Thursday 6th January (Colourful Birds with Colourful Names)

With birds dropping down dead, and falling out of the sky, in the United States and Sweden Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window this morning expecting to see the road outside his home littered with the corpses of Blackbirds or Starlings. However it was only littered with the usual fish and chip papers and polystyrene food boxes.

So he took the beast out of the shed and realised that a few new spokes were needed in the rear wheel. Before his birding expedition started he made some minor repairs to the machine. Having read the internet Mr. Kite knew where a small flock of Waxwings should be feeding. The information gave the location very clearly so within five minutes of starting from home Mr. Kite was a few metres away from fourteen crested soft-plumaged grey, pink purple Waxwings with added red and yellows splashes of colour. These amazingly coloured birds were feeding in a low bush in someones front garden. Although Mr. Kite has seen many Waxwings he always finds them a thrilling spectacle.

Today Mr. Kite planned to search the fields behind Haughmond Hill for partridge and birds of the countryside. Cycling along the Old Canal another wonderfully coloured bird flew slowly alongside for a  while. This was a red, black and grey male Bullfinch with a distinctive white rump. After flying nearby it darted into the hedge and out of sight.

Further along the canal an aerial dual was taking place between a Magpie and Sparrowhawk. The hawk was more agile in its manoeuvering around the sky but the Magpie was brutish; persistently flying straight at the hawk until the hawk glided down into a small clump of trees.

Mr. Kite was also persistent in his plan to reach Roden. The incline over Haughmond Hill was no obstacle and soon Mr. Kite was free wheeling towards the large green-houses of Roden. In the fields pigeons, doves and the odd Pheasant fed with the odd flock of Fieldfare and Redwing.

Off the main road, and onto the country lane, Mr. Kite scrutinized every fold in every field looking for Grey Partridge, Meadow Pipits or any bird. On seeing something on the ground Mr. Kite's heart beat increases anticipating the opportunity to observe the less common or obvious bird behaving like a bird; whether feeding, fighting for territory or courting.

Today the birds were mainly interested in feeding as a result of the cold weather but some beautiful Red-legged Partridge were spotted with their black and white heads with red beck. More colour was on show when a Jay flew along the hedgerow with its pinkish body and blue feathers on the wing that were used for hats in Victorian times. Lastly a Green Woodpecker flew up showing it's large green and yellow body and red crown. So Mr. Kite cycled along satisfied having watched some stunning birds.

The trip was slow because Mr. Kite scanned the fields and stopped in the pleasant sunshine to enjoy the flock of field feeders. After all he was out to enjoy birding, good weather and the countryside. Eventually Mr. Kite reached Atcham Bridge where the River Severn was higher than normal and a light brown colour. Mallard, Goosander and Canada Geese were in groups near the river bank but in the middle of the river two birds appeared with different silhouettes; round-headed with a stubby bill. These two birds would dive under the water after being on the surface for a few seconds and stay under for upto fifteen seconds. This went on for ten minutes and they did not stray far from where they dived under the water. When these birds appeared on the surface their golden eyes shone; not surprisingly these diving ducks are Goldeneyes.

With time passing quickly, and the light fading, it was time for Mr. Kite to visit the lagoon just in case it may hold a surprise. However it was frozen over and life less; but that is bird-watching, some you see some you don't.

So Mr. Kite had a good day looking at colourful birds with colourful names. Now Mr. Kite stood on some scales this morning and the pointer went far past where it should have stopped therefore he has decided that today's tipple would be a Tetley tea bag.