Sunday 1st January (A Happy New Year and Good Birding to you All)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a dark sky that was becoming lighter. The tree were bare but ready to burst into life. On this New Years Morning Mr. Kite was greeted not by the sight of birds but with a singing robin, a clucking blackbird and a cooing collared dove. Today was the start of another year birding, traveling, cycling and watching nature; Mr. Kite was excited.

As the dawn rose Mr. Kite saw his first birds of the year a flock of eight feral pigeons. These birds flew quickly over the houses. Wood pigeons, blackbirds and a carrion crow soon followed. A skein of unidentified geese flew low over the skyline. So by half eight the birding year had began and The Beast was oiled ready for a trip around the lanes of Floreat Salopia.

Towards Atcham Bridge


At half eight Mr. Kite headed on The Beast towards Atcham Bridge under a cloudy sky that did not looke promising. Cycling along Mr. Kite ticked off; magpie, jackdaw, collared dove, starling. Just after Emstrey Island Mr. Kite stopped to look at a flock of redwings and fieldfare. Hundreds of birds were moving across the green meadow feeding; 'eating on the hoof'. Soon Mr. Kite was cycling along parallel with the River Severn where canadian geese sat on the river bank and a grey heron was standing in the river. The water level was higher than normal. Reaching Atcham bridge Mr. Kite stopped  to peer over the paraphet. Mute swans, black-headed gulls fed on the waters edge and a blue tit passed by. The shingle beaches that normally are visible were under water today. Looking down Mr. Kite watched a sparrowhawk fly low along the river bank attracting the attention of the gulls who then took to the air like a squadron of fighters and hassled the hawk out of sight.

Attingham Park and Beyond


The trees in the park were bare and looked an ideal habitat for woodpeckers and other tree birds. Mr. Kite searched carefully for signs of life but only had fleeting glimpses of passing birds. Today the grassy park was not thriving with birds but Mr. Kite did pick out; common buzzard, robin, rook, stock dove and the home bred common pheasants.


Leaving Attingham Park Mr. Kite headed for the bridge over the River Tern at Upton Forge passing chaffinch, bullfinch and house sparrows. Today the bridge was quiet. So Mr. Kite continued to the confluence of the River Roden and the River Tern. A pair of goosander fished in the Tern watched by two moorhens. In the hedgerow colourful bullfinches and chaffinches moved through.

Mirelake


Just past the confluence is Mirelake. Today the water level was higher than normal so the waders were not encouraged to fed in the shallow edges. However plenty of ducks bobbed up and down on the water.  Looking carefully Mr. Kite identified mallard, teal, wigeon and northern shoveler. On most occasions more species of birds can be picked out here but the high water, cool breeze and drizzly rain was not encouraging. So Mr. Kite set course for Atcham Church stopping on the way to watch greenfinches and a great spotted woodpecker.


Atcham Church and Cross Houses


Plenty of common garden birds flew around the churchyard including a nuthatch. Most of these were then disturbed when the church doors opened and the congregation hurried out to preach the gospel; that did scare the birds. So Mr. Kite cycled slowly along the lanes through Cross Houses to Venus Pool.

Venus Pool


Mr. Kite has not visited V.P. for a number of weeks and was pleased to see that the water level was rising and was looking more like a pool and not a ploughed field. Plenty of birds fluttered around the area and sat on the pool. Also lots of bird watchers walked around with bins, scopes and bags of optical equipment. Scouring the nature reserve Mr. Kite identified goldfinch, lapwing, common shelduck, lesser black-back gull, pied wagtail and green sandpiper. In the cool breeze and drizzle the green sandpiper just sat on the edge of the pool and only bobbed about occasionally.

Searching near the feeders Mr. Kite picked out marsh tit and coal tit. Lastly Mr. Kite went to look over the Trout Pool where many birds were present including lots of coots, a little group of tufted ducks and a smaller group of common pochard.

With the drizzle turning to rain and with a poor forecast Mr. Kite headed towards Monkmoor Lagoon.

Towards the Lagoon and at the Lagoon

Leaving the Venus Pool Nature Reserve Mr. Kite cycled to the bridge at Cound Stank where a large flock of finches flew over. But in the murk they were difficult to identify. The bridge produced nothing. Cycling along the lanes Mr. Kite looking into hedges, over fields and up to the sky. The usual species were spotted and eventually Mr. Kite stopped to watch and listen to a dunnock.

Six miles later Mr. Kite was at Monkmoor Lagoon drenched through. The clouds were descending and the mud was building up on The Beast, Mr. Kite and his saddlebags. To cut a long story short The Lagoon had mallards, mallards and more mallards.

At this stage with the light fading Mr. Kite returned to The Residence following a good day cycling and bird watching. With thirty miles cycled and forty-seven species spotted Mr. Kite was quite happy. After a shower and a change of clothing Mr. Kite settled down to a tipple of Shepherd Neame Premium Spitfire Kentish Ale. At this point Mr. Kite flew around the front room before landing on the sofa for a short nap. Cheers from the start of another year watching birds, looking at nature and enjoying the natural world.

Saturday 31st December (The End of 2011)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a white cloudy sky. A wood pigeon cooed gently in a tree. The year of 2011 was ending and 2012 was nearing.

On the last day of the year Mr. Kite watched some common garden birds fluttering around the trees. Today Mr. Kite did not see as many birds as expected.

This is Mr. Kites last blog of the year. During the past year Mr. Kite has noted the species of birds spotted, described some bird behaviour and bird colours and some birdie named beers. He has written down placed he has visited and adventures had.

With nearly two hundred species identified and more than three thousand miles cycled Mr. Kite has had a good year. Tomorrow a new year starts and more birds, more adventures, more cycling and more beer.

Mr. Kite is going to finish the year with a tipple of Youngs Light Ale. Cheers to all those who have read my story. A Happy New Year to you all. The adventures start again tomorrow.

Saturday 31st December (The End of 2011)

Friday 30th December (A Wet Day on the Wrekin)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a light cloudy sky. A pigeon flew from a tree to the ground and a blackbird sat on top of a lime tree singing. In the garden a collared dove tidied up a nest made from twigs in the fork of a sycamore tree.

Later in the morning Mr. Kite and his birding companion went bird watching. Soon The Incapacitants were heading towards The Wrekin. The weather forecast was for rain but The Incapacitants were not put off by rain, mud and murk. To cut a long story short Mr. Kite was the winner of the birding competition with twenty five species spotted.

On two occasions The Incapacitants stopped to discuss the species in question. The first being; 'Is it a marsh tit or willow tit?' The discussion centred around the colour of 'the black cap'; 'Was it dull or shiny?' It was decided it was shiny and therefore a marsh tit and a slightly grating call confirmed this.

On top of The Wrekin The Incapacitants looked at a large black corvid deciding whether it was a juvenile raven or a carrion crow. The beak was large but not quite as robust as a raven. The shape was more raven like but debatable. It was decided it was a carrion crow.

Then the rain began and a chilly wind blew. So it was time to go home. Walking back to the car a colourful jay displayed itself; a common buzzard called but could not be seen. Flocks of redwing and fieldfare flew around.

In the late afternoon as darkness descended Mr. Kite arrived home and sat in front of the warm fire and was soon enjoying a tipple of Leffe Tripel. Cheers to all the birds of The Wrekin.

Thursday 29th December (Home)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey cloudy sky. The bare branches on the tree moved in the strong breeze. The year had turned and the trees were bare but set to grow in the months ahead. On this dark December morning the birds were resting somewhere huddled up to keep warm. Mr. Kite was by a warm fire drinking coffee.

Later Mr. Kite went for a walk to the recycling. On the way wood pigeons, carrion crows and black-headed gulls flew over and a robin song loudly. Once again mr. Kite was impressed by an early flowering cherry tree that stood in a garden with small pink fruit dangling from it.

In the afternoon Mr. Kite and His Lady went visiting, eating, drinking, playing cards and putting on weight. Mr. Kite enjoyed many tipples of cider. Cheers.

Wednesday 28th December (Hampstead and Home)

Mr. Kite looked out of The London Residence into a white cloudy day where a few breaks in the cloud revealed tinges of pink. This was another London Decenber dawn. The baubles on the London plane trees added a Christmas decoration.

During the morning Mr. Kite watched the birds of Hampstead. In the trees blue tits and great tits hung upside down feeding on the grubs sleeping in the nooks and crannies. High above lesser black-backed gulls circled and wheeled around.

In the afternoon Mr. Kite returned to Floreat Salopia to enjoy a tipple of Greene King Abbot Ale. Cheers.

Tuesday 27th December (Mr. Kite's Bag of Shite)

Mr. Kite looked out of The London Residence window into a dark December sky. The baubles on the London plane trees were siloutted against the sky as they moved in the breeze. Once again the birds were still asleep but the colourful berries and green foilage were just beginning to show their colours and shape as the dawn progressed.


As the dark December days drew to an end Mr. Kite was still amazed by this years display of flora; the most spectacular he had seen and one to be enjoyed as new growth is now visible in the plants. Today Mr. Kite has a plan.

By nine thirty Mr. Kite and His Lady were on The Tube traveling to London Bridge. From the station they walked over London Bridge ot the memorial for The Great Fire of London designed by a Wren; not a small brown Jenny wren but Sir Christopher Wren. Today Sir Chris was not here so Mr. Kite could not put wren on his London list but walking back over the bridge cormorant and herring gull were added to the list. A slow stroll to The George Inn in Borough High Street was followed by a sit down looking at the  galleried coach inn.

Mr. Kite and His lady then walked to the last remaining wall of Marshalsea Prison and sat in the garden by it: St. Georges Churchyard Garden. Now Mr. Kite had brought with him a bag of shite to feed the prisoners just in case they were hungry. But because there was only one wall the prisoners had left so Mr. Kite gave the bag of breadcrumbs to His Lady.

