4 was seen foraging with seven other kites in the lower Derwent valley.

In early May 2008, A4 was seen around Blanchland, near the border of Northumberland and County Durham.

In spring 2008, Farra Flame was seen displaying with WT71 (Sky Dancer) they went on to build a nest together and had two chicks, one of which was raised to fledging. This chick has been fitted with a leg ring and wing tags B9 and fledged in July 2008. Farra Flame, at only one year old, has made her parents Flag and Red Philip grandparents at the ripe old age of four years old!

On 16th October 2008, Farra Flame was recorded at the red kite winter roost near Sherburn Towers housing estate in Rowlands Gill, Gateshead. She was seen there again on 24th November 2008.

On 28th January 2009, Farra Flame was seen at Beda Hills in Gateshead with 7 other kites. On 5th March 2009, Farra Flame and WT87 (George) were seen flying together just west of Birtley in County Durham, where they attempted to breed, but the nest was abandoned. She has not been seen since.

April 2009 - near Urpeth, County Durham - failed breeding attempt. 

Latest Sighting: 08/01/2013 -recorded at roost Paddock hill, Derwent Country Park, Gateshead.

Kite No: A5.

Wing Tag Left/Right: Pink/Purple.

Kite Name: Ponteland Sunrise.

Fledged: 2007 Wylam, Northumberland.

Male/Female: Male.

Parents: Father- WT51 Burning Wings / Mother- WT21 Winlaton Phoenix.

Adopt a Kite School: Ponteland Community High School, Ponteland, Northumberland.

Brief Summary: The parents of WTA5, WT51 (Burning Wings) and WT21 (Winlaton Phoenix), build a nest in Northumberland's Tyne Valley and successfully raised WTA5 this summer. WTA5 is the first red kite to be raised in Northumberland for around 170 years! WTA5 was fitted with a leg ring and wing tags on 12th July and fledged late July 2007. WTA5 can only be identified by a visual sighting.

In October 2007, Ponteland Sunrise was regularly recorded roosting at Sherburn Tower Farm in Rowlands Gill. On 19th January 2008, Ponteland Sunrise was seen flying with parent WT51 above Sherburn Towers housing estate in Rowlands Gill. On 22nd January, Ponteland Sunrise was seen with parent WT21 at Barlow Burn.

On 11th February 2008, Ponteland Sunrise was seen with five other kites (including parents WT21 and WT51) feeding in a field and perching on fence posts just north of the Barlow Burn.

In mid-April 2008, Ponteland Sunrise was seen displaying with WT84 (Shiver) over Gibside National Trust estate. Though they did not go on to nest together we can now confirm that Ponteland Sunrise is male. Since 25th September 2008, Ponteland Sunrise has regularly been recorded at the red kite winter roost near Sherburn Towers housing estate in Rowlands Gill, Gateshead.

Ponteland Sunrise was not seen for some time, until March 2010 when he was confirmed as the new partner of WT40 Ziggy, at the Highland Cattle Centre in Northumberland where they hatched one chick. Sadly, his body was found near Hindley in July, his partner had been found dead near their nest the previous month, and the chick also perished. Subsequent post-mortems confirmed both adults had been poisoned.

Latest Sighting: July 2010 - Hindley, Northumberland - deceased, confirmed poisoned.

Kite No: A6.

Wing Tag Left/Right: Pink/Purple.

Kite Name: Sedgefield Blaze.

Fledged: 2007 Burnopfield, Co Durham.

Male/Female: Male.

Parents: Father- WT36 Fire Flight / Mother- WT28 Agnes.

Adopt a Kite School: Sedgefield Community College, Sedgefield, Co Durham.

Brief Summary: WTA6 was raised in a nest in the Derwent valley this summer. WTA6 was fitted with a leg ring and wing tags on 28th June and fledged in late July 2007. WTA6 can only be identified by a visual sighting.

