Our Red Kite Histories

Kite No: C3.

Wing Tag Left/Right: Pink / Pink.

Kite Name: Petra.

Fledged: 2009 Huntley Gill, Gateshead.

Male/Female: Female.

Parents: Father- WT68 Lyons Lightning / Mother- WTO/G1 Soar.

Befriend a Kite School: St Peters RC Primary School, Low Fell, Gateshead.

Brief Summary: WTC3 was raised in a nest in Gateshead in summer 2009, with sibling WTC4. WTC3 was fitted with wing tags and a leg ring in June and fledged in July 2009. WTC3 can only be identified by a visual sighting.

Petra was seen at the pre-roost at Hollinside Manor on 3 occasions during Winter 2010/2011 perched with the other kites.

In Summer 2011 Petra set up a breeding territory on the Gibside Estate with an untagged male, and they successfully raised one chick, this chick was too small to tag, but it was ringed.

Petra was seen in August 2011, feeding in fields near Winlaton with seven other kites, including a young juvenile, possibly her chick. Petra has since been seen at the winter roost at Snipes Dene, Gibside.

October 2011 - Snipes Dene, Gibside, Gateshead.

Latest Sighting: 22/09/2014 - a Pink/Pink tagged kite was seen west of Edmundbyers, Co Durham with five buzzards - this can only have been either C3, C4 or C5.

Kite No: C4.

Wing Tag Left/Right: Pink / Pink.

Kite Name: No name given.

Fledged: 2009 Huntley Gill, Gateshead.

Male/Female: Unknown.

Parents: Father- WT68 Lyons Lightning / Mother- WTO/G1 Soar.

Befriend a Kite School: None.

Brief Summary: WTC4 was raised in a nest in Gateshead, summer 2009, with sibling WTC3. WTC4 was fitted with wing tags and a leg ring in June and fledged in July 2009. WTC4 can only be identified by a visual sighting.

WTC4 was later found wet, bedraggled and emaciated some weeks after fledging. After a period of rehab. in the pens it was re-released on 10th August 2009. It was known to have connected with other kite families and had been moving around the Gibside/Lockhaugh area. 

In November 2009 it was identified at the winter pre-roost at Snipes Dene, Gibside.

November 2009 - Snipes Dene, Gibside, Gateshead

Latest Sighting: 22/09/2014 - a Pink/Pink tagged kite was seen west of Edmundbyers, Co Durham with five buzzards - this can only have been either C3, C4 or C5.

Kite No: C5.

Wing Tag Left/Right: Pink / Pink.

Kite Name: Fire.

Fledged: 2009 Derwentcote, Co Durham.

Male/Female: Unknown.

Parents: Father- WT63 Polo / Mother- WT89 Kitty.

Befriend a Kite School: Clover Hill Primary School, Whickham, Gateshead.

Brief Summary: WTC5 was raised in a nest in Gateshead, summer 2009. WTC5 was fitted with wing tags and a leg ring in June and fledged in July 2009. WTC5 can only be identified by a visual sighting.

Fire was photographed and seen at a roost near Pocklington, East Yorkshire, twice in January 2011.

January 2011 - Pocklington, East Yorkshire - at winter roost.

Latest Sighting: 22/09/2014 - a Pink/Pink tagged kite was seen west of Edmundbyers, Co Durham with five buzzards - this can only have been either C3, C4 or C5.

Kite No: C6.

Wing Tag Left/Right: Pink / Pink.

Kite Name: No name given.

Fledged: 2009 Derwent Park, Gateshead.

Male/Female: Unknown.

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

Befriend a Kite School:  None.

Brief Summary: WTC6 was raised in a nest in Gateshead, summer 2009. WTC6 left the nest early in June before he was able to fly. He was rescued by a member of the public and finished growing up in the care of Northern Kites. He was fitted with wing tags and a leg ring on 13th July and released back into the wild in July 2009. WTC6 can only be identified by a visual sighting. The following month his body was found by a member of the public, death was probably due to poor weather and lack of hunting skills.

Latest Sighting: August 2009 - Derwent Park, Gateshead - deceased, not suspicious.