Hi from Geneva

[butor2003]

Hi everybody from a wet and windy Geneva... The Black Kites are back so spring can't be far away!

Mike

[Colin Key]

Hello Mike, and welcome - I honestly don't think I have ever met a birder from Switzerland before (are you an expat Brit?).

Although Black Kites are very numerous (I believe they are still the world's commonest raptor) we see very few on northward spring migration here in SW Europe since they cross the Straits of Gilbraltar and proceed northwards without delay. In the autumn it is is entirely different and very large numbers navigate southwards down the west coast and along the N-S river systems before drifting eastwards to depart from Gibraltar.

Beautiful birds; they always seem "wilder" and more of a "free spirit" than Milvus milvus.

Regards,

Colin

[butor2003]

Hi,

Yes I was originally from the UK but been here most of my life and am Swiss now. This part of Switzerland has probably one of the highest concentrations of Black Kites in Europe, Lake Geneva is the attraction and lots of trees around lead to high concentrations. It is interesting that here we have Red Kites only on migration, non-breeding immatures or occasionally wandering around in winter whereas a little further north Red Kites become predominant. It seems to me that the two kite species do not get on too well from what I have seen when an immature Red Kite spent the summer near my house in an area with many Black Kites.

Black Kites breed in the centre of Geneva and I think even sometimes even on roof tops. They are our local "vultures" picking up whatever s....s they can find.

Mike

[AndyB]

Hi Mike and welcome to the forum. Remember spending a day birding around lake Geneva when I was young. Saw lots of terrific birds and a beautiful part of the world.