Now she had a good idea; feed the pigeoms instead. Looking around she spotted one feral pigeon walking on the path near Marshalsea prison wall so she threw it some breadcrumbs. Within seconds thousands of feral pigeons surrounded Mr. Kite and His Lady. "Crumbs", she cried as thousands of birds headed for Mr. Kite's bag of Shite'. So the feeding of The Five Thousand took place by the prison wall where those grateful feral pigeons descended to eat the morsels. Feral pigeons of every shade, tone and colour came to feed. As this was a Charles Dickens walk Mr. Kite thought that: "Dickens would be proud to see the feral city urchins fed by The Kites".

Mr. Kite and His lady walked around the part of London looking at buildings, sign, courtyards and Southwark Cathedral where the surrounding trees were full of starlings and a song thrush could be heard singing. By this time Mr. Kite was thirsty and went to The Barrowboy and Banker for a pint; bloody hell its closed.

Smelling beer nearby Mr. Kite and His Lady went to The Bunch of Grapes where they sat in the window. Mr Kite had tipples of Young's Bitter and Young's Special and His Lady a pot of tea.  Looking out of the window Mr. Kite noticed two pied wagtails fly and perch on the roof of the building opposite. This is the way to watch birds; drinking beer and sitting in a great pub.

Mr. Kite and His Lady then returned to Hampstead where a female chaffinch was added to the list. Mr. Kite and His Lady had a great day and Mr. Kite had a few tipples of Fullers London Pride.

Monday 26th December (Boxing Day Birding)

Mr. Kite looked out of The London Residence window to see hundreds of small round baubles on the London plane trees silouetted against the grey sky. This year Mr. Kite has not stopped marveling at the splendid colours, decorations and shapes of the trees.

In the morning Mr. Kite walked around the streets of Hampstead looking at the colourful display of berries and different shaped foliage in many shades of green. In one garden a variety of chery tree was showing its pink blossom. Once a gain the birds were scarce but did include great tit and long-tailed tit; a green woodpecker was heard but could not be seen.

So following a gentle stroll Mr. Kite had a tipple of Fullers London Pride. Cheers. 

Sunday 25th December (Happy Christmas to All Readers and All Birds, Bees and Bare Trees)

Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window of The London Residence into a grey and white thick cloudy day. This was Christmas Day 2011. Now Mr. Kite enjoys Christmas Day with family and friends but it is also another sad day of reflection and remembrance of those not present but whose memory will always be with us.

Three years ago Mr. Kite sat and enjoyed Christmas Day with His Lady on Loch Ness on a sunny cold fabulous December day. His family were in the far east traveling around seperately; both reading, writing and enjoying life. Today the one star is still traveling the world; the other star is only traveling in our minds.

In the London sky Mr. Kite watched two diver liked birds fly over the buildings. In the morning Mr. Kite had some time to watch birds but this Christmas morning only blackbirds could be seen eating orange berries in a low bush.

Later in the day Mr. Kite just ate and drank followd by more drinking and more drinking. However Mr. Kite did enjoy his tipple of Bengal Lancer. Cheers.

Mr. Kite wishes you all a very happy day of eating, drinking, talking, reading, laughing and watching nature.

Saturday 24th December (A Christmas Carol)

Mr. Kite looked out of the bedroom window of The London Residence into a dark morning where a gentle breeze blew a small bare bush. The surrounding building were stark and Mr. Kite looked for bird life. Natural flyers were still roosting or difficult to spot in thepre-dawn sky. But man made flyers screamed overhead with lights flashing as they climbed and banked over London on a journey from Heathrow. Today Mr. Kite had a plan.

At ten in the morning Mr. Kite set out to walk 'The Christmas Carol' walked based on the novel by Charles Dickens. Near The London Residence eight magpies squabbled in a plane trees amongst the baubles. Christmas cheer was not on their mind; only what the pairs will be in spring.

On the edge of Regents Parks Mr. Kite cam across a truly decorated plane tree. Not only had this tree 'fruit baubles about the size of golfballs' but had hundred of feral pigeons pretending to be baubles. This was the most Christmas tree in London and much better than a partridge in a pear tree.

Walking along Maryleborne Mr. Kite heard a robin singing; so he topped to listen and it was just by the statue of JFK. Looking into the tree just right of the statue Mr. Kite spotted the robin with a blue tit feeding nearby. After watching these Mr. Kite turned around to see the silhouette of an owl on a building over the road. Now this was not an ordinary owl but an artificial one.

To cut a long story Mr. Kite sat by a starling on London Bridge before strolling back through the streets of London with his London list on ten. But the baubling feral pigeons were the stars of the day. Mr. Kite then had a few tipples of Fullers London Pride in a pub. Cheers and a Happy Christmas to all those London birds.

Friday 23rd December (Dark, Dank, December)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a dark, dank, December morning. The trees swayed gently lit up by the street lights. At this time of the morning the sun was still behind the horizon. Today Mr. Kite and His Lady are going to London.

Waiting for the coach Mr. Kite looked into a plane tree and thought that 'this is a good time to look at trees'. This tree had hundreds of round baubles hanging from the branches. At the turning of the year it is the time to study those naked trees to look at their shape and structure. In another tree sat two collared doves sitting side by side silhouetted against the grey sky.

Once the trip started Mr. Kite looked at trees with orange, red and yellow fruit; all pretty stunning. Another stunning site was three hares covorting around a field as if it was spring.

On reaching London Mr. Kite started his Winter Solstice bird list; a day later than planned because of that upset gut. Peering into the gloom of cloudy London Mr. Kite picked out black-headed gull, carrion crow, wood pigeon, feral pigeon, magpie and lesser black-backed gull. Lastly Mr. Kite watched a blackbird fly between bushes. This was not an ordinary male blackbird but one who had decorated his tail with white feathers just for Christmas. Nearby, this was on Finchley Road, sat more Christmas creatures including a goat and a sheep: the shepherds must be on their way to Bethlehem.

Now Mr. Kite had planned to reach the Thames to watch a few London ducks but as the clouds dropped their rain and the light faded Mr, Kite walked slowly along Oxford Street where he noticed a 'winged figure'. This was not quite a bird and not one to be listed but a Barbara Hepworth sculpture nailed to the side of a big shop.

Soon it was time for Mr. Kite to return to The London Residence to dry out. So Mr. Kite had seen some London birds and then enjoyed a few tipples of London Pride. Cheers to the bird, bees and beer of London.

Thursday 22nd December (An Ill Wind Blew)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window on the first morning after the turning of the year. The sky was clear and the sun was rising. Today Mr. Kite should have traveled to London but he had an appointment with the doctor at eight in the morning.

Walking along the road Mr. Kite watched a large flock of wood pigeons fly over but feeling ill he did not see much more. So Mr. Kite slept all day today. Cheers.

Wednesday 21st December (The Last Day of the Year)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a white and grey cloudy sky. The temperature was mild and this is the shortest day. Mr. Kite considers this the last day of the year. Walking into the town centre Mr. Kite watched fieldfare, redwings and blackbirds. Today the birds were singing very well. Song thrushes had started to sing. The year was turning from decay into growth.

Sadly Mr. Kite was ill today and could not go bird watching. Felling ill Mr. Kite did not have a tipple of anything but went to bed.

Tuesday 21st December (A Breezy December Dawn)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a blue and pink December dawn. The sun was just rising. Outside the natural world was preparing for the coming new year and then spring. The lime trees were bare; orange, red and black berries grew on the plants in the adjacent gardens. Pairs of wood pigeon were starting to court and in the garden robins and blackbirds were noisily marking their territory.

In the afternoon Mr. Kite took The Beast to Monkmoor Lagoon. As usual the hedgerows had great tits, dunnock and chaffinch with flocks of redwings and fieldfare enjoying the milder air. The most noticeable thing was the number of blackbirds that had congregated in the lane. At least ten blackbirds, mostly males, flew along the hedge dropping in here and popping in there. At the end one bright black male with an orange bill was bathing in some water.

When Mr. Kite returned the gathering of blackbirds were having a ceremony in the lane that included flying, chasing and teasing. Such a gathering of blackbirds is something that Mr. Kite has never seen before. Returning home Mr. Kite read about blackbirds and their behaviour whilst enjoying a tipple of Wychwood Hobgoblin. Cheers to those blackbirds.

Monday 19th December (Wettish and Wintryish)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey cloudy sky. A slight drizzle hung in the still air. The trees were bare but little bulbous shapes were now on the end of the twigs waiting for the warmth and sunlight so they could grow. Birds were scarce.

On this cold bleak winters day Mr. Kite watched wood pigeons, great tits and carrion crows from the comfort of his warm house. To end a quiet day Mr. Kite had a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers.

Sunday 18th December (Nearly the Shortest Day)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into the grey cold sky. The distant hills were covered in snow. In the trees wood pigeons sat and looked around. Mr. Kite had a lazy morning watching sleet and rain fall onto the cold ground.

In the afternoon Mr. Kite went to the lagoon. The hedgerows on the lane leading to the lagoon had blackbirds, redwings, robins and wrens. Today the lagoon was desolate. Three mute swans fed and two mallards swam along courting. One moorhen popped out of the reeds for a short excursion.

The chilly breeze rippled the surface of the water making it look colder than it was. But not too cold for a colourful pair of goosander who dropped onto the water before hastily feeding under the surface. A grey heron flew in to feed near the reeds. Overhead flocks of redwing, stock doves and goldfinches flew around. But the cold wind was too much for Mr. Kite who then went home for a hot cup of Tetley tea. Cheers from a cold wintry Floreat Salopia.

Saturday 17th December (A Wintry Start)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a cold grey December sky. The wood pigeons were cooing and courting. Crows, magpies and jackdaws took to the air. Mr. Kite had a lazy day drinking "Old Speckled Hen". Cheers from Mr. Kite on a quiet day.

Friday 16th December (Snow is Forecast)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a dark cloudy sky. With snow forecast Mr. Kite looked carefully to see if the storm had started but it had not. Two plump wood pigeons flew from tree to tree and black-headed gulls flew over.

Just after midday some big flakes of snow fell and the temperature dropped quickly. In the garden the birds became scarce. Blackbirds and robins noisily marked their territory. Towards the end of the afternoon Mr. Kite had a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers.