On 13th September 2007, Sedgefield Blaze was observed flying with parent WT28 (Agnes) around Pontop Pike in County Durham. On 10th December 2007, Sedgefield Blaze was recorded near Highfield in Rowlands Gill.

On 11th February 2008, Sedgefield Blaze was seen with five other kites feeding in a field and perching on fence posts just north of the Barlow Burn. On 24th February 2008, Sedgefield Blaze was seen near Sherburn Towers housing estate in Rowlands Gill.

On 8th December 2008, Sedgefield Blaze was seen at the red kite winter roost near Sherburn Towers housing estate in Rowlands Gill, Gateshead. This has been followed by no sightings since.

30/01/2012 & 06/02/2012 - noted near Hamsterley Hall. First sightings since December 2008.

13/02/2012 - again observed at Hamsterley Hall, appears to be holding territory with partner, an untagged female. The nest was located behind Hamsterley Hall, failing at the incubation stage, possibly caused by tree felling activity close by.

May 2012 - on territory.

April 2013 - refurbishing last year's nest, then seen perched near nest, his partner incubating eggs.

June 2013 - Sedgefield Blaze and his untagged partner went on to successfully fledge two chicks wing tagged G2 and G3. 

March 2014 - the pair were refurbishing the nest at Hamsterley Hall and in May the female was seen incubating.

24/05/2014 - A6 was found injured on his Territory - he was taken to the vet's for some intensive care followed by a period of rehabilitation at Talon Falconry. 

The female was left to raise their single chick on her own and some supplementary feeding was given to assist her.

20/06/2014 - A6 was released back on his territory where the female ignored him. One chick was successfully fledged and wing tagged J0. 

October 2014 - identified at the main winter roost in the Derwent Country Park.

Latest Sighting: November 2014 - Sedgefield Blaze was seen twice at the pre-roost from the Nine Arches Viaduct on two consecutive days this month. 40 kites were counted into the roost on one of these occasions.

Kite No: A7.

Wing Tag Left/Right: Pink/Purple.

Kite Name: Icarus.

Fledged: 2007 Langleydale, Co Durham.

Male/Female: Male.

Parents: Father- Untagged / Mother- WT57 Langleydale Traveller.

Adopt a Kite School: Middleton in Teesdale Primary School, Co Durham.

Brief Summary: Icarus was raised in a nest in Teesdale this summer. Icarus was fitted with a leg ring and wing tags on 12th July and fledged in late July 2007. Icarus can only be identified by a visual sighting and since fledging, Icarus has regularly been seen with the parent male around Langleydale in Teesdale. In late October 2007, WTA1 was visiting Teesdale and was seen roosting with Icarus. During the winter months Icarus has regularly been recorded at the winter roost in Langleydale.

In April 2008, Icarus was seen displaying with WT43 (Swift) in the lower Derwent valley, Gateshead. However, he did not stay in Gateshead for long and by May he was back in Teesdale and seen displaying with an untagged female! On 1st June he was recorded at Blackton, Eggleston.

Since 16th October 2008, Icarus has regularly been recorded at the red kite winter roost near Sherburn Towers housing estate in Rowlands Gill, Gateshead.

On 6th April 2009, Icarus was seen with WTB0 (Excalibur) just west of Burnopfield in County Durham, this pair went on to successfully fledge two chicks, untagged.

In 2010 Icarus and his partner Excalibur successfully fledged three chicks, which were tagged D0, D1 and D2. In October Icarus was identified at the pre-roost at Hollinside Manor.

In 2011 this pair again successfully fledged three chicks at Priestfield., the chicks were not tagged. 

March 2012 - regularly seen "displaying" over territory with partner B0. Last year’s nest was refurbished but not used. They appear to have moved slightly to the East, but the new nest was not found.

April 2012 - noted on territory - no nest found.

August 2012 - 2 chicks were subsequently seen flying in this territory.

