Sunday 27th March (Hirondelle; One Swallow does not make a Summer)

Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window to see pink, yellow and white blossom. Neighbouring Privet hedges had grown fresh green leaves. On this dull morning the plant life colourful and the bird life quiet.

Later in the morning Mr. Kite set out on The Beast on a bird-watching tour in the chilly spring air. Near Berrington Hall Mr. Kite stopped to listen to a Dunnock singing from the top of a hedge in a high-pitched short song. Some of the variations of it's song were 'Robin like, Wren like' but very melodic. When the Dunnock stopped singing and disappeared into the hedge Mr. Kite examined a holly bush that he was near. Looking closely he noticed a few bright red berries hidden amongst the sharp green leaves. The Fieldfares and Redwings had misses these. A few yards away the black berries of an ivy plant grew on a stem in a cluster of about twenty. On the ground purple, pink and yellow flowers grew under the hedge. More plants were growing than first met the eye; but the birds were definitely scarce.

Mr. Kite moved on to Berrington Pool and walked down to the waters edge. Now Mr. Kite could see Sand Martins flying low over the water. Against the grey sky the white body and brown band stood out clearly. Then Mr. Kite focused his binoculars on individual birds and watched them as they turned, climbed higher and dropped back over the water. Then Mr. Kite noticed a gleaming metallic-blue back flying away from him and climbing over the trees on the far side of the pool. This was Mr. Kite's first glimpse of a Swallow.

Now this was exciting to Mr, Kite; his pulse rate increased and he intensified his search for the Swallow; or the French name, 'Hirondelle'. Soon he had focused upon a Swallow and looked at the tail streamers on the forked tail, then the white body and finally the red forehead and throat. One Swallow does not make a summer but it did make Mr. Kite's day, and Mr. Kite likes the name Hirondelle.

With his day made Mr. Kite rode onto Venus Pool hoping for another spring visitor. However the usual birds were on the pool but their behaviour was stimulated by that springtime feeling. Black-headed Gulls noisily marked their territory by keeping away intruders by flying towards them and a pair of romantic Great Crested Grebes faced each other with their crests spread out. They lowered their heads to the body and the beck touched the wing and then the head was held proudly high. After five minutes they dived under the water for a romantic meal.

Mr. Kite then leisurely rode to Atcham, through Attingham Park, over the River Tern and reached the Mire where the most noticeable birds were Shelduck. Mr. Kite then cycled home stopping occasionally to enjoy the surroundings. On reaching home Mr. Kite sat in the garden with a tipple of Tetley tea. Cha from a very happy Mr. Kite wishing spring would slow down because summer will soon be here, and there is so much more to see in spring.