Thursday 15th December (The Changes are Lessening)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a clear blue sky. The sunlight shone from the east and this was a wonderful winter morning. In the sky a flock of wood pigeons headed towards the sun and a solitary starling flew jerkily over the house.

So Mr. Kite sat in his garden enjoying some winter sunshine when two great tits appeared. One of them flew to the same nesting box that was inspected by a similar bird yesterday. Sitting there this bird called and the other great tit went to inspect the outside of the box.

Hopefully this will be their temporary home next spring. Following a lazy day Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers.

Wednesday 14th December (A Cold Clear Morning)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a clear blue sky where the bare trees moved gently in the slight breeze. One storm had passed but another one was on its way; this was the calm before the storm. Mr. Kite looked at the ten lime trees in front of his house and could not see one leaf; mind you Mr. Kite is bleary eyed first thing.

In the morning Mr. Kite was in the garden when a great tit called from a tree. Looking up Mr. Kite watched the bird as it flitted about the tree going from branch to branch until it landed on the perch of a bird box that was positioned in the tree. The great tit then looked inside and then flew away. In recent years mr. Kite was hopeful that these boxes would be used in the spring but he is still waiting; no bird  has built a nest in any of them. This year could be different.

In the late afternoon Mr. Kite went to the supermarket to buy some beer. In the car park lots of pied wagtails flew between the trees and onto the supermarket roof. It was a winters end to the day; a clear sky with a frost beginning to form. This was the last week of the year and very special.

Mr. Kite returned home for an"Old Speckled Hen". Cheers to those pied wagtails that livened up the supermarket car park.

Tuesday 13th December (A More Wintry Tale)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a clear sky where the last remnants of the yesterdays storm were going east. Outside there was a scattering of small white hailstones. Winter was here and had progressed in the chilly blast.

Today two starling sat in the top of a lime tree and a carrion crow flew quickly in the cold air. The clear sky began to change quickly to a cold white wintry morning with a sprinkling of snow looking likely. Later in the morning Mr. Kite watched a magpie feeding under the eaves of a Chinese take-a-away whilst holding onto a telephone cable. The food that the bird pecked looked noodle shaped and could have been crispy Chinese noodles but they were probably insect hibernating in a sheltered place.

In the late afternoon Mr. Kite went to Monkmoor Lagoon. The lane leading to the lagoon had flocks of redwing and fieldfare that seemed to spend much of their time flying. On the water a single barnacle goose enjoyed the company of a flock of canada geese.

With darkness approaching and dark grey clouds moving in Mr. Kite went home to a warm fire and enjoyed a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers.

Monday 12th December (A Winters Tale)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a cold frosty winters morning. The sun was rising and a two clouds drifted along with pink tinges on the edges. In a lime tree a wood pigeon sat looking onto the road. To keep warm this pigeon had puffed out it's feathers and could only be described as a plump, peaceful pigeon. Mr. Kite thought that the pigeon was very wise not to fly about using energy on this cold morning.

When the sun rose a little higher in the sky and rays of sunshine lit parts of the trees the wood pigeon 'cooed' and this attracted the attention of another pigeon who came to flirt. So then there were two flirting wood pigeons.

Mr. Kite had a day inside cutting wood and did not see any other birds. In the evening Mr. Kite had a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers.

Sunday 11th December (Another Sunday and Another Day to Remember)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey cloudy sky. From the lime trees opposite a wood pigeon cooed and on the roof a carrion crow cawed. At last some birds making a noise.

Today Mr. Kite enjoyed the sound of the birds but today is another sad anniversary. Three years ago today at seven in the morning Mr. Kite said, "Good bye", to his youngest son at Heathrow Airport. Sadly that was the last time he saw him alive. The Star went to Cambodia and made many friends.

On this sad day Mr. Kite and His lady went to Home Farm for the afternoon. In the surrounding fields rooks, jackdaws, pheasants and carrion crows fed. Overhead flocks of redwing and fieldfare flew. Now this is an English organic farm with sheep, pigs, cows and horses. However in one farm building Mr. Kite watched colourful cockatiels flying in a cage. In a Dutch barn peacocks from India sheltered from the rain. Mr. Kite fails to understand why these birds are here although they are very pretty.

After a pleasant afternoon Mr. Kite returned home for a Wychwood Wychcraft. Cheers.

Saturday 10th December (A Frosty Start)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window to see a hint of frost on the lime trees. The few rays of sunshine were soon replaced by cold grey clouds. Mr. Kite was planning a trip today but would he venture out into the cold?

Friday 9th December (The Wind has Blown Away)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a clear blue sky against which the silhouette of the lime trees swayed gently. However the road and pavements were littered with the debris of yesterdays stormy wind. Branches, twigs and leaves were strewn everywhere.

Soon Mr. Kite was cycling to collect some goods. Cycling along the river Mr. Kite watched black-headed gulls flying just above the water level of the swollen river. A robin bobbed around in a holly bush. Now when Mr. Kite returned to the road he was overtaken by a 'white jackdaw'; this was not a feathery white jackdaw but a white van with jackdaw written all over it.

In the late afternoon Mr. Kite took The Beast to Monkmoor Lagoon as the temperature plummeted towards zero. Bullfinches flew along the lane with redwings overhead. The lagoon had mute swans, mallards, canada geese and a cormorant. As the light faded a blue flash flew around the circumference of the water and then landed five metres away from the hide window. A colourful kingfisher then perched itself on a branch looking as though it was going to fish. Mr. Kite watched carefully wondering whether it was possible to fish in the fading light. However it then flew away.

Today as the light faded the lagoon became silent and the residents settled down for a night on the water. Mr. Kite cycled home to enjoy a tipple of Wychwood Brewery Wychcraft Blonde Beer. Cheers.

Thursday 8th December (The Trees are Swaying)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a white cloudy sky where the silhouettes of the trees swayed from side to side. The wind was strong and only a black-headed gull was determined enough to fly.

As the morning progressed the wind speed increase sending leaves, branches and birds down the road very quickly. Two wood pigeons changed into a missile shape and approached the speed of sound as they headed towards a tree and out of sight.

By noon the wind was gusting at 50 m.p.h. At this point Mr. Kite and His Lady went for lunch with family at a local pub. Mr. Kite planned a lunch time list but today nothing was flying and bird watching was abandoned. So Mr. Kite had tipples of Greene King I.P.A. and ate too much. Cheers from a windy Floreat Salopia.

Wednesday 7th December (Too Windy to Fly)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a blue sunny sky with the branches on the trees being blown about.

Today Mr. Kite and his birding companion had a short trip planned. By ten thirty The Incapacitants were heading towards The Wrekin. Passing the river at Atcham they noticed it was higher than normal and on the river banks canada geese, mallards and goosander sat being buffeted in the strong wind.

To cut along story short it was so windy on The Wrekin that only the normal things were spotted and in this wind they struggled to fly and keep in control of their direction. The Incapacitants were blown around on the hill and had to lean at acute angles to stay on their feet.

One highlight was a clump of trees that had chaffinch, blue tits, marsh tits and goldcrest. Two hours later The Incapacitants returned home where the competition was a draw. Soon Mr. Kite was sipping warm Tetley tea. Cheers.

Tuesday 6th December (A Cool Blast from the North)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a white cloudy sky. In the words used by T.S. Eliot, 'Since golden October declined into sombre November', we are now in cold December waiting for the New Year that will start in two weeks.

At this time of year Mr. Kite likes sitting in front of a warm flaming fire. So in the morning he did just that. Thinking of the cool blast from the north Mr. Kite thought about the warm breeze that had recently blown from the south; the cold blast blew in a tundra bean goose to Floreat Salopia and the breeze from the south blew in a female desert wheatear.

If Mr. Kite was a determined twitcher he would have twitched today but being a bird watcher he watched more common birds in common places. However in the afternoon Mr. Kite went to a church hall that is used by a variety of groups. So this afternoon Mr. Kite sat listening to a discussion about morals whilst observing robins in holly bushes with red berries, blackbirds picking through golden dead leaves, wood pigeons in the green ivy laden with black berries, wrens flying between low green plants and carrion crows sitting near clumps of mistle toe with white berries.

Now that November has merged into December and autumn has turned to winter and as the old year heads towards the new year Mr. Kite watched a winters scene that on darkening days that will eventually show the signs that spring will return. A common scene with common birds and a common seasonal scene but worth every second of viewing.

Mr. Kite returned for a warm cup of Tetley tea. Cheers.

Monday 5th December (Cold, Wet and Wintry)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a cold wet and wintry morning. The road was quiet, the birds were scarce and the people few. So Mr. Kite read some bird poems and periodically looked out of the living room window to see what was flying around.

In the late afternoon Mr. Kite took The Beast from the shed and cycled to Monkmoor Lagoon to watch the sunset and birds fly in to roost. In the air wood pigeons, stock doves and magpies circled before heading to the surrounding trees. Carrion crows and jackdaws flew towards Haughmond Hill. Then lastly mallards dropped onto the water in a neat formation, a flock of canada geese flew in from the east bringing a barnacle goose for good measure. Once on the water they stirred back into life when two grey herons flew across the lagoon.

With a half moon shining and a planet nearby Mr. Kite looked over the dark cold water before cycling home for a warming tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers.

Sunday 4th December (Cool December and a Clear Sky with Crab Colours)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a clear December winter sky. The sun was peering over the horizon lighting up a pink crab coloured ray of light. Mr. Kite thought, 'never mind the birds, look at that fabulous coloured sunrise'. This was a winter December morning and magic.

The only bird note to write about was that in Mr. Kite's garden is a box of beer that is cooling off outside in the cold air. A wood pigeon came down and sat on the edge of the box inspecting the "Old Speckled Hen", the Tangle Foot and Courage Best Bitter.

Luckily the bird could only look and not remove a crown cork for a short slurp. However Mr. Kite could so he opened an "Old Speckled Hen" and had a tipple. Cheers.

Saturday 3rd December (A Welsh Walk)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a cloudy sky. After yesterday party and gallons of beer Mr. Kite was still unstable and not in a fit state but soon he was being driven towards Dolgellau for a  walk along a ridge and a days bird watching.

