Newbie bird identification help wanted.

[NuppyNup]

Hi, not sure that this is the right forum but I thought one of you might well be able to help identify a bird I saw today. I've done some checking on the web but haven't been able to find a match. The bird in question was spotted today in Berkshire UK and it was HUGE; biggest bird i've seen in 30 odd years. We have a lot of Red Kites in the area and it was substantially bigger. Very dark in colour and with a V shaped tail. Slow flapping and glideing.

[Seco]

hi sorry i carnt help you dont know but i seen the bigest kestrel iv ever seen but i think wild birds are getting bigger an bigger all the time now

[Boobook]

If it had a distinct v-shaped tail then maybe a Red Kite? They can get to quite a size.

[DeathFromAbove]

yes, the 'v' shape in the tail distinguishes it as part of the kite family and in that area i would have said it was a huge red kite as boobook pointed out.

[NuppyNup]

Thanks. I guess you're right and it must be an unusually dark supersized Red Kite.

[GriffMJ]

Sounds like a big female red kite to me.....drive thru the Chilterns in Oxon and you will see many...also the Welsh Borders.....glad to hear they are in Berkshire now. I see many in South Wales ...especially around Brecon, Llandovery going thru up to Carmarthenshire.

[Addi]

Sounds like a big female red kite to me.....drive thru the Chilterns in Oxon and you will see many...also the Welsh Borders.....glad to hear they are in Berkshire now. I see many in South Wales ...especially around Brecon, Llandovery going thru up to Carmarthenshire.

i was involved a few years back with releasing 13 redkites form a site at harewood house near leeds .. they have done great and are spreading fast, i now regularly get them coming to see what is going on when the saker mounts up and i live a good 30 miles from the original site!