Wednesday 12th January (Normal service about to Return)

Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window to see grey clouds and a dull dawn. But the beast was usable, and the chores complete, so Mr. Kite was going birding. The weather forecast was for rain but as the saying says there is 'not bad weather only bad clothing'. So Mr. Kite found his water proofs and warm clothing.

After coffee and toast Mr. Kite was off birding. The roads were wet and the clouds low but that did not matter. Mr. Kite was cycling along listening to the sounds of House Sparrows, Robins, Long Tailed Tits and Starlings making their familiar and reassuring songs. Having seen these birds many times Mr. Kite was pleased just to listen.

Within a few minutes Mr. Kite reached the tow path of the River Severn where the water was just a little lower than the path. Cycling under the station bridge he headed upstream noticing the usual Mallard, Goosander and Mute Swan. Near the English Bridge Mr. Kite noticed a Gulp of Cormorants standing on the river bank looking very black and menacing. A few metres on some colour was on show with a Grey Wagtail walking along the path showing it's grey and yellow plumage before bobbing onto a house roof.

A few miles further into the trip and Mr. Kite had crossed the bypass and was in the country where the sodden fields held the surplus surface water but Corvids and pigeons were on the ground feeding. The brown water was dripping off the beast and Mr. Kite's clothing was also turning brown from the spray thrown up by the passing traffic; but Mr. KIte was happily cycling towards the reserve at Polemere.

Turning onto a minor road for the last few hundred metres a wary Grey Heron stayed put as Mr. Kite passed within fifty metres but it was prepared to spread it's large grey wings and fly away as it kept an eye on the cyclist. Reaching Polemere Mr. Kite noticed that the ice had thawed and some birds had returned to the pool but the Greylag and Canadian Geese were grazing in the surrounding fields.

On the pool were colourful Teals making a gentle whistling sound along side Coots, Moorhens and a Dabchick. In the fields Mr. Kite noticed that the Greylag Geese were feeding less and becoming more vocal with their loud coarse honking. One group of six then took to the air; glided over the hedge before landing on the water after a short flight of about one hundred metres. Mr. Kite noticed as they glided over the pool before touch down how coordinated they were. Soon after another small group took to the air and Mr. Kite watched carefully this time to analyse their flight.

After a few short steps these flapping Greylags were airborne and about six metres off the ground they stopped flapping their wings and glided over the hedge and towards the pool. The glide lasted a few more seconds as they lost height to about two metres then it was feet down glide to just above the surface then a quick flutter, head back, feet forward, stall and then schhhh. as they touched the water where the wings were tucked in against the body. During the next ten minutes all the geese flew from the fields to the pool. Mr. Kite watched them saying to himself, "Glide, glide, glide, flutter, head back, feet forward, stall, schhh., wings in and float". It seemed that all these geese had attended the same flying school as the take-off and landing were the same.

Now Mr. Kite found this pretty exciting and looking around he could see Mallard landing and preparing to touch down on the water. So it now time to watch the Mallards technique. Mr. Kite looked into the sky at the more agile Mallard as they turned and climbed sharply. Their descent was steep compared with the lumbering geese and the wings in a downward arch before the head up, body down, flutter, stall and plop into the water; not such a gentle touchdown as the geese. Mr. Kite then watched Teal approaching and landing. This was similar to the Mallard but more inclined to drop into the water with less control. A quick conclusion the bigger the bird, the more gentle the glide and softer landing on the water probably because the large wing of the goose is more vulnerable.

What Mr. Kite saw next was also interesting. Once in the water the Greylags started to bathe in an excited and creative way. Mr. Kite noticed the different bathing techniques and these included; submersion, rolling over head first, rolling sideways over and over, lying on the back and kicking the legs. The birds seemed to be enjoying the activity with lots of honking, splashing and flapping around on the surface and flapping on the spot with the body just off the water.

Mr. Kite asked himself why did the geese behave like this? Was it to wash off the dirt from the fields or the warm water after the recent icy condition or just for fun; who knows. After an entertaining time at Polemere Mr. Kite headed towards Venus Pool via Condover. It was a slow ride as he was enjoying the sights and sounds of the Shropshire countryside. Just outside Condover is an artificial pond used to store water that is used to water crops in dryer weather. Mr. Kite walked up the embankment and peered over the parapet to see a Spring of Teal and a Company of Wigeon.

On reaching Venus Pool noticed that the birds had returned now that the ice had melted. The Greylags were bathing and noisy. The Northern Shovelers swam in circles feeding on the surface; the Pochard and Tufted Ducks dived. under the water in search of food. On one of the islands a Desert of Lapwings 'peewited' and occasionally silently took to the air with a rapid flapping of their rounded wings before returning to the same spot. In the fields flocks of Reed Buntings, Chaffinch and Goldfinch flew from the hedges to the grass and back to the hedge.

Mr. Kites last visit of the day was Monkmoor Lagoon. He gently cycled along lanes to Atcham and then to the lagoon. A thin layer of ice covered most of the water and five Mallards and one Shoveler stood on a frozen part. Later three Mute Swan landed on the water before one climbed onto the thin ice. So Mr. Kite was happy to see the birds are returning to the roost.

After a good days cycling and birding Mr. Kites tipple of the day was 'sparkling water'. Schhh.