Thursday 17^th February (A Right Royle Tour)

Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window onto rabbits, conifer trees and the toilet block. But he thought what a wonderful sight although the skies were grey. Being on holiday in East Anglia Mr. Kite was pleased. Earlier in the morning when he was returning from the toilet he saw a Tawny Owl fly over his holiday home.

After a leisurely breakfast Mr. Kite mounted the beast at eleven o clock at set out for the RSPB reserve at Snettisham. Cycling down the quiet country lanes he saw Stock Doves and Pheasants. Now being on the Sandringham Estate Mr. Kite thought that the other Royle’s were obviously not good shots as they shoot on the land and the Pheasants were feeding in the fields quite unperturbed. Reaching the village of West Newton Mr. Kite watched Jackdaws cling to the church tower like Wallcreepers. Now back home in Shropshire Jackdaws do not cling to church towers because the stonework is made from smooth large blocks of stone but in East Anglia the stonework is small rugged attractive stone that birds can cling to. As he passed through the village Mr. Kite noted Collared Dove, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Starling and Black-headed Gull.

Being on the royal estate Mr. Kite gave the victory sign to all the people he passed on his route to the big house in Sandringham. To every four by four, game keeper, walker and subject Mr. Kite raised those two fingers until he reached the gates of the big house where he looked through the bars. This was in deed a splendid gate and Mr. Kite thought about the hours he had worked so that his taxes could be used to keep this black gate in good condition. After cycling around the estate car park pretending that this was his lot Mr. Kite heading towards Dersingham, Ingoldthorpe and Snettisham.

RSPB Snettisham

With only one small map reading error Mr. Kite pedaled down the no through road towards the reserve stopping to watch a flock of Pink-footed Geese graze in a wet field. These were pretty colourful birds with their bluey plumage. Soon Mr. Kite reached the start of the reserve where he was greeted by a Short-eared Owl. This bird was hunting along side the fishing lake. In the daylight this white streaked Owl flew around, circled, banked steeply and dropped down to pick up morsels. A bit like a Barn Owl this whitish bird was stunning. Standing by a gate Mr. Kite could also see Mallard, Moorhen, Red-legged Partridge, Curlew, Magpie and a flock of Greylag Geese.

Mr. Kite then followed the signs for the RSPB hides at Snettisham. This lead him along a muddy, wet and narrow path that zigzagged along a pool where he saw Goldfinches, Coots and a Canada Goose. At interval Mr. Kite encountered steps that made him work to push the beast up. This went on for more than Mr. Kite enjoyed but eventually he ended up on a concrete sea defence and dry solid ground.

From the heights of the sea defence Mr. Kite had a brilliant view of dark brown mud flats and The Wash. It was cloudy and grey but the sight of miles and miles of mud was worth it. Around him Mr. Kite could hear the sound of gulls and waders. Looking at a sign that pointed to the hide Mr. Kite cycled down a gravel track to the Rotary Hide.

Mr. Kite went into the hide. It was not luxurious with the wooden benches but the views were impressive; on one side a freshwater pool and the other the mudflats and sea.

Looking into the pool Mr. Kite noticed Wigeon, Gadwall, Herring Gulls and Goldeneye. Turning towards the sea he ticked off Shelduck, Lapwing, Common Redshank, Ringed Plover and Dunlin. Above birds flew over and over the flats clouds of waders filled the air. At this distance Mr. Kite could not identify them but that did not matter; the whole place was full of birds flying, feeding and making a noise. For more than one hour Mr. Kite sat and watched and listened and enjoyed every second.

Now it was mid afternoon it was time for Mr. Kite to head back to his holiday home. Firstly he cycled along the sea defence to a gate. At this point he could have turned right and returned along the wet and muddy track that he used to reach the hide; or he could cycle down the private road with the solid gravel road. So Mr. Kite went down the private road that was not allowed. The s pedaled and pedaled happily along in the sea air that was intoxicating. At one locked gate he just cycled over someone’s front drive. At the end he reached a track that lead to the road. Damned good stuff this; not a care in the world. But being on a birding expedition Mr. Kite ticked off Tufted Duck, Common Gull, Mistle Thrush and Dunnock.

The Return Trip

Now when Mr. Kite left the coast the sun appeared so he slowed down to enjoy the sunshine and the hint of warmth. After Snettisham Mr. Kite sat on a bench for a short time in the afternoon sun where Snowdrops were growing. Reaching Ingoldthorpe Mr. Kite turned left to pick up cycle route one back to Sandringham. For months Mr. Kite has searched Salop for Grey Partridge without success. However today Mr. Kite stopped to watch two Hares in a field when he noticed two birds squatting down nearby. Taking his binoculars out he focused in on two Grey Partridge with their grey bodies and fantastic rustic red heads. These are great birds to see. Out numbered by the French Red-legged Partridge these subtle coloured unobtrusive gems make a bird watchers day.

With his day made, and a smile on his face, Mr. Kite watched Skylarks, Yellowhammers and Egyptian Geese. In his joy he raised his fingers to royalty as he stopped at Sandringham to look at a Song Thrush before returning to his holiday home to enjoy a tipple of Frederic Robinson’s Unicorn Brewery, Cheshire Brown Ale. Cheers to a good day and many of them. From a happy Mr. Kite.