Thursday 24th March (More Springtime Promises)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into the dawn sky. The moon was in the south-east and about three-quarters full; the birds were singing the Dawn Chorus. The dominant singer was a Blackbird with a Song Thrush almost as loud. As the day brightened the Dawn Chorus faded leaving the 'coo coo coo' of the Wood Pigeons.

Mr. Kite had arranged a bird-watching day with his Birding Companion. At ten o'clock it was, 'Eyes open and look around'; the competition was on and The Incapacitants were off. Now on this warm, sunny and fabulous spring morning the birds took second place for the first part of the outing. The count was on but the white, pink and yellow blossom flowers were stunning. The dark and light green leaves were dazzling. The yellow, purple and white flowers were a picture. An English spring morning could not be better. In the bare trees old bird's nests could be seen and the new growth of Mistletoe. Buds were bursting with life.

The bird count increased as The Incapacitants slowly cycled along country lanes towards Venus Pool stopping occasionally to wander to a pond, pool or clump of trees. A highlight being a Sand Martin skimming the surface of an artificial pool for a sip of water. Now with the birds singing The Incapacitants stopped to listen and locate Skylarks, Chiffchaffs, Greenfinches and Wrens. At one stage they followed a Red-legged Partridge along the road.

Now to cut a long story short Venus Pool produced the usual species and then The Incapacitants cycled to Lodge Hill where time ran out so they returned back to Shrewsbury stopping to watch sixteen Common Buzzards in a circular stack soaring, gliding and diving in the clear blue sky above the green and pleasant Salop landscape. Today Shropshire had more than it's fair share of Common Buzzards. With the competition a draw The Incapacitants went their separate ways.

Mr. Kite cycled to the River Severn at Monkmoor and watched ten Sand Martins flying high over the river, low over the river and over the surrounding fields. If Mr. Kite stood still the birds come closer and flew lower than Mr. Kite's eye level so he could see their plain brown backs. When they rose Mr. Kite could see their white underside and brown chest band. Soon these birds will be nesting in the river banks.

Mr. Kite returned home after a great day out and settled down with a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers from a sun soaked Mr. Kite.