Oh yes, we have had a successful release program here (bar a couple of poisonings - it's worse for our WTSEagles) - having said that, sightings in Cork are very very rare (think there might have been 2!) as they were released in Wicklow and up north mostly. If memory serves me correctly, the couple of sightings in Cork were not birds released here anyway, they were migrants/blow ins - which is interesting

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It makes it more exciting when you do see one near to where you live Laura, there will be a day when they become a more common sight though. I had read on another forum some time back that some people were actually sick of the sight of them, i never tire of seeing them

Oh I never tire of seeing them (never tire of seeing any bird) but I do think in some areas they're a few too many, in terms of impact made on other species. I remember reading a journal somewhere that they'd noticed a decline in buzzards in some spots :/ I guess it's still very early days, and it's wonderful to have them back, but I think moderation is key.

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I had thought about the impact it could have on other raptors Laura, buzzards are one species i very very rarely see here, in fact only once have i clapped eyes on a buzzard, whether they are just not common here in this part of the country or they have been pushed out by the Red Kite, especially over the Chilterns, who knows. They need to keep the right balance. They do not want to over introduce the Red Kite to push other species out or in years to come there will be more species that need reintroducing