Monday 11^th April (Falcon over the City)

Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window onto a sunny and pleasant city. Later in the morning Mr. Kite watched a Peregrine Falcon fly low over the houses of Hampstead before circling and soaring high into the sky. Mr. Kite saw the bird disappear into the clear blue sky.

Later in the day Mr. Kite drove down to Dover where he enjoyed a tipple of Tetley tea.

Tuesday 12^th April (Bon Voyage)

Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window onto a dark, clear and starry night. The air was still but a few gulls could be heard. Within minutes Mr. Kite and His Lady were on board a ship in the dark night setting sail for The Republic. Now sooner had they sat down in the café the anchor was lifted, the hawsers retracted and it was over ‘La Manche’.

At 0700 Mr. Kite were let into The Republic and drove past Lille, Paris and arrived at Sully-sur-Loire in the afternoon. Although Mr. Kite watches birds he tries not too when he is driving especially when in The Republic and on the wrong side of the road.

Now Mr. Kite is on a bird-watching trip so to enter into the spirit of the expedition Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Pauwel Kwak whilst listening to the ‘song of a Nightingale’ on the banks of the Loire. Cheers from a contented Mr. Kite.

Wednesday 13^th April (Bon Jour)

Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window onto the wonderful, magnificent and wide River Loire. The Kwak had done it’s trick and Mr. Kite noticed a pair of Mallards. Wood Pigeons, Chaffinch, Cormorants, Blackbirds, Blackcaps, Great Tits and Goldfinch could also be seen.

After a French breakfast of coffee and croissants Mr. Kite cycled upstream of the Loire towards Ouzouer-sur-Loire. On this warm and sunny morning Mr. Kite cycled slowly along the banks of the river listening to Nightingales sing whilst spotting Carrion Crows, Moorhens, Little Egret, Starling, Common Buzzard, Swallow and Collared Dove. Listening to a Cuckoo Mr. Kite noticed a bird that is rare in England but widespread in The Republic. This Robin sized black bird with a reddish and orange tail was a Black Redstart. This bird was flying from a barn roof to pluck food from the farmyard where a Pied Wagtail was also enjoying a meal.

In an adjacent field a Red Deer was walking along the hedgerow and in the middle a Red Fox was listening to rodent activity in the ground before pouncing onto a spot and digging out the occupant.

Mr. Kite eventually reached Domainiale Foret d’Orleans where this is an observatoire. Stopping for a while Mr. Kite watched a Cuckoo call from the top of tree; this fine grey male, with a barred chest, was seeking a mate. Nearby a Magpie sat and watched.

Now Mr. Kite had cycled to the obvservatoire to do a bit of ‘Osprey watching’ but when he got there the nesting tree was bare but a Great Crested Grebe and Pochard put in an appearance before a Heron sized Great White Egret waded out of the reed beds on it’s long yellow legs. Mr. Kite thinks a White Heron is a good description of this bird and it has that ‘dagger beak’ of it’s other family member.

Walking away from the hide Mr. Kite stopped to look at a Green Lizard basking in the sun. It’s eye was focused on Mr. Kite who just sat on a stump and watched it soak in the heat of the sun. Then an Osprey flew slowly overhead; glided awhile, then gave an ‘air test hover’ with flapping wings and then glided out of sight.

Mr. Kite returned to the campsite to spot a Sparrowhawk, House Sparrow, Sand Martin, Linnet, Little Ringed Plover, Dunnock and Greenshank.

After a great day in The Republic Mr. Kite sat on the banks of The Mighty Loire enjoying a tipple of Kronenburg 1664. Cheers from a relaxed Mr. Kite.

Thursday 14^th April (Follow that Bird)

Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window to see blossom on the trees and the Loire flowing smoothly to the sea. Soon Mr. Kite was strolling through a nature reserve watching Long Tailed Tits, Jays, Jackdaws and Black-headed Gulls. The warm sunshine had brought out the butterflies and the smell of spring flowers filled the air.

