ONE of the six red kites released into the wild in the North-East last week has paid a flying visit to an urban area.

The bird was seen flying over the B&Q DIY store at Scotswood, on Tyneside, just two days after taking its first flight in the Derwent Valley, in Gateshead, last Thursday.

This is the first time that one of the kites has been spotted over the Tyneside conurbation, but could be the first of many similar sightings.

Later in the afternoon, the same bird was re-located back in the Derwent Valley by Northern Kites Project Manager, Keith Bowey, who is able to monitor the unique radio signals broadcast by a tiny transmitter fitted to each bird.

By the end of this month, 20 birds will have been released in the Derwent Valley as part of the initiative to bring red kites back to a semi-urban environment.

Northern Kites is a partnership between the RSPB, English Nature, Gateshead Council, Northumbrian Water, the National Trust and the Forestry Commission, with additional funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Sita Environmental Trust.