10/01/2013 - recorded at the main roost Paddock Hill.

09/02/2013 - at roost in Paddock Hill, Derwent Valley, Gateshead. 

March 2013 - nest building at Lintzford with mate B0.

Icarus and his partner Excalibur went onto raise 3 chicks, two of which were wing tagged, F8 & F9.

Regularly noted on territory during the winter of 2013-2014. 

10/02/2014 - perched near last year's nest site and carrying nesting material.

In May 2014 - Excalibur was seen incubating and the pair went on to successfully fledge three chicks, not ringed or wing tagged.

June 2014 - successfully fledged three chicks with his partner B0 on their territory at Lintzford. 

February and March 2015 - Icarus and his partner Excalibur (WTB0) were seen regularly over their nest wood at Lintzford including seen carrying nesting material. 

May 2015 - by May there were at least two chicks in the nest.

June 2015 - The pair successfully fledged three chicks, which were not ringed, or wing tagged.

February and March 2016 - There was a lot of activity from the resident pair, Icarus and his partner WTB0 Excalibur, seeing off other kites and carrying nesting material on their territory at Lintzford.

April and May 2016 - To begin with there was enough activity on the territory to suggest the female was sitting on the nest, but by the end of May there was no activity.

August 2016 - Although this nest appeared to have failed, a single juvenile kite was seen flying and circling over the nest wood, which suggests there was a successful nest somewhere in the wood.

Latest Sighting: January 2017 - Icarus was identified on one occasion at the pre-roost near Hollinside Manor, perched on a pylon. F9 and L2 were also identified here at the same time. A total of 21 kites eventually came into roost in this area. 

Kite No: B0.

Wing Tag Left/Right: Pink/Purple.

Kite Name: Excalibur.

Fledged: 2007 Beda Hills, Gateshead.

Male/Female: Female.

Parents: Father- WT56 Burnside Red Arrow / Mother- WT38 Harlow Harrier.

Adopt a Kite School: Shotley Bridge Junior School, Co Durham.

Brief Summary: WTB0, along with sibling WTB1, was raised in a nest in Gateshead this summer. WTB0 was fitted with a leg ring and wing tags on 21st June and fledged mid-July 2007. WTB0 can only be identified by a visual sighting.

On 5th November, Excalibur and five other kites were seen feeding on a pheasant carcass in a field in Rowlands Gill.

Excalibur was not seen again until 23rd June 2008. Excalibur was at Cut Thorn Farm, Gibside, with WTA2 and another purple tagged kite. Since 30th October 2008, Excalibur has regularly been recorded at the red kite winter roost near Sherburn Towers housing estate in Rowlands Gill, Gateshead.

On 6th April 2009, Excalibur was seen with WTA7 (Icarus) just west of Burnopfield in County Durham, this pair went on to successfully fledge two chicks, untagged.

In 2010 Excalibur and her partner Icarus successfully fledged three chicks, which were tagged D0, D1 and D2.

In 2011 this pair again successfully fledged three chicks at Priestfield, the chicks were not tagged.

March 2012 - regularly seen "displaying" with partner, A7, over territory at Priestfield. Last year’s nest was refurbished but not used. They appear to have moved slightly to the east, but the new nest was not found.

April 2012 - noted on territory - nest not found.

August 2012 - 2 chicks were subsequently seen flying in this territory.

08/04/2013 - nest building with partner A7 at Lintzford.

Excalibur and her partner Icarus went onto raise 3 chicks, two of which were wing tagged, F8 & F9.

10/02/2014 - on territory perched near last year's nest site and carrying nesting material.

In May 2014 - Excalibur was seen incubating and the pair went on to successfully fledge three chicks, not ringed or wing tagged.

June 2014 - successfully fledged three chicks with her partner A7 on their territory at Lintzford. 

February and March 2015 - Excalibur and her partner Icarus (WTA7) were seen regularly over their nest wood at Lintzford including seen carrying nesting material. 