A few hours later Mr. Kite was cycling along the banks of the Loire in search of birds that live on the small islands that are in the middle of the river. For this trip Mr. Kite had packed his telescope and soon he was putting it up to look at a noisy colony of Common Terns. With their black caps, long red beaks with black tips, grey wings and white bodies they were easily identified. A few took to the air to skim over the water trailing their forked streamers.

Sharing the island with the terns were a pair of very handsome Yellow-legged Gulls with shining white plumage. Mr. Kite continued his journey along the river until he noticed an Osprey gliding in the other direction. So Mr. Kite turned around and followed the Osprey along the river. Occasionally it stopped, hovered and searched for fish; it did this many times before it flew away from the river to search elsewhere.

On his return trip Mr. Kite stopped to look at Grey Wagtails, Mute Swans and a Greenfinch. After a tiring day walking, and cycling, along the Loire Mr. Kite kept the bird theme alive with a tipple of Wychwood Brewery Scarecrow Pale Ale. Cheers from a bird-watching Mr. Kite.

Friday 15^th April (More Ospreys)

Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window to see Goldfinches feeding in a small tree and Nightingales could be heard in the nearby bushes. So Mr. Kite took his binoculars and went in search of a Nightingale. From within the shrubs, thorns, bushes and foliage could be heard the unique mixture of harsh sounds, rattles, warbles and other sounds. Soon a undistinguished brown bird appeared from within and sat on a branch and did it’s duty; sing like a Nightingale. Mr. Kite watched as it’s throat warbled and it’s throat pulsated to ‘belt out it’s loud song’.

Mr. Kite returned to The Joint for a French breakfast before cycling towards St. Benoit’s-sur-Loire. Now the aging Mr. Kite likes to sit down on his travels. Today with the spring sun beating down onto the dry green grass Mr. Kite sat on the banks of The Mighty and Magnificent River Loire. A flock of forty Cormorants flew over in a wragged, and uncoordinated, formation whilst a solitary Lapwing flew below.

Soon Mr. Kite heard the ‘witchity, witchity’ scratchy sound of a Common Whitethroat. From a bush over-hanging the river the grey head and white throat of the bird popped up and sang it’s song. Moving quickly around the bush, inside the bush and away from the bush the busy Common Whitethroat was active preparing for the breeding season.

Then two large birds appeared from behind the trees on the opposite bank; it was a pair of Ospreys. One then returned to the clump of trees but it’s partner landed on a dead tree by the river. Mr. Kite studied the perched bird; it’s black head stripe, yellow eye, white front and dark wings. After twenty minutes of river watching the Osprey went home.

Mr. Kite cycled along the Loire, around the town of St. Benoit’s-sur-Loire, saw Blue Tits and a Green Woodpecker before returning to the campsite to enjoy a tipple of Wychwood Hobgoblin on the banks of that great river; the Loire. Cheers from a thirsty Mr. Kite.

Saturday 16^th April (If you go down in the Woods today)

Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window to see a Robin on the ground moving aside some dead leaves. It was a misty start to the day and The Mighty Loire was hidden.

Soon the warm sun had cleared away the mist and the sky was blue. Mr. Kite then cycled to the Foret d’Orleans. A Tufted Duck was on the river and near the forest a Skylarks climbed into the sun; Rooks pecked at the ground with their sharp silver beaks and a male Stonechat sat on a telegraph wire.

Sitting on a pile of logs Mr. Kite listened to Nightingales, Cuckoo’s and Common Buzzards avoiding the large wasps that droned past. Now these really were wasps; yellow, black, noisy and large. The wasps of The Republic are large. Suddenly two Hobbies streaked across the sky before dropping low and chasing insects. Being not too far away Mr. Kite could see the handsome black head pattern, white neck, black spots on chest and small rufous patch underneath. Timing their attacks to perfection this pair of birds accelerated to catch their prey before it had chance to reach the safety of the thick forest. In this clearing they sped about snatching insects in flight, eating them as they flew along before homing in on their next meal. This was a pretty spectacular piece of aerial feeding. Eventually the aerial display was over and the sky was empty.

