Wednesday 23rd February (The Peacock and a Dragon built by a Peacock)

Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window onto the cavalcade of Plumbers, Plasterers and Painters traveling along the road in search of work, on their way to work and in many cases avoiding work. Now Mr. Kite is in the latter group and finds any excuse possible not to work, and find a reason why he wants to go bird watching on his bike.

Taking the beast from the shed and lubricating the chain, and gears, Mr. Kite set off in the direction of Venus Pool. The sky was grey and the westerly breeze was mild but Mr. Kite still wore gloves and a hat. The first bird Mr. Kite stopped to look at this morning was a Peacock. This Peacock was painted on a sign for The Peacock; a public house. Having only just began the ride Mr. Kite thought carefully, licked his lips and decided not to go for a pint. He was quite amused by a sign that stated, 'Watch Live Sport Here'. This seemed a good excuse to bird watch and have a pint of bitter but common sense prevailed and Mr. Kite continued on his way to Venus Pool.

Just past The Peacock Mr. Kite noticed green Daffodils shoots ready to flower next week for St. David's Day. The hedgerows in the country lanes were showing signs of growth but the catkins took Mr. Kite's attention away from them. Soon the growth on the hedgerows too would burst into full view. Around Mr. Kite could hear and see the usual birds.

The lanes were wet and muddy and Mr. Kite was speckled with brown Salop mud when he arrived at Venus Pool where flocks of Lapwings flew up high into the sky, circled and then returned to the pool. Occasionally the Lapwings and Black-headed Gulls would take to the air, leaving the duck and geese on show in the water. Staying in separate flocks the Gulls kept low and moved forward whilst the fast flapping wings of the Lapwings took them quietly into the air before returning to stand in the shallow water. On one occasion a Sparrowhawk glided below the flock of Lapwings and parallel with the Gulls. Without the element of surprise the Hawk stayed hungry and the Gulls and Lapwings were safe.

With the air warming the sky was where the action was taking place. Over the trees on the edge of the reserve ten Common Buzzards were soaring in circles and gently drifting downwind resembling Vultures in search of food. As they banked the white underparts, and black trailing edge to their wings, showed clearly. Today the Wake of Buzzards only soared, glided and banked sharply; no diving or rolling with their partners. Mr. Kite enjoyed the ten Common Buzzards effortlessly moving around the sky by changing the shape of their wings.

Mr. Kite then cycled to Atcham Bridge. Standing on the old bridge he looked down stream. Soon he noticed a brown flying creature heading up stream just above the water. It resembled a Sand Martin but Mr. Kite knew it was too early for one of these to appear. Focusing his binoculars he then realised it was a Bat. Then it flew around the bridge where Mr. Kite had good views of it before it disappeared into the trees in the churchyard. This was a small Bat; probably a Pipistrelle.

Returning towards Shrewsbury Mr. Kite scoured the river and saw Canada Geese and Goosander. But this is one sight near Atcham that is always worth looking at and that is The Dragon located in the car park of Salop Leisure. Most towns, including Shrewsbury, are littered with abysmal sculptures and works of art that are appalling  but the metal dragon at Salop Leisure is exceptional. Now funnily enough this Welsh Dragon was built by Mr. Peacock. Today was the day of the Peacock. Mr. Peacock's Welsh Dragon is a splendid piece of metalwork; if Mr. Kite was an art critic, and not a bird watcher, he would take pictures of it and put it in a book rather than write about it in a blog.

The last stop today for Mr. Kite was Monkmoor Lagoon where Pochard, Mallard, Teal, Tufted Ducks and a Grey Heron were enjoying the mild weather. Following another pleasant day Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers from Mr. Kite who is in Salop for a while.