To cut a long story short the drive to Cader Idris produced the usual sightings; magpies, carrion crows etc. The spectacular views on the ridge over the Mawddach estuary towards Barmouth produced herrings gulls and plenty of ravens. In the strong winds a few birds came into view and then suddenly far away. Towards the end of the walk a brownish bird, about the same size as a wheatear, with dark legs and a black tail was briefly spotted. In the strong wind it was difficult to focus steadily on it and it remained unidentified.

The final part of the walk was completely under the cover of darkness. Mr. Kite returned home for a tipple of Morland "Old Speckled Hen". Cheers.

Friday 2nd December (Mr. Kite Lasts Another Year)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a clear sky, bare trees and an air temperature slightly above freezing. Today it is Mr. Kite's birthday so he will make a birthday list although for most of the day he will be eating, drinking, talking and taking life easy and watching some birds.

Sitting in The Residence Mr. Kite watched eight wood pigeons fly randomly across the sky then he noticed eight starling sitting on a t.v. aerial. Considering that there are many aerials around here Mr. Kite wondered why they chose to sit on that particular one. Was it the shape of it? Were the metal poles just the right size for a starlings foot to grasp? Then Mr. Kite noticed a wisp of smoke coming from one of the chimney pots; so Mr. Kite thought probably the starling were warming themselves.

As the day progressed the birthday list progressed with black-headed gull, carrion crow, jackdaw, house sparrow and pied wagtail. Later in the morning Mr Kite was given a present for his birthday a book with Twelve Poems about Birds. So Mr. Kite will write one down and here it is.

The Ptarmigan

The Ptarmigan is strange,

As strange as he can be;

Never sits on ptelephone poles

Or roosts upon a ptree.

And the way he ptakes pto spelling

Is the strangest thing pto me.

Anon.

Now Mr. Kite is celebrating today so it is time for a birdie drink of Morland "Old Speckled Hen". Cheers. Happy Birthday Mr. Kite.

Thursday 1st December (December)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a clear sky without any clouds. Hints of pink were creeping over the horizon from the east. This was a winter sky. Now Mr. Kite is not a Druid but with the end of the year drawing near, and with the shortest day looming, this is an exciting time of the year.

Today Mr. Kite had some repairs to do on The Residence so only had a brief spell watching birds in the garden. To cut a long story short Mr. Kite has not much to write about but he did enjoy a tipple of Leffe Tripel. Cheers.

Wednesday 30th November (The Last November Morning)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a clear November sky with the sun rising over the horizon. This was the last November morning of the year and one of the most special. Thin layers of grey cloud passed in front of a pink red dawn.

This bright colourful morning was enjoyed by the birds of Floreat Salopia. Black-headed gulls searched for remnants of food in the road and house sparrows could be heard chirping. Wood pigeons flew between the trees.

Mr. Kite looked at the recycling and took it to the local bottle bank. Looking around Mr. Kite watched carrion crows, pied wagtails, magpies, lesser black-backed gulls and blackbirds. So Mr. Kite and the birds made the most of the last November morning of the year.

Late in the morning Mr. Kite and His Lady went to place flowers on a Special Grave. Walking slowly through the churchyard Mr. Kite watched a magpie harass a kestrel causing it to fly and turn to dodge the persistent black and white bird. After about one minute a carrion crow joined in the fun and the kestrel was attacked from two directions before the crow gave up and then just after the kestrel retreated into a copse.

As the sun was hidden by the clouds the bird life went quiet with just one greater-spotted woodpecker flying over. Red and white flowers were placed on the grave with a strands of mistletoe and ivy. Thoughts were thought and the never ending sadness continued in remembrance of a Star.

Mr. Kite returned home for a tipple of Tetley tea and a silent reflection.

Tuesday 29th November (No Birding for Mr. Kite)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey winters Novembers morning. Not a bird stirred and Mr. Kite hardly stirred because he had some decorating to do.

Now Mr. Kite does not like work but today he worked and worked and worked until past six. With a darkness and little time for birding Mr. Kite did the next best thing he looked for a birding bottle of beer. Searching the dining room then the music room and then the kitchen Mr. Kite found a 'speckled hen'. This was not just an ordinary speckled hen but a Morland "Old Speckled Hen". Not just a birdie bottle of beer but a strong fine ale. So Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of the 'old hen'. Cheers from a bird drinking Mr. Kite.

Monday 28th November (No Time for Birding Today)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into another grey November sky. With chores to do Mr. Kite only had time to watch black-headed gulls fly over and listen to collared doves on the house roof. Following a busy day Mr. Kite had a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers.

Sunday 27th November (Where have all the leaves gone?)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into that grey November sky with traces if white and light grey. What few leaves that held on the the lime trees were blown off in last nights wind. Where are they? Piled up in Mr. Kites front doorway.

Sunday morning is usually the day when the black-headed gulls and carrion crows have the opportunity to eat discarded chips but today the wind had blown them down the road or under the hedge. The only item left for scavengers was a bottle of White Lightning cider left on the path half full. Only a desperate creature would bother with that on a Sunday morning.

So the birds were scarce near Mr. Kite. However thirty miles away was a desert wheatear but Mr. Kite was not going to go twitching today or a little closer there was a red-throated diver. Today Mr. Kite had a little plan to be fitted in amongst the newspaper reading, t.v. watching and the occasional drink.

In the November sunshine and breeze Mr. Kite cycled to Monkmoor Lagoon. Towards the end of the lane a group of four bullfinches flew into a low hedge, redwings and blackbirds picked leisurely at red berries. The lagoon was almost empty with four birds in total. One mute swan, one cormorant and a pair of mallards. In the bright low sunshine Mr. Kite scoured the well lit reeds looking for bitterns, coots, water rail, moorhens, grey herons and little grebe. None could be seen.

The sky around the lagoon contained black-headed gulls, carrion crows and wood pigeons. With his thirst developing Mr. Kite locked the reserve and cycled along the lane towards home when he met a fellow birder walking his dog. The main subject of the conversation was the steppe grey shrike and the mega twitch. And what a fantastic spectacle it was when viewed in a decent scope.

Mr. Kite reached home took off his flying suit and settled down to a double tipple of Leffe Tripel. Cheers from Mr. Kite.

Saturday 26th November (The Garden List)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into that sky described by John Freeman. Today Mr. Kite had a plan but with the strong wind it seemed pointless so Mr. Kite opened another bottle of Becks and went for the garden list.

After ten minutes in the buffeting wind Mr. Kite has nothing to report only that the Becks is good. With grey clouds whizzing overhead and some November sunshine Mr. Kite peered around in the garden to watched robins, blackbirds, wood pigeons and house sparrows.

It could be rightly said that Mr. Kite saw more beer bottles today than birds today. During the morning friends arrived and more beer and wine was drank than is healthy but every drop was enjoyed and a good day was had by all. Mr. Kite had many a tipple of Becks and a Tetley tea. Cheers.

Friday 25th November (November Skies)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into the November sky. A carrion crow flew towards the window before climbing over the house roof. Today the sun was low down in the east lighting the sky with an azure colour. Now here is a coincidence. Mrs. Kite was sent a leaflet yesterday with ten poems on it and one of them was called November Skies by John Freeman (1880-1929).

So the November sky is described well in this poem. Read it and should will see what Mr. Kite has seen over the past two weeks out of his bedroom window. Mr. Kite had a plan for the day. But first he had some shopping to do followed by a dental appointment.

In the afternoon under the November sky Mr. Kite went bird watching. To cut a long story short it was very much like normal. Venus pool had its usual residents but many more teal, a pair of goosander and a shelduck family. Atcham Bridge was quiet so Mr. Kite headed towards Monkmoor Lagoon to watch the sun go down, the day turn to night and the birds come to roost.

However the most noticeable thing was that the mallards were feeling amorous and courting. The females were being pursued by lines of admirers with the odd quack. So after a good day enjoying the November sky Mr. Kite had a treble tipple of Leffe Triple. Cheers, cheers and cheers.

Thursday 24th November (Autumn is Past and Winter is Here)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a light blue sky with small dark cotton wool clouds drifting by. The air was cold and almost frosty. The lime trees were bare except for some leaves that could be seen if you looked carefully. But really the trees were bare' dark trunks, boughs and twigs silhouetted against the lighter sky. Mr. Kite could not see or hear a feathery, fluttery or feeding bird.

For most of the day Mr. Kite was cooped up inside The Residence doing some repairs. Occasionally he ventured outside for some fresh air. Late in the afternoon Mr. Kite heard the croak of a raven. Looking up he watched two ravens fly over his house and drop down somewhere near the river. Now ravens are not uncommon over the town of Shrewsbury but Mr. Kite still considers it pretty exciting to see ravens over his garden.

As darkness descended Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Tetley tea as he listen to the robins. Cheers.

Wednesday 23th November (All Quiet until the Last Hour)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a greyish sky. The trees had few leaves and winter was in sight with a slight air frost.

Today Mr. Kite had a few chores and The Beast to mend. So the day was quiet until just before dusk M.r Kite sat in the garden listening to three robins marking their territory. In the still autumn air there was the "tic, tic, tic". Then there was the sharp "tseeeh". To change the song the robins sang fluty whistles and rippling notes.

The robins sang as mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers.

Tuesday 22nd November (Grey Skies and The Beast gets Hissed)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey sky. Some patches of bright bits shone. In the morning Mr. Kite cleaned some brickwork with slow progress.

With the sun going down in the west Mr. Kite cycled to Monkmoor lagoon to see the sunset and birds arrive for the evening. Just as Mr. Kite reached The Lagoon The Beast hissed and the rear tyre went flat. Never mind thought Mr. Kite what about the birds.

On the water one mute swan fed with it's head in the water and a grey heron pierced the surface of the water to pick out tiddlers. A group of about forty mallards roamed near the reeds. Looking at the sky Mr. Kite watched corvids, stock doves and wood pigeons. Black-headed gulls flew towards the river and magpies went to roost in the trees on the far side.

