Tuesday 8th February (Another Mr. Kite)

Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window to see sun. "Sun", exclaimed Mr. Kite in utter surprise after days of wind and rain. An unbelievable sight met his eyes. Not just sun, but warm rays came through his window. Mr. Kite then arranged a days birding with his 'birding companion.

With the beast oiled Mr. Kite cycled past the Rea Brook where a Grey Heron was happily feeding on the waters edge in the warming sunshine. Mr Kite met his birding companion and they decided to cycle to Habberley and stroll up Lawn Hill. The birding competition was on and the usual birds were recorded including some colourful Greenfinches making their presence known by a single thrilling note. Robins, Dunnocks and Blue Tits were singing on form. In the sunshine the outward trip was a pleasure with the added 'smell of spring'.

The white trig. point of Earl's Hills showed the summit at three hundred and twenty metres above sea level and an indicator of the direction they were heading. After leaving Pontesbury it was mostly uphill to Habberley and to a public footpath leading towards Lawn Hill. The bikes were parked by a hedge and the intrepid pair set out towards the green and brown mound of Lawn Hill. After a frosty start the ground was firm, but not hard, making easy walking. Skirting around the outside of the field the pair kept an eye on four horses that friskily trotted around snorting and playing horses. However the hilly habitat was a haven for larger birds and overhead Ravens 'honked'; Kestrels hovered and Sparrowhawks fluttered up high to gain height and Common Buzzards circled crying a single note.

Leaving the footpath the birders strolled up the gentle incline of Lawn Hill towards the summit where a name sake of Mr. Kite appeared; a colourful and elegant Red Kite. Now Red Kites are not rare in Shropshire but not common either. But it is not the distinctive silhouette of the large fork tailed raptor that brings excitement, or the red, black, white and buff plumage, or the sighting, but a flying Red Kite is a master of the air and a flying spectacle. This Red Kite was using the wind on the slopes to hang about three metres above the ground. To keep position and height the bird rolled it's forked tail from side to side and trimmed it's flight with the fingered feathers on the wing tips. To gain height it adjusted it's long thin flexible wings giving more surface area and adjusting the angle of attack. With all this control the Red Kite moved around like 'the hun in the sun' looking for scraps on the ground. Unseen to the worms and grubs on the ground the Red Kite masterfully manoeuvred just above the creature and then gently dropped onto them. A gentle approach and touchdown in the right place; on the worm.

Soon, with the Kite still feeding, Mr. Kite and his birding companion were on the summit of Lawn Hill; a mere four metres less than Earl's Hill. From the panoramic view of the summit it was then a walk onto Huglith Hill and past Riddles Wood to the bridle way and the road returning to the parked bicycles.

It was then a slow ride back to Longden stopping at times to enjoy views of Lawley, Caradoc and the Wrekin. Towards the end of the outing the birding competition was a draw with both the birders over estimating the number of species spotted.

Now Mr. Kite, and his birding companion, had a good day out. The bird watching was magical and the scenery stunning. So Mr. Kite returned home to enjoy a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers