Wednesday 19th January ( Twenty attend the Murder)

Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window onto another blue sky with sun rays shining on the trees. Well what could be better; Mr. Kite was going birding today with his birding companion.

In cool sunshine Mr. Kite cycled from his home down the cycle track where he watched a magpie on the path. The magpie is a gregarious, noisy and elegant bird with a black head and neck, plenty of white on the body, hints of blue on the black parts and a long tail that can look black, blue or greenish. Most people recognise the magpie as they are very common in the countryside and in towns. Mr. Kite finds magpies attractive because of their behaviour that has given them a reputation. Country people will tell about how they destroy nests, eat young birds and a thief. To Mr. Kite that sounds like a pretty intelligent bird.

A magpie is a good bird to watch because there are plenty of them and they display a wide range of behavioural traits. Today Mr. Kite watched the magpie bounce along the path in front of him then take to the air and fly jerkily into a field where it joined a murder, gulp, tittering or tiding of fellow magpies. Now this was quite an amazing site; twenty chattering, noisy squabbling, bouncy and magnificent magpies enjoying themselves in the wintry morning sun. Mr. Kite did not understand what they were doing or understand the reason for their behaviour but he enjoyed the sight before moving on to meet his birding companion.

 By 1030 the competition was on as they cycled along cycle tracks, roads, country lanes and tracks. The sun was becoming warmer and the birds were everywhere and easily spotted in the naked trees and hedges. Eventually Mr. Kite and his companion reached the Mire after crossing The Bridge over the River Tern with it's lookout post. Generally when approaching this pool you can hear gulls, ducks and lapwings but today it was ominously quiet. Peering over the bank the birders saw mallards, teals, wigeons and four shelduck.

Shelducks are unmistakable. They are a large pied goose-like duck with a brown band around the body black head and neck with a bright red bill. Four together was a good sight as they are not that common in Shropshire.

The birding competition was progressing well and from the Mire it was now a return trip home via Upton Magna nd Uffington. Mr. Kites birding companion was in a good position to win as Mr. Kite had over guestimated. This was becoming a serious competition as a few more birds were needed for the draw. So serious was the birding at this stage a number of open public houses were passed; one was a free house that was particularly tempting. It was agreed that he competition would end at Greyfriars Bridge. After the Station Bridge three more birds were needed for the draw. Tension was building, eyes scanned the river, house roof's and ears were pricked hoping to pick out a wagtail or song thrush. On the river at Greyfriars a goosander, a mute swan and nothing else; Mr. Kite had lost.

After a good day out Mr. Kite went home for a tipple of Tetley tea. Cha.