Just as the light was fading six pochard dropped in and one cormorant. Just as Mr. Kite closed the hide door a curlew flew over. Mr. Kite pushed The Beast home and then settled for a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers from a place where the clouds have gone.

Monday 21st November (More Autumn and Plenty of Mallards)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey sky. The air was still and the birds non-existent. In the gloom Mr. Kite went on a bird watching trip along the river to Atcham and Venus Pool. To cut a long story short there were plenty of mallards on the river and at V.P.

Today these colourful common ducks were feeding in the water and waddling around on grassy banks. One group of ducks played follow the leader as they walked in single file over the dried up bottom of V.P.

With some drizzle in the air Mr. Kite returned home stopping at Monkmoor Lagoon. Now here again there were plenty of mallards going around the lagoon in a group. So that was Mr. Kites day looking at mallards. Sitting in the front room of The Residence Mr. Kite had a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers.

Sunday 20th November (A Nice November Day)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey cloudy nice November sky. Nothing stirred in the still air; not even a wood pigeon.

Later in the morning Mr. Kite went for a walk to the bottle bank. Now Sunday morning is a day for the black-headed gulls and carrion crows to eat discarded chips left in the road by the drunken revelers returning home after a night clubbing it. So Mr. Kite walked along the road looking for evidence of a chip forage for the hungry birds. Near the Chinese takeaway a lone black-headed gull was picking at a container with chips in it. However these chips had mayonnaise on them and the gull carefully avoided this tasty stuff. Now one of Mr. Kite's favourite foods is egg and cress sandwiches with mayonnaise. So to see a gull avoiding the mayo made Mr. Kite think what a shame; fancy missing out on that lovely stuff. So gulls and crows like chips with curry sauce but not mayo.

Mr. Kite did not do too much bird watching today but he did spend some time drinking and doing birdie things like a clue on the crossword. So here is the clue. One bird (rook oddly) flew into another (5 letters). Now Mr. Kite will not tell you the answer but it is the name of a bird made up with the odd letters of rook and starting and ending with another generic name of birds. So take the odd number letters out of rook; all two of them. Then think of a three letter word that describes a female bird, or a domestic fowl, or a road island red. Put these five letters together to form the name of a bird; there are grey ones, purple ones, night ones and squaccos.

After such a strenuous day Mr. Kite had a few tipples of Whitechapel Porter, Manns Brown Ale and a gallon of Becks. Cheers to a heron.

Saturday 19th November (The Big Apple)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a clear blue sky with some thin layers of white cloud. Autumn was turning into winter and the lime trees were nearly bare. The road was quiet and the fallen leaves jeweled the ground with brown, golden and yellow shapes. Birds were scarce; in fact Mr. Kite stood looking for a minute and did not see any. 


After repairing The Beast Mr. Kite cycled to Polemere as the sunshine turned to mist. Once again Polemere's water level was low allowing the mallards, greylag geese and lesser-black back gulls a chance to paddle in the shallows. Pied wagtails, carrion crows, wood pigeons and teal fed around the muddy edges. Two buzzards rested in an adjacent field now that the sun had disappeared and the lack of thermals made flying more difficult.

Now it was an uneventful trip back to The Residence until Mr. Kite reached The Big Apple. This Big Apple did not have The Empire State Building or The Statue of Liberty. No, this Big Apple had a core, seeds and flesh and was lying in the road. Mr. Kite was looking around for birds and he ran into The Big  Apple trapping it in front of the wheel until the wheel pierced The Big Apple and then the apple disintegrated causing a slippery surface and Mr. Kite fell off The Beast. Now Mr. Kite lying in the road is not a pretty sight so he picked himself up and went home.

After some minor repairs to his body Mr. Kite had a tipple of Abbot Ale Greene King. Cheers.

Friday 18th November (Laziness is Mr. Kite)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey sky with a hint of sunshine somewhere in the distance. A gentle breeze blew and the trees showed that winter was approaching. Mr. Kite had a few chores to do so he lazily went about them.

Mr. 'Lazibones' Kite did complete his chores by three in the afternoon and then went for a short bird-watching trip to Monkmoor Lagoon. Just as Mr. Kite arrived at the nature reserve The Beast hissed and the rear tyre deflated in one millisecond. Mr. Kite did not swear or throw a tantrum because he was going to watch the serene sight of birds on Monkmoor Lagoon.

Opening the hide window Mr. Kite noticed that the air was still and the water surface like a sheet of glass. On the water mallards, canadian geese and mute swans swam leisurely around the lagoon. Now the interesting thing was that in the calm water and air the swimming birds made bow waves and wakes at the rear. The mute swan caused a powerful bow wave when it pushed forward rapidly. The geese and duck made neat 'v' shaped wake patterns with ripples and different sized wave lengths. Given time Mr. Kite would use his mathematical skills to model the waves and wakes of water-fowl but with a fridge full of beer he headed home. With The Beast unrideable Mr. Kite walked the three thousand yards looking forward to those bottle of Becks. Cheers from a relaxed and lazy Mr. Kite.

Thursday 17th November (A Promising Start and a Chopper)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a clear cold November sky. The air was still and the few leaves on the tree motionless. Looking down Mr. Kite could see a robin sitting on The Joint. Now Mr. Kite was tempted to open the bedroom window and tell the robin to go and sit in a tree just like any other bird but he thought to himself, 'why shouldn't a robin sit on top of a camper.

The road was increasing in traffic and people were walking the pavements towards work but Mr. Kite was looking for bird; not going to work like the unfortunate people outside. Now today Mr. Kite had a plan.

At mid-morning Mr. Kite and his birding companions were birding on a sunny and pleasant day. In Meole Brace a pair of wood pigeon were watched. Now in Meole Brace you might expect all birds to be in pairs but that is not true because five house sparrows were also spotted.

Near Condover The Incapacitants watched a congregation of golden plover and desert of lapwing feeding in a field. Today The Incapacitants were careful not to disturb the birds. However a kestrel did fly low over them scattering a few but they soon returned.

Just outside Condover The Incapacitants watched turkeys in a field. These big dark noisy birds were strutting around a field with a sign nearby advertising turkey for Christmas. So these noisy non-native cluckers were enjoying their last November before being stuffed with chestnuts, sage and onions.

With flocks of fieldfare flying over and mistle thrushes adding to a Christmas feeling The Incapacitants headed towards Lodge Hill. At the final few furlongs The Beast hissed and the rear tyre went flat. The bicycles were put behind a tree and The Incapacitants went bird-watching in the trees of Lodge Hill. Coal tits and goldcrests were in abundance in the warm sunshine and feeding hungrily they made good and easy watching. Oblivious to The Incapacitants the goldcrests gold crests shone like a crown as they foraged yards away upside down on the low shrubbery with a smattering of black and white stripey headed coal tits. Nuthatches sounded off, ravens croaked and a number of unidentified birds flew between the trees.

With the sun in the south The Incapacitants timed their walk to the summit of Lodge Hill so that the trees could be searched for crossbills. With woodpeckers calling the tension rose. Eyes searched the cones in the top of the firs and then one of those noisy damn helicopters appeared where the crossbills should be.  The blue and yellow flying machine circled, hovered and flew up and down the line of trees, Dropping down behind the trees the noise of the chopper increased as it then popped up just above the tree tops. The door opened and a flier in green overalls waved a white handkerchief at The Incapacitants before dropping down into the field by the trees. For ten minutes The Chopper made bird-watching impossible as the noise of the engines, the smell of the kerosene and the sight of a large flying beast scared every bird away for ten miles.

The Incapacitants returned to their trusty bicycles. The puncture was repaired and The Incapacitants headed towards home stopping to walk around a filed where greenfinch, goldfinch, chaffinch and yellowhammers fed in the hedgerow. With the sun dropping down in the west The Incapacitants called it a day. The competition was a draw with over thirty species spotted. A good day was had and Mr. Kite returned home for a tipple of Abbot Ale Green King. Cheers to all those turkeys waiting to be put on a plate.

Wednesday 16th November (New Pastures)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a dark grey sky. Not one green leaf was hanging on the trees only golden ones and golden ones with green on the inside. The birds were silent.

Now Mr. Kite and His Lady went to Tamworth to visit someone; not a pig. Mr. Kite had some time on a local nature reserve where nothing much was spotted in the cold misty autumnal day. it was new pastures and ponds but nothing new to report.

In late evening Mr. Kite returned to The Residence for a tipple of Becks. Cheers.

Tuesday 15th November (A Low Pass by a Formation of Geese)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window just as about one hundred canadian geese clipped the roof of The Residence flying east into the sunrise. Never mind the leaves on the trees today; that was an impressive start.

Now today Mr. Kite and His Lady went off to the RAF Museum at Cosford. Mr. Kite wanted to know how the wings were held onto a Wellington bomber. Just outside the museum Mr. Kite watched the flapping wings of jackdaws, carrion crows, black-headed gulls and starlings. Flapping too fast and covered in feathers Mr. Kite assumed that bird wings were held on by cartilage, muscle and skin. In the emerging sunlight these common birds were very impressive flying around in the open space.

Mr. Kite went into the workshops of the museum to talk to am man who knows how the wings of a Wellington bomber are held on. Examining the skeleton of a Wellington the 'man who knows' showed Mr. Kite The Main Spar and the mainplanes and the fuselage complete with the location brackets for securing The Kite together. Fabulous.

For the next five hours Mr. Kite and His Lady sat by flying machines, read about flying machines and touched flying machines. After all this manufactured metal it was time for a short visit to The Natural World.

When Mr. Kite left the museum it was dark and he drove to Morville to listen to owls whilst lighting some candles on The Special Grave. Tonight the weather was cloudy but still, the countryside was dark and The Church of St. Gregory the Great was solid, black and silhouetted against the sky. Walking through the graveyard Mr. Kite could see the faint shining of a solar light. On reaching The Special Grave Mr. Kite could see the light was shining on yellow flowers placed at the head of the grave. Mr. Kite and His Lady placed t-lights on the grave and lit them. The surrounding lit up, shiny surfaces reflected the twinkling light and  ina small area of Morville there was light.

In the wood nearby tow tawny owls hooted to each other and a barn owl called. So Mr. Kite listened for thirty minutes to owls in the flickering light of a graveyard. It was then time to go. Mr. Kite returned home for a tipple of Shepherd Neame Late Red Autumn Hop Ale to celebrate a memorable day out. Cheers.

Monday 14th November (Dull, Dirty Day ending with a Duck)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey November sky hoping to see a bird fly across the sky, down the road or fly aimlessly. With only a few leaves on the trees there was plenty of light patches to silhouette any lurking bird. It must be said that the was bird less.

Now today Mr. Kite was working on The Residence in the dull darkness of a chimney-breast. So that is the closest Mr. Kite was to a bird today; a chimney-breast. Never mind there is always tomorrow. However late in the afternoon, just before dusk, Mr. Kite watched five starlings fly around for about thirty seconds. He watched to see if a pattern would emerge; or a shape. But all that could be said it was five starling flying around.

However later in the evening Mr. Kite did see a mallard. This was not any old mallard but one drawn by John James Audubon. Now that is what I call a mallard. Cheers from Mr. Kite who is enjoying a Tetley tea.

Sunday 13th November (Wales, Wind and Cader Idris)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into dark sky. The orange light from the street lamps turned the very few lime tree leaves golden. Outside it was silent.

At seven o'clock The Incapacitants were heading, by car, to North Wales to watch birds and walk up Cader Idris. Now Sunday morning is always a special day in Floreat Salopia for birds because the drunken Saturday night revelers leave chips, pizzas and curry on the pavements or sometimes the road. Today in Abbey Foregate the black-headed gulls were having a chip fest with curry sauce. The thin chips from the Greek chippies are not as good as the fat chunky chips from Monkmoor Road but they very good and provide plenty of squabbling opportunity for the 'gannet like gulls'.

To cut a long story short the birding competition was a draw. In the strong mountainous winds the birds kept their heads down. One unfortunate walker was blown over a cliff and went home in a box; courtesy of a yellow helicopter. A great day was had fighting the gale force wind and looking out over some great views; and The Incapacitants lived to bird another day. Mr. Kite can report that the roads near Welshpool are infested with non-native pheasants scurrying around causing accidents to motorists and themselves.

Mr. Kite returned home for a tipple of Shepherd Neame Late Red Autumn Hop Ale.

Saturday 12th November (The Bottle Bank List of Singers)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a bright blue sky. The leaves on the trees were few and still in the calm air. After drinking too much beer Mr. Kite had to take the bottles to the bottle bank so he decided to make a list of singing birds that he heard and saw on his walk.

On this sunny morning the birds were on show and singing. The first sound was the 'chirp, chirp, chirrup' of the house sparrow. Looking around Mr. Kite noticed a host of them flitting around the gutter on a house. Further down the road a carrion crow called, 'kraa, kraa' with a deep harsh voice from a t.v. aerial. Near the bottle bank a number of robins were marking their territory by singing and flying around 'their manor' staking claim to what they considered theirs. Today their song was a short sharp, 'tic, tic, tic' with the occasional melodic rippling song. Lastly the soft 'coo, coo' of the wood pigeon was sang from the branch of a lime tree.

La Becasse
Now just after eleven o'clock Mr. Kite heard another bird call. This call was complicated and varied. It started with two clunks similar to a glass and a bottle being placed on a wooden piano. Then there was a metallic rattle resembling the loose screw thread in a wine-bottle opener followed by more metallic tap sounding like a wine-bottle opener touching a crown cap on a beer bottle. Shortly after there was a short 'schhh' sounding like escaping gas followed by water trickling and a few glugs. In fact it was the bird song of la becasse, the woodcock, prior to being drunk. This fabulous cherry flavoured beer ends the song bird list for today. Cheers from a happy Mr. Kite sitting by a table full of Mexican food drinking la becasse and a woodcock on The Mantlepiece.

Friday 11th November (Armistice Day)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey sky. The top of the lime trees were bare and the leaves nearer the base were fewer and countable. Now Mr. Kite does not mind counting birds but leaves on a tree are a different matter.

Today it seemed that the people in the street wore poppies in remember of fallen soldiers; not fallen leaves. Now Mr. Kite lives in the house of a fallen poet who parents were notified of his demise ninety-three years ago this morning at midday with 'the knock on the door'.

Hopefully there will be no knocks on the door today. The poets parents had one knock on the door and Mr. Kite and His Lady have had their knock on the door. Today there will be no knocks on the door only on the old fireplace wall. So a bit of wall-knocking will be followed by a bit of bird-watching.

So after some  brick removal Mr. Kite went to Monkmoor Lagoon and today it was a good place to go bird-watching. With about two hundred canadian geese, scores of mallard, a few teal and mute swans with one solitary barnacle goose. With lots of birds to watch Mr. Kite watched them all rather than return to being a demolition worker in The Residence. After one hour Mr. Kite had watched all the birds and back to the building site.

In the evening Mr. Kite settled down to a tipple of Courage Directors. However in this technological world Mr. Kite and His Lady listened to yesterdays radio programme with Christine Finn visiting the Maison de Forestiere at Ors in Northern France. Now this reminded Mr. Kite of his visit to The Maison on June 18th 2011 where Mr. Kite and His Lady entered the building site and cellar for a sneak preview. With this amazing building still fresh in Mr. Kite's memory he had another drink.

Cheers to the Mayor of Ors, the people of Ors and all those who made this impressive building possible. Mr. Kite's contribution is a half-finished fire-place in the former home of the poet.

Thursday 10th November (More Gloom and Doom but The Condover Congregation was Magic)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a light grey sky. The breeze blew the remaining leaves on the trees and the outlook seemed bleak. But Mr. Kite and his birding companion went bird-watching.

Now to cut a long story short The Incapacitants watched fifty different species of birds and the competition was a draw because they had not expected to see so many birds. Today the birds were plentiful in the calm air, bare hedgerows and green fields. All the common birds were having a day behaving like birds; flying, tweeting, feeding and having the occasional squabble.

On the return trip, just before Condover, The Incapacitants disturbed a field full of lapwings and golden plover and they took to the air. The huge flock took to the air and circled with the congregation of golden plovers climbing faster than the desert of lapwings. Soon the 'The Big Wing' split with the lapwings going right towards Bayston Hill and the golden plover continuing to circle and climb.

Mr. Kite watched with interest the hundreds of golden plover because they did not fly as a flock in formation; it was a mixture of different types of formations and solos. Some flew in lines playing follow the leader. Others flew in line side by side with numbers up to ten. A flew groups flews as crescents. However the most interesting were groups flying in 'v' formations making arrows in the sky. Against the white cloudy sky these black shapes made fantastic patterns, shapes and dot to dot drawings. Now Mr. Kite would have to urge any bird-watcher to look at a flock of flying golden plover and observe the changing and varied shapes in the sky. It is an incredible sight.

After a great day birding Mr. Kite returned to The Residence for a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers to all the members of 'The Congregation 'that crowded the sky to perform a great display.

Wednesday 9th November (Dullness, Birds Nests and Beer)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into another grey cloudy November sky. The gloom and lack of bright sunshine made Mr. Kite feel dull but not being a dullard Mr. Kite had a birding plan.

Now on The Estate there are a number of trees that keep growing and overhang the boundary. So today Mr. Kite did a bit of pruning in preparation for next years nesting. With a ladder, a saw and some snips Mr. Kite scaled trees, swung from branches and clambered up tree trunks. Today Mr. Kite found seven wood pigeons nests, three blackbirds and a song-thrushes on The Estate. The bird boxes produced nothing.

So after five hours pruning Mr. Kite's Estate is ready for next year. Lastly Mr. Kite cleaned the chimneys and dislodged an old jackdaws nest.

With The Estate in order and the chimney swept Mr. Kite went to The Observatory to watch a few flying birds. Twenty goldfinches and a small murmaration of starling flew around the sky just as darkness was falling. After all the hard work Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Fullers London Pride. Cheers.

Tuesday 8th November (Cloud, Gloom and Damp)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey sky where the cloud were low. The leaves on the trees has almost disappeared from the tops and most of the remaining leaves were nearer to the bottom of the tree.

In the damp November air Mr. Kite started his trip to Polemere. The roads were wet, the surface water was muddy and the gutters were running with the residue. As usual the fields were grey and dull but the corvids  seemed happy. A few birds flitted quickly around the hedgerows.

To cut a long story short Polemere was also in the gloom. About twenty teals fed around the edges of the water and five mallards swam across the narrow pool. Mr. Kite sat and scanned the surrounding area noticing that the gloom was descending and the clouds lowered and the drizzle more persistent. So it was time for home. However there was one bright moment when a grey wagtail flew across the river by the Station Bridge.

Cheers from Mr. Kite enjoying a warm tipple of Tetley tea on a cold grey day. Cheers.

Monday 7th November (There's a Nip in the Air)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a clear sky. The dawn was still breaking and a few grey clouds could be seen in the distance. Looking onto the parked cars below Mr. Kite could see that Jack Frost had paid a little visit leaving a thin layer of frozen condensation on the windscreens. The 'nip in the air' was joined by two black-headed gulls that flew above the road. Mr. Kite had a theory about these gulls and that is they were looking for discarded chips.

As the morning progressed the clouds became thicker and darker turning a clear sky into a murky day with that nip still in the air. In the morning Mr. Kite and His Lady traveled to The Church of St. Gregory the Great in Morville to tidy The Special Grave. The grass was trimmed, weeds removed and flowers laid. Today the fog was descending and the birds were hidden. A glimpse of a wood pigeon, a common pheasant and a small flock of starlings was about Mr. Kites lot.

So with a nip in the air, birds rare and the comfort of a chair Mr. Kite and His Lady returned to The Residence for a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers on a dull, dreary November day.

Sunday 6th November (Carrion Crow and Chips)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom into a blue sky with the sun climbing above the horizon. Two wood pigeons and a black-headed gull flew over. Now looking onto the pavement Mr. Kite noticed a shiny black carrion crow opening a paper wrapper to eat the chips inside. The crow then pulled out long square chips and devoured them. So Mr. Kite has something in common with a carrion crow; that is they both like chips. Yesterday Mr. Kite was very greedy and had Marstons English Pale Ale and chips. Returning home Mr. Kite drunk plenty of Becks before buying more chips from the chippie to make chip butties. Luckily the local chippie is one of the best and the crow was enjoying some discarded chips from this chippie.

