Thursday 3rd March (New Sights in Sunny Salop)

Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window and saw Wood Pigeons flying in a diamond four formation in front of his house. A neat and accurate manoeuvre took them between some trees and out of sight.

With a good weather forecast Mr. Kite and his 'birding companion' met up and went for a walk. Today a circular route was planned along public footpaths that they had never explored. Firstly they explored Mousecroft Pools. This provided a mixed habitat of water, trees, bushes and grassland. A good variety of common birds were sighted with the highlight being a Brambling.

From the Mousecroft Reserve the route took them down an old Roman Road in a westerly direction. Now to cut a long story short the birding competition was a draw; more birds were identified than predicted. But Mr. Kite would recommend that any person, with a day to spare, walks a route passing through Newton Farm, Upper Edgebold onto Mytton Oak Road. Turn left over the new A5 then left to Lower, and Upper Woodcote Farm to the impressive Hanwood Bank. Walk through Hanwood to the dismantled railway picking up the Kingfisher Way back to Shrewsbury following the Rea Brook. The trees, the fields and the sky are perfect for birds; hope you can spot them.

Mr. Kite spotted thirty five species of birds on this route. Can you spot more? Mr. Kite has some advice; take a note book and pencil with you.

Cheers from a tired and muddy Mr. Kite who is enjoying a tipple of Tetley tea. Tomorrow Mr. Kite is going traveling to a city for a suburban adventure. Will it equal super, sunny Salop?