It seems a bit odd to have to go to a safari park to see a wild bird, but it shows that nature finds a way, and it has helped me to get my best picture of a Red Kite so far. They’ve found a regular source of food and are making the most of it, hence we’ve got a concentration of them in this small area, whilst my house (which is no distance at all away for a kite) gets relatively few. Obviously the wolves and bears and lions leave enough scraps for the kites to feed on. The animals in this part of the park are fed on meat – it’s the carnivore enclosure. The wolf has just picked up its breakfast. Why do they gather at this spot, and not anywhere else in the vicinity? Here’s a clue: On my last visit there were three of them, circling and swooping low over the park. Yes, the kites seem to have taken up residence here. The carnivore enclosure is always a favourite, with bears, wolves, tigers, lions – and Red Kites. It means I can go with Scarlett to the library on a Saturday morning and drive home through the safari park, just for the fun of it. It’s on our doorstep, they offer a good deal on an annual ‘toddler pass’ and Scarlett is old enough now to appreciate the animals (and the indoor play area). We’ve recently got a season ticket for Woburn Safari Park. It’s only in one small localised area, and it’s a great example of how habitat and food availability shapes the distribution of a species. However, we’ve recently discovered a spot not too far away where you can see the Red Kites almost on demand. There have been times over the summer when I’ve watched a kite from the comfort of my sofa through the french windows. Now, while not exactly abundant, they are more common. I saw the first one here only a few years ago, and it was a real event for me. I count myself fortunate to have witnessed the re-establishment of Red Kites in this part of Bedfordshire.

Red kite safari