The thought of chips and beer curtailed Mr. Kites birding activity for the day although he did listen to a flock of house sparrows chirping in the warm autumn sunshine. A short spell in The Observatory on the third floor of The Residence produced a few starlings but the view of The Berwyn Mountains was pretty stunning.

After a leisurely morning Mr. Kite settled down for a tipple of Leffe Triple and Shepherd Neame 1698. Now carrion crows might eat up discarded chips in the street but Mr. Kite will not encourage them to drink good beer because he makes sure that every drop is drunk and dregs are not left in the bottle. Cheers to all those chip chomping carrion crows.

Saturday 5th November (Remember, Remember the Fifth of November)

Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a white sky. The few remaining leaves on the lime tree fluttered gently in the wind. Now Mr. Kite being a bird-watcher looked out for birds to identify and watch their behaviour. To cut a long story short he did not see any birds and therefore has nothing ornithological to write about.

However Mr. Kite  is yet to decide whether he is 'bird-brained'; that is having a small brain and being silly. Now yesterday Mr. Kite drank an enormous amount of London Pride, Abbot Ale and Becks; now that is silly because he ended the day in a fuzzy daze. But he did learn one term and that is 'library cormorant'; a few words used to describe Samuel Taylor Coleridge who wrote The Ancient Mariner; a poem with an albatross.

So the birds are not out there in the trees but in here; in Mr. Kite's brain. Today Mr. Kite and His Lady walked about one hundred meters to the nearby pub. Inside they sat down and talked to family, ate pasta and chips. Now Mr. Kite drank beer from Cornwall and plenty of Marstons English Pale Ale. Cheers.

Friday 4th November (Just Another Day)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a dull morning, Now today Mr. Kite felt dull. In fact Mr. Kite was exceedingly dull but he mounted The Beast and cycled along those Salop roads. To cut a long story short Mr. Kite cycled and cycled and cycled. He watched blue titis, great tits, meadow pipits, chaffinch, ravens and all the common birds of Shropshire.

Now Mr. Kite cycled over The Stiperstones  and Long Mynd in the rain. Just before descending into Church Stretton down The Burway Mr. Kite stopped to look at The Little Pond. where The Star had his final moments. Sadly, sadly and more sadly Mr. Kite looked at the spot where The Star ended his life.

Today Mr. Kite had a tipple of London Pride. No cheers, no fun but immense pain. Cheers from a bird-watcher.

Thursday 3rd November (Not a Twitch to Twitch but some Birding Correspondence)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a lightish sky and wet road. The rain had passed by and the  few remaining thin clouds sailed smoothly across the sky. Now looking into the lime trees Mr. Kite thought that recently the birds had not perched in these trees. Today there was nowhere to hide in the almost bare trees for the large doves and pigeons. Looking carefully into four trees Mr. Kite could not see any sign of bird life.

Now this morning Mr. Kite received a letter from his M.P. asking for his permission to raise the issue of the release of non-native into Floreat Salopia with The Minister. So Mr. Kite's name will soon be spoken in 'The Corridors of Power'.

Also another birding issue reached Mr. Kite this morning. Yes an e-mail popped into the inbox from a bird. JayW contacted Mr. Kite offering him the Early Bird Savings on a Christmas crate of wine. Now this is strange correspondence; a jay offering a kite a crate of Early Bird wine. At the moment Mr. Kite does not need any early bird wines as the early bird has stocked up with Becks and Abbot Ale.

After answering the birding correspondence Mr. Kite saddled The Beast and cycled to Venus Pool where the dry soil is being replaced by wet mud. To cut a long story short Mr. Kite scanned the outside of the pool and recognised the usual residents before watching a grey heron fishing in the centre of the pool.

This grey heron casually plucked sprats from the shallow water without moving far. Then two goosander dropped in to join the heron and quickly dived below the surface and circled the static heron raising their heads occasionally to reposition small fry so that they had an easy route to the stomach. Now the submerged goosander disturbed the small fish so much that they leapt out of the water to escape their sawbills. This attracted the attention of black-headed gulls. These birds then flew slowly or barely hovered above the water surface dropping quickly onto fish that had leapt out of the water as they splashed back into the water before they had time to gain control of their movements. This feeding frenzy lasted about ten minutes.

When the goosander had finished their gourmet meal they flew away leaving the gulls to fend for themselves. The gulls soon returned to the mud for easy prey leaving the grey heron happily picking out luscious silvery sprats and sometimes a much larger fish. It seemed to Mr. Kite that perhaps the grey heron had ate so much it could not move.

With rain starting to fall Mr. Kite returned home for a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers from a Mr. Kite who enjoyed bird-watching today at V.P.

Wednesday 2nd November (Twitch, Twitch; Twitch Twitch)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a threatening grey sky. The nearly bare lime tree was struggling to hold onto its remaining leaves in the breeze. Today Mr. Kite had a plan.

Now Mr. Kite firstly set out to Polemere via The Quarry where he stopped to watch mute swans, black-headed gulls and two goosander being fed by old ladies with stale sliced white bread. Cycling towards Polemere was a little tough in the headwind but wood pigeons flew overhead and corvids fed in the fields. Mr. Kite arrived at Polemere to see a large flock of greylag geese lazily sitting around the waters edge. Mallards, teal and lapwings were in the shallows. Redwings and fieldfare fed on the hawthorn and elderberries in the surrounding hedgerows. So Polemere was busy place; so busy it attracted the attention of Mr. Red Fox who appeared and looked enviously at the ducks and geese who had of measure of Old Raynard as they kept a wary eye on him. Whilst some birds kept their heads down enjoying a kip others quacked and croaked informing Raynard that they knew his tricks.

In the brisk wind Mr. Kite cycled through Lea Cross and into Condover where he rode through the ford and headed to an unnamed small pool that is hidden from the road. Today on this pool the colour scheme was black and white with a flock of canadian geese and a few tufted ducks. Snipe Bog and Berrington Pool were empty and finally Monkmoor Lagoon is becoming home for an increasing number of birds including grey herons, moorhens and coots. Colourful bullfinches popped over the boundary fence to add red, blue and grey to the colour. At one o'clock Mr. Kite arrived home following a good morning watching birds.

Time for a Twitch
At two-thirty Mr. Kite's birding companion arrived at The Residence and The Incapacitants set out for a twitch; not just a twitch but a mega twitch. Today mode of travel was The New Car although given more time and a favourable wind The Incapacitants would have cycled there.

Thirty minutes later The Incapacitants walked from a temporary grassy car park with cow muck and sheep turds dalloped out around a few cars at Wall Farm Telford. Following a well trod track The Incapacitants walked along a hedgerow past a hide, over a wooden bridge and into a wetland field where a group of 'twitchers' had gathered on the far side. Today the quiet wetlands and pools had been invaded and the bird sanctuary forgotten about because of the mega twitch.

On reaching the group of twitchers Mr. Kite set up The Super Scope so as to focus on a hedgerow about one hundred metres away. A minute later the cry went up, "There she blows", or something similar and Mr. Kite saw a dark shape with some white patches on its wing drop down behind the hedge. Now that could not be counted as a 'tick in the book'.

Two mintues later The Twitchers sprang to life and equipment was focused on 'The Phallic shaped Tree'. Sitting on the right hand side was a blackbird sized bird with a white breast, grey back with some black streaks. The Incapacitants had a good view for about ten seconds before the bird dropped down, revealing long narrow wings with largish white patches on its wing.

At that point most of The Twitchers put a 'lifer tick' in their book and set off to the country car park decorated with turds. Now Mr. Kite could put a tick in his book but decided that he wanted a better view; so The Incapacitants stayed on with 'Two other Twitchers'. The light was fading and a large murmuration of starling appeared on the skyline and 'The Target of the Twitch' came to life. Sitting here, sitting there, moving left, moving right, dropping to the floor, flying to The Phallic Tree, resting here and resting there the bird was viewed in much more detail.

Slightly shorter than the grey grey shrike and with a lighter beak and with a shorter streak over the eye; and showing more white this was a mega twitch. The bird in The Superscope was a steppe grey shrike; LANIUS MERIDIONALIS PALLIDIROSTRIS: wow.

The show continued and the 'mega lifer tick' was put in the book just as a few unfortunate working twitchers arrived after a frustrating day in the workplace waiting for the minute that they could take off their shackles and do what Mr. Kite can do any time; watch birds. Their visit was also rewarded.

So a quarter to five The Incapacitants called it a day and returned home. Mr. Kite settled down to a celebratory tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers from a happy Mr. Kite who is colouring in his 'mega lifer tick'.

Tuesday 1st November (Floreat Salopia: May Shropshire Thrive)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a blue sunny sky. The lime trees lining the road showed more branches and twigs than leaves. The remaining leaves quivered gently in the morning breeze.

Now back in Salop the 'big birding news' is that a Steppe Grey Shrike has landed at Wall Farm. Of course the debate is now about whether it is a version of the Southern Grey Shrike. Mr. Kite does not have too much time today otherwise he would have saddled The Beast and headed east but with the lack of time The Beast will be saddled and west will be best.

So in the morning Mr. Kite set out for a short trip in Salop where it was noted that there is plenty of wildlife and birds. After the dismal display in London Mr. Kite enjoyed cycling along spotting starlings, jackdaws, collared doves, wood pigeons and many others. Stopping at Atcham Bridge Mr. Kite looked up to see rooks and buzzards and down to see mallards and mute swans. This is what Mr. Kite calls bird-watching. Heading towards Venus Pool Mr. Kite saw redwings and blackbirds in the hedge mixing with dunnocks and robins.

Floreat Salopia was in good form. Now that the rain had turned the dry mud into small puddles, Venus Pool was looking like a bird reserve where the birds looked as though they were enjoying life rather than sitting idly on the newly formed ups and downs. The wet ground was encouraging black-headed gulls to peck at the new mud joined by moorhens. The pool had mallards, teal, shoveler, goosander and a pied wagtail looking at the busy birds.

