Wednesday 16th March (Looks like One; Sounds like One; It is One)

Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window to see the trunks and branches of the bare trees lit up by the orange street light. It was still dark and occasionally a car would travel along the road. But Mr. Kite could hear the coarse grating 'cark', 'cark' of Carrion Crows flying over. Mr. Kite often wonders what birds fly at night and why they do. He knows that Owls and Geese fly at night; Owls to feed and Geese to travel, but do Chaffinch or Blue Tits? On moonlit nights Mr. Kite has watched the silhouettes of Geese fly over.

Now it is the middle of March and the first summer migrants are reaching 'our shores' after wintering in Africa. One of the first to arrive is the small brown and white Sand Martin. Mr. Kite wants to spot the first Sand Martin in Salop this year. In  previous years Mr. Kite has found it interesting that 'one afternoon there are no Sand Martins' but the following morning, in the same location, there is suddenly twenty of the little blighters. So Mr. Kite is now returning to the real world of bird-watching.

At the moment Mr. Kite is really looking forward to Spring. The Sand Martins are coming and Mr. Kite has booked a ferry from Dover to Dunkirk in April. As they say, "Watch this space'.

Mr. Kite arranged a 'birding competition' with his 'birding companion'  and at ten thirty they met. Well you might ask, "Why so late a start?". The answer is that they are aging, less inclined to roll out of bed, their bodies are wearing out, and they both have to grunt and groan with the early bodily movements of the day; they have grown into The Incapacitants.

Anyway at ten thirty Mr. Kite guestimated a tally of forty- four bird species and his 'birding companion', forty-two. Mr. Kite likes numbers and many years ago he was a Bingo Player. Each game began with the words, "Eyes down; look in". Now the birding competition begins with the words, "Eyes open; look around". So just after ten thirty it was "Eyes open, look around" and The Incapacitants began the competition. Within seconds the first bird of the day was recognised sitting in a bush six metres away; it looked like one and it was one; a Blackcap. This greyish-blue warbler with a black cap was possibly a spring visitor. What a start to the day; a spring visitor. Today this bird song a few notes, probably because he was tired after flying from Africa. In a few days time this Blackcap will sing loudly from inside shrubbery.

The Incapacitants then started their trip towards Venus Pool. On route they spotted the usual and Sharpstone Quarry was quiet. The Rookery near Weeping Cross Island was busy and noisy. Passing the path leading to Berrington Pool The Incapacitants heard one; it sounded like one; looking up they saw it was one. 'Chiff chaff', 'chiff chaff', chiff chaff'; yes, another spring visitor in sight. This little brown brown bird sang as it quickly moved around the branches on the tree. Chiffchaff's are best recognised by their call because they are small, indistinctive and fast moving.

The Incapacitants walked to Berrington Pool to see Tufted Ducks, Great Crested Grebe and Coots. But in the nearby bushes more calls of  'chiff chaff, chiff chaff' could be heard. Today the birds and the blossoms were spring. Then it was onto Venus Pool along the country lanes.

In the hide at Venus Pool were two bird-watchers. Mr. Kite opened the window and instantly saw what he had hoped for; the bird that would make his day; the bird that signals the arrival of the migrants; it was one; it was a Sand Martin. Within seconds Mr. Kite could see two more. Three Sand Martins were flitting over the water whilst two bird-watchers showed little excitement; but The Incapacitants were elated, over the moon and pleased.

Mr. Kite might have seen the first Sand Martin in Shropshire. A small martin that flitters over water. A bird with a forked tail; broad based wings that taper to a thin tip. And a body with a white underside with  a brown breast band. This is a great sight. Now The Incapacitants went on to spot further common species including Oystercatcher and Gadwall. At this stage of the day forty five species had been identified; so Mr. Kite's birding companion had lost and Mr. Kite was leading. So, if three or more species were spotted the birding competition would be a draw. So The Incapacitants went to the field.

In the top field a large flock of birds flitted from the hedge to the ground to feed and then back to the hedge. When one flew; they all flew. It was the hedge; the field; the hedge; the field. It was now mid afternoon and the sky was becoming more grey as the cloud lowered but The Incapacitants were watching birds; and identifying them.

Faced with lots of birds how did they identify them? Firstly The Incapacitants picked out the colourful male Chaffinch's, Reed Bunting's and Yellowhammers. Then they matched the plainer females to the males; often because they sat by each other and the similarities, and differences, could be noticed. Over half an hour The Incapacitants ticked off the obvious and then had a few left over. A female Brambling, a male Brambling and lastly; and lastly; yes; hum.

A larger heavier bill, fatter body, no white in the tail, slight hump back, streaks on the front and a dark central v-shape; a Corn Bunting. Watching and listening further confirmed the identification. An occasional 'jingling of a bunch of keys' and a short flight with feet down. Great stuff. Bird-watching and bird identification requires patience, perseverance and thought.

With forty nine species identified the birding competition was a draw. As the air cooled and the sky darkened it was time for the return trip via Snipe Bog, the artificial pool and Condover. The tally topped fifty and The Incapacitants cycled into Shrewsbury and went their separate ways after a grand day bird-watching.

Mr. Kite cycled home and parked The Beast. Now Mr. Kite likes numbers. Yesterday was Centenary Day at Cheltenham; today Mr. Kite passed the Centenary of bird species spotted this year and he looks forward to the next hundred. To celebrate Mr. Kite chose a tipple with a number, not a name. Today Mr. Kite quaffed a bottle of Shepherd Neame 1698 Kentish Strong Ale. Cheers from a numerate Mr. Kite and remember, 'eyes open, look around'.