May 2015 - by May there were at least two chicks in the nest.

June 2015 - The pair successfully fledged three chicks, which were not ringed, or wing tagged.

February and March 2016 - There was a lot of activity from the resident pair, Excalibur and her partner WTA7 Icarus, seeing off other kites and carrying nesting material on their territory at Lintzford.

April and May 2016 - To begin with there was enough activity on the territory to suggest the female was sitting on the nest, but by the end of May there was no activity.

August 2016 - Although this nest appeared to have failed, a single juvenile kite was seen flying and circling over the nest wood, which suggests there was a successful nest somewhere in the wood.

January, February and March 2018 - the pair were regularly seen on territory near Lintzford either perched near nest site or chasing away other kites. (WTH8 is the male and WTB0 Excalibur the female here).

Latest Sighting: April 2018 - The pair were still around, but crows near the nest were not challenged and the nest did not look active. 

Kite No: B1.

Wing Tag Left/Right: Pink/Purple.

Kite Name: No name given.

Fledged: 2007 Beda Hills, Gateshead.

Male/Female: Unknown.

Parents: Father- WT56 Burnside Red Arrow / Mother- WT38 Harlow Harrier.

Adopt a Kite School: Cragside C of E First School, Cramlington, Northumberland.

Brief Summary: WTB1, along with sibling WTB0, was raised in a nest in Gateshead this summer. WTB1 was fitted with a leg ring and wing tags on 21st June. On 6th July WTB1 had to be taken into rehabilitation after being found soaked through and underweight at the bottom of the nest tree. Following several weeks in rehab WTB1 was released back into the Derwent valley in late-July 2007 (after being fitted with a radio transmitter). WTB1 was regularly recorded around the Barlow area of Gateshead.

In October 2007, WTB1's transmitter signal did not change for a period of time indicating problems. Following further investigation, the corpse was found in Barlow Burn. There is no evidence to indicate death was due to anything but natural causes.

Latest Sighting: October 2007 - Barlow Burn, Gateshead - deceased, natural causes.

Kite No: R/P T2.

Wing Tag Left/Right: Red/Purple.

Kite Name: Trunkle.

Fledged: 2007 Glen Lednock, Central Scotland.

Male/Female: Female.

Parents: Father - WT Untagged / Mother - WT RY33.

Befriend a Kite School: Whittonstall First School.

Brief Summary: T2 fledged in 2007 in Central Scotland. The nest was in a Scots pine and she was one of two chicks, the second chick being ringed only. Her male parent was an untagged kite, and the female parent was a 2004 kite from Drumloist. (These parents have successfully fledged two or three chicks each year since).

T2 was seen in October 2007 and again in December 2008 near Argaty in Scotland.

Amazingly, by February 2009 she was identified at Gigrin Farm in Wales, in the company of 300+ other kites including kites from Gateshead, Inverness and the Chilterns.

In the summer of 2010, she paired up with one of our kites WT84 Shiver, and they successfully raised one chick (ringed only) on their territory at Causey, Co. Durham.

The following year, 2011, the pair successfully fledged three chicks, F0, F1 and the third ringed only.

In 2012, the pair have been seen foraging in fields near their territory, both in February and early March.

Mid to late March 2012 - Causey Gill, Co, Durham - Territorial displays and nest building. The pair built a new nest approx. 100metres up the Gill.

On the 14th April she was noted incubating.

On the 26th May was observed feeding two young in the nest. One of the young must have perished because there was only one chick in the nest when ringing and wing tagging took place on the 14th June. The chick was tagged F2.

June 2012 - at the nest site.

30th June 2012 both T2 and her partner 84 Shiver were seen flying in the valley.

July 2012 - R/P T2's mate was found dead. No suspicious circumstances. 

Latest Sighting: Feb 2013 - R/P T2 was Id'd from a photograph taken in South Causey.