Soon it was time to spy on the trout pool to see a large flock of canada geese, many coots, a few great-created grebes and one solitary whooper swan with a super yellow bill. With Floreat Salopia living up to its name Mr. Kite made a visit to Monkmoor Lagoon to watch mute swans, mallards and cormorants. After a busy day Mr. Kite arrived home as the darkness replaced the daylight and celebrated with a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers from a happy Mr. Kite and a drink for 'Floreat Salopia'.

Monday 31st October (Witches, Broomsticks and Home)

Mr. Kite looked out of The London Residence into a bluish sky with some whispy grey clouds. It was too early for the witches to be riding across the Halloween sky but not for the feral pigeons. So with pigeons fluttering around Mr. Kite and His Lady headed for The Victoria and Albert Museum.

To cut a long story short Mr. Kite saw plenty of birds in the museum; ravens, eagles, and robins. However they were drawn on ceramic, cast in metal, sculpted from wood or cast in plastic; so these did not count in the tally. With The London List less than ten Mr. Kite returned back to Salop to continue his bird-watching experiences. Cheers from Mr. Kite enjoying a tipple of Tetley tea back in The Residence.

Sunday 30th October (London and the Tally Rises)

Mr. Kite looked out of The London Residence into a grey sky. Today was a lazy Sunday morning reading the paper and looking out into the London environment for signs of birds; nothing was seen only a magpie.

In the afternnon Mr. Kite walked to Hampstead Heath on a cloudy afternoon. To cut a long story short Mr. Kite arrived at The Heath just as the rain started so with blue tit and long-tailed added to the tally things were improving. Other birds flew around but in the dull light and darkening skies Mr. Kite ambled through Hampstead.

Mr. Kite felt thirsty but showed great resolve in walking past The Holly Bush and then The Flask. Eventually Mr. Kite walked through Belsize Park and into The London Residence. After a shower and writing down the score Mr. Kite went to Wetherspoons for beer and chips. Cheers from a Mr. Kite enjoying a tipple of Brakespeare Triple and a plate of crispy chunky chips.

Saturday 29th October (Hampstead and London)

Mr. Kite looked out of The London Residence window into a calm London morning. The birds were not singing but a large flock of pigeon flew over. Mr. Kite went outside and could hear the sound of a long-tailed tit but could not see it.

On this day the birds and Mr. Kite took life easy; so easy that hardly anything happened.

After a lazy morning Mr. Kite scanned Hampstead for bird life and could only add starling to the list. With one more on the list Mr. Kite had a tipple of Hook Norton Ale. Cheers.

Friday 28th October (Flying Machines and a Few Feathers)

Mr. Kite looked out of The London Residence into a brightening cloudless sky. The air was still and the leaves on the trees were motionless. Everything was so still and calm that the birds were not disturbed; they slept on peacefully. Today Mr. Kite had a plan. After breakfast he would try and raise The London List to four or maybe five ashe caught Uncle Gus to Golders Green before embarkinging on The Tube for a visit to RAF Hendon and the museum. Now at this point Mr. Kite had visions of a cool pint of Fullers London Pride but commonsense prevailed although his vitual senses could smell those heady hops and taste that bitter tart of the golden malt he chose wisely white coffee.

Without any alcohol in his system Mr. Kite set out on an excursion to The RAF Museum at Hendon. Scanning houses, bushes and trees Mr. Kite traveled by bus and tube to Colindale. Now very few birds were seen on this part of the journey; in fact Mr. Kite would say, "Zilch".

Walking from the tube to the museum Mr. Kites luck changed and he watched a stunningly friendly jay sitting at the bottom of a small oak pecking at old acorns. London jays are equally as handsome as their Salop relatives but more friendly. Soon a magpie and feral pigeon were added to The London List bringing the score to an almighty six.

To cut a long story short Mr. Kite studied flying machines and their power plants for hours in the museum popping outside occasionally to enjoy the warm autumn sunshine and to increase 'the list'. The list did not increase but Mr. Kites pleasant day did. At five Mr. Kite did the return trip to The London Residence and settled down for a starter; just a starter mind of Thornbridge Jaipur Indian Pale Ale. Cheers from a flighty Mr. Kite. who has just watched the a Hampstead fox trot along the path.

Thursday 27th October (The Morning Mist and the London List)

Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a darkish morning. Now things looked a bit damp outside with a watery mist swirling in the lime trees so Mr. Kite had a tipple of Becks followed by a few more; it was a cheery start to the day in contrast to the dull quiet morning outside.

At eleven o'clock Mr. Kite and His Lady were traveling towards London on a luxury coach. Mr. Kite noticed crows, buzzards and gulls. This coach went on a magical mystery tour through Milton Keynes, Dunstable and other unheard of depressing places. Eventually the magical mystery tour stopped at Finchley Road two hours late on a cool autumn afternoon. The grey was grey and the leaves on the trees yellow and brown.

So at five o'clock The London List commenced; lesser-black backed gull, wood pigeon and carrion crow. With the tally on three, the day turned to night and the birds went to roost. At this point Mr. Kite decided to have a beer in The North Star; a tasty Hobgoblin. Cheers from Mr. Kite who is still under influence of todays Becks.

Mr. Kite enjoyed a few pints of Wychywood Hobgoblin in The North Star and drank more pints of beer than bird spotted. Lets hope tomorrow Mr. Kite spots lots of birds and drinks lots of beer.

Wednesday 26th October (Remnants, Remembrance and Remarkable)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom to see the remnants life left on the lime trees as their fine new spring greenery is now a tired scattering of dead leaves and nearly dead leaves. Life is a continuum in time and space from life to death encompassing joy and sorrow.

Mr. Kite had thoughts of remembrance this morning as a result of rreading last Saturday's Times newspaper. On June 18th 2011 Mr. Kite wrote about his visit to Le Cateau Cambresis in Northern France and visiting the impressive Maison de Forestiere at Ors where Wilfred Owen spent his last night. Although the building was still under construction the bare skeleton and quality of workmanship had 'the wow factor'.

Now Mr. Kite was very impressed by Simon Patterson's  walk-in sculpture and so was the writer of The Times article. In the mini theatre the words of Owen are read by Kenneth Branagh. So Mr. Kite would urge any person traveling through north France along the N43 from Cambrai past le Cateau Cambresis stop look and listen in this remarkable building before carrying on with your bird-watching trip.

Talking of poets and remembrance Mr. Kite read a poem by a star who sadly does not shine but brings a smile to the sad faces of Mr. Kite and His Lady about a monster. Today Mr. Kite will not write it out; but soon will.

Anyway Mr. Kite watched a sparrowhawk glide low over Monkmoor without moving his wings before decending over a roof and out of sight.Then Mr. Kite prepared for a trip but just as The Beast was saddled it rained 'cats and dogs' with lumps of white cold hail thrown in for good luck. So Mr. Kite returned to his house and settled down to a tipple of Fullers London Pride. Cheers.

Tuesday 25th October (A Wet Pavement)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window to see a wet pavement. Now this might not seem that unusual in 'wet old Blighty' but recently wet rain has been scarce. Hardly a drop has fallen from those grey clouds for months. The fields are dry and arid and the pools are baked mud. Mr. Kite is not pleased, although the farmers are. Mr. Kite prefers to wear scorching sunny sandals rather than wet weather wellies.

Now Mr. Kite is a campaigner; not a camp pain er. His recent campaign against game birds might not sound like the actions of a birdwatcher and conservationist but there are too many pheasants and red-legged partridge being released in Shropshire. So today Mr. Kite received a letter from his M.P.; well done Daniel. So the next stage is to write to James Paice, Minister of State at DEFRA.

Mr. Kite wrote a letter to James Paice asking him questions about the release of non-native invasive birds into the local environment. Mr. Kite does not believe that the countryside should be filled with non-native intrusive and invasive game birds; common pheasants are for Asia and red-legged partridge for France.

In the late afternoon Mr. Kite had a trip to Monkmoor Lagoon. To cut a long story short; four mute swans, four mallards, two moorhens and a grey heron were the only birds on the lagoon. At dusk Mr. Kite returned home for a tipple of Thwaites Tavern Porter; cheers from Mr. Kite.

Monday 24th October (A Quiet Day)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into the lime trees opposite. The breeze was blowing the leaves and more than half of the trees exposed the branches.

On this sunny morning Mr. Kite and His Lady traveled to Morville to place greenery on the a grave. The grave was tidied and plants put on the grave.

Mr. Kite returned home for a quiet tipple of Tetley tea. Today was not a day of celebration only quiet remembrance of a star who wit and life made live bright.

Sunday 23rd October (The Working Party)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a darkish sky where clouds drifted quickly between the trees. Now today Mr. Kite was going to join a working party improving the habitat of Venus Pool. Mr. Kite arrived at the almost waterless pool and watched a few mallards and black-headed gulls.

At ten o'clock the work began cutting trees, grass and brambles. Now the water rails will be easier to see and next spring the warblers will be visible. After a busy day helping birds Mr. Kite enjoyed a Thwaites Porter. Cheers from a thirsty Mr. Kite who has now cycled more than 3000 miles this year and cheers to The Beast for not causing to many problems.

Saturday 22nd October (The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a dark morning. The sun had yet to rise above the horizon. Now Mr. Kite had another bottle of Becks whilst he waited for the sun to appear. Mr. Kite decided that he would drink Becks until he saw the sun. The good news is that the sun did not appear until ten thirty and the bad news is that Mr. Kite drank a crate of Becks in the mean time.

When the sun shone in the sky Mr. Kite and His Lady went to the Shropshire Wildlife Trust to look at apples, talk to people and listen to great music. This inspired Mr. Kite to play his guitar. So after a wonderful hour he returned home to play, 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face'.

Mr. Kite failed to see a bird today but did see some lovely little females. Cheers from a very naughty drunk Mr. Kite who plays his guitar and whilst enjoying Abbot Ale. Cheers.