Thursday 31st March (Life on Venus)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a rainy morning blown by a strong wind. Within seconds a Common Buzzard was seen in a slow controlled glide just above the tree level heading into the wind. To keep control it's wings and tail were constantly adjusted and trimmed to keep a straight course.

Mr. Kite spruced up The Beast and cycled towards Venus Pool in a blustery wind. With the sun shining warmly on the buffeted Mr. Kite, the journey was fairly pleasant. When Mr. Kite arrived at the hide and opened the window he scanned the islands for a small wader he hoped to see that should have arrived by now, the end of March. A small blob on the end of an island caught Mr. Kites eye; focusing his binoculars he noticed a small plover with a white breast and brown back. Around it's neck was a narrow black band. The plover's head was most revealing; a short black beck with a white patch just above; a black and brown head with a neat yellow circle around it's eye. This was Mr. Kite's first sighting this year of a Little Ringed Plover. Hopefully this neat little bird has traveled from Africa to breed.

Now on the shingle island a Lapwing and an Oystercatcher had started the breeding procedure by scraping a hollow amongst the small stones and sitting there waiting to lay. Both sitting birds were well camouflaged. The Lapwing was on the edge of a green patch of grass that blended in with it's greenish body, and it's black and white head was barely noticeable against the marbled stones. On the other hand the pied black and white colours of the Oystercatcher also made sure the bird was unnoticeable; only it's long orange bill gave away it's whereabouts.

In the reeds on the far side of the pool a pair of Mute Swans had chosen their nest site. In between spells of home building the pair of Mute Swans were swanning around their patch. At one stage a family of Mute Swans arrived and landed on the water. Instantly the nest building cobs feathers were ruffled; arching his wings and forming a screen he placed his head inside the protective screen and surged through the water to the cob who was with his pen and two offspring. Relentlessly he pursued the intruder until the visiting cob took to the air and his family followed. Mr. Kite wondered what it must be like to lose face in front of your family and have to retreat. However a few minutes later the family flew slowly over the length of Venus Pool with a menacing fly past the nesting pair; a gesture of 'we will seek revenge'.

This afternoon Venus Pool was all action. A Sparrowhawk made a low pass over the water into the feeding station and little later another pass below the window of the hide and a steep circular climb past the far end of the pool followed by a steep turn and dive towards where grass where the Little Ringed Plover was resting. Passing just feet above the spot the hawk flew the length of the pool and out of sight. Now Mr. Kite thought what a welcome for the little plover; all the way from Africa as a potential meal for a hawk. Minutes later the Sparrowhawk did another low attack towards the same spot watched by two Canadian Geese; and once again the hawk failed. It seems to Mr. Kite that Little Ringed Plover must be a bit like the Grouse to people; a delicacy to be eaten in the appropriate season. Hawks must look forward to the arrival of the Little Ringed Plover.

With the plover safe and playing hard to get the hawk was distracted by a partner. On arrival the Sparrowhawk changed attack flying into display flying. Rising high over the end of the pool the pair dropped and tumbled in a sign of courtship.

Now Mr. Kite had a engaging time watching birds today. It was the seasonal start of the battle for life for the next generation. After such excitement Mr. Kite cycled home and sat in the garden sipping Tetley tea. Cha from an appreciator of bird behaviour.