I have been studying Red Kites in Sussex for the past 10 years and I will proffer the following thoughts on the recent spate of sightings. All Red Kites leave their natal area at some point and wander. Some leave within weeks of fledging, perhaps the majority within 3-4 months and some delay until the spring of their 2nd calendar year. They all wander, it's just a question of when and where. The Chilterns population has spread into North Hants and Wilts. Both the wintering population and the breeding population in Hampshire has increased very considerably in just a few years. The passage that we are seeing in Sussex is 'fine-weather' movement. Last year this mostly occurred in April, this year it has been late May. Given the huge population that we now have in southern England there could be a 1000 or more non breeding birds moving around.

Young Common Buzzards also wander and flock together but we notice them less because we are so used to seeing them. I have often seen a flock of Buzzards of 8, 10 or 12 moving through an area; prompting a response form the local breeding pairs. What is surprising, given these very large numbers of Red Kites is the lack of breeding pairs in Sussex. This may be about to change as this year we had at least ten spring pairs. How many successfully breed is another matter. Of the three nests that I have checked so far, two have already failed. 'Young' pairs do seem to have a high failure rate. But they are very long-lived and as a species seem to cope with these early set backs.