 The crows are first to turn up in trees around the feeding area and make it quite a noisy affair with the calls of jackdaws and carrion crows and the deep 'cronking' of ravens. Buzzards and red kites circle overhead; buzzards are far more vocal than kites, their powerful 'mewing' carrying a long way.
As soon as the meat has been put out the crow family start emerging from the surrounding trees. As the first crows land amongst the meat the kites go on the offensive. Kites watch and wait their chance to furl their wings and dive in, skimming the ground to snatch a scrap before rising suddenly to escape the beaks of the angry crows.
Many kites appear to miss their target by a wide margin but are actually intent on flushing meat laden crows into the air from where they can be mugged by the very best in the business!
 With the meat clutched in its talons the kite will make for clear airspace where it can feel secure enough to feed. With its 1.8 metre wings spread out for stability the head turns down to meet with its forward lifted legs. Now the kite can feed, but must still keep an eye out for other marauding kites...
The number of kites using the feeding station can vary anything from a few dozen to 400 or more depending on weather and time of year. With the onset of bad weather numbers can increase dramatically, but on blue sky days in spring or summer they may well take their time in coming for their lunch!
While seeing large numbers of kites is an amazing sight some of the better photographic opportunities present themselves when fewer kites visit as they are far more leisurely in their approach to feeding and frequently float around the area in front of the hides for some time before taking their morsel of choice.
There appears to be a "pecking order" as the older kites are frequently the first to come in, while other red kites will arrive in growing groups as the afternoon unfolds. I go to the hides to film at 4pm in summer as there are both larger numbers and more species coming in and the flight of the kites are more leasurly.. However, this is not the case in the winter months when its every kite for themeselves!
We now have five large hides, (3 are shown here), for the viewing of the kite feeding spectacle. Three are suitable for disabled access. Facing east and, being just metres from where the kites sweep down, the hides give excellent opportunities for photography. Specialised photography/filming hides are also now available.
The meat being fed is beef, all fit for human consumption. Great care has been taken to secure a consistent supply of fresh meat - upwards of 1/4 tonne a week!
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