Monday 17th January (On Song)

Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a dark morning. He arose early today because it was Monday and he had an appointment at eight o'clock at a garage where his holiday home was to be certified fit and well. Now Mr. Kite had a smile on his face because he had a day of cycling and birding planned. The workers on the other hand had long faces because they were going to spend hours adjusting brakes, draining fluids, refilling systems and bleeding them.

So Mr. Kite took his bike from the rack of his holiday home and cycled towards home with the sun rising and the birds singing. Heading along Sydney towards the weir Mr. Kite heard a familiar song for the first time this year. He slowed down and quietly headed towards a bush from which he could hear a loud, bold and clear song that Lord Grey, whoever he was, described as resembling the words 'did-he-do-it'. This was one of the most popular song birds in Britain the song thrush. Some listeners of their song claim to be able to recognise a repertoire of more than one hundred phrases; and they seem to have the ability to mimic other birds and trim-phones. Whatever its skill this bird was a true song thrush. Mr. Kite could see this spotty bird, about the size of a blackbird, but at this moment its song made him even happier. Soon after Mr. Kite was cycling across the Castle Walk where another song thrush was singing in the fresh morning air.

Mr. Kite collected his saddle bags from home and set out to meet his birding companion. After drinking coffee the two aging birders set out for a competitive few hours birding. The day was promising as they cycled along ticking off, and watching, common species of birds. The air was still and the sun rising steadily in a blue sky. A tour around the edge of Sharpstone Quarry revealed another member of the Turdus family; the larger mistle thrush.

After the mud and water of the off-road excursion it was back on the road to a small pool by Weeping Cross island where the rooks signaled the beginning of the construction of their rookery with a steady, 'caw, caw, caw,'. The watery theme continued as the birders visited Betton Pool, Berrington Pool and Venus Pool. Betton and Berrington had one mute swan between them whilst Venus Pool had a colourful selection of common ducks and some lapwings.

With the cloud increasing, and the temperature dropping, it was time to speed up and keep warm. On the move towards Atcham Bridge gulls were seen floating on the water in the flooded fields with corvids feeding on the muddy ground. A few goosander drifted around on the flooded fields near the bridge. With time running out, and a holiday home to collect, it was back to Weeping Cross island to listen to the single trill of a greenfinch and then home.

Having spotted forty-four species of birds Mr. Kite lost the competition to his birding companion but it was a good day out. Mr. Kite holiday home was certified fit and well and he celebrated another successful day with a cup of tea. Cha