Soon another bird emerged from over the trees and over the clearing. This bird was purposeful with a powerful fast flight. A small eagle with ‘white spotlights’ on it’s shoulders; and white wings with black on the trailing edges and tips soared overheads climbing into the clear blue sky. Using thermals it gained height quickly and circled looking for prey on the ground. This Booted Eagle soared, circled and quickly covered the area before flying out of sight.

Returned to the campsite Mr. Kite noticed the first bird family of the year. The Kwak had worked and a family of nine Mallards were swimming in The Mighty and Magnificent Loire. Now the Loire in a great place for Mr. Kite but a family of tasty Mallards chicks is a tempting meal for those Grey Herons.

Anyway Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Kanterbrau on the banks of the river. Cheers to a family of Mallards and may they have a long and happy life on the banks of a mighty, magnificent and treacherous river.  

Sunday 17^th April (The Land of the Thousand Ponds)

Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window onto the Loire. Soon Mr. Kite and His Lady would be leaving the Loire for La Brenne.

A few hours later Mr. Kite parked The Joint overlooking the fishing pond in Rosnay. Around the pond people were fishing, eating, drinking or just enjoying the warm spring sunshine. Soon Mr. Kite was cycling along the quiet roads in La Brenne past big ponds, small ponds and others; just dirty ponds.

Around Mr. Kite noticed Black-headed Gulls, Swallows, Mallard, Grey Herons, Coots, and Great Crested Grebes. In a field amongst a herd of brown cows Mr. Kite could see a group of Cattle Egrets. Some were showing their breeding plumage of buff plumes. These birds are often seen flying around in groups.

Continuing along the roads Mr. Kite spotted Carrion Crows, Gadwall, Stonechats, Little Egrets, Moorhens and overhead a Black Kite soared around in circles. On a small pond sat Pochard and Tufted Duck. Soon Mr. Kite spotted a Purple Heron wading near some reeds. These birds are easily disturbed so Mr. Kite stopped and watched the large, elegant and dark heron feed. The hedgerows contained Chaffinch, Blackbirds, Long-tailed Tits, Common Whitethroat and House Sparrows. Jackdaws, Wood Pigeons, Kestrels and Starling flew around. On the edge of a small pond a Little-ringed Plover searched for food.

Later in the afternoon Mr. Kite returned to The Joint and listened to a Nightingale singing a few metres away, and a Great Tit collect nesting material before enjoying a tipple of Kanterbrau. Cheers from a warm Mr. Kite.

Monday 18^th April (Nightingales sings All Through the Night)

Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a clear blue sky. The Nightingale had sang all night and a Hoopoe could be heard ‘hoop, hoop, and hooping’ in the distance. Sitting in the warming air near the pond Mr. Kite could see Jays, Goldfinch and a Collared Dove. Now this campsite in Rosnay is very pleasant and clean. It also attracts immigrants in the form of other bird-watchers and as Mr. Kite sat drinking a cup of coffee Dutch, German, Belgian, French and English birders set out on their travels around The Land of a Thousands Ponds.

Soon Mr. Kite was pedaling along looking and listening to the sounds of the area. A small bird perched on the top of a tree attracted Mr. Kites attention. Soon this small brown bird with a speckled front took to the air and descended with legs down singing in a Canary like manner and landed on a bush. Mr. Kite stood and watched this Tree Pipit as it flew up, descended onto a bush about ten times.

Mr. Kite’s first stop of the day was the hide at Etangs Foucault. Today the pool was unusually quiet although Lapwings, Common Redshanks, Spotted Redshanks and Ruff could be seen. Mr. Kite cycled along the road and down a track to the other side of the pool. Sitting quietly on the ground Mr. Kite soon had the company of a large flock of Yellow Wagtails. Now Mr. Kite could not tell you the race or species of these vividly coloured migrants. As you would expect in The Land of a Thousands Ponds there is water and the pastures are green with luscious grass and bright yellow Dandelions. Today in this meadow there were lots and lots of yellow blobs; Dandelions and Yellow Wagtails.

The next hide visited by Mr. Kite was on the Cherine Reserve. Sitting in front of the hide on a log were five European Pond Tortoise absorbing the heat through their black shells. Birds were a bit scarce but Mr. Kite noticed a Pheasant, a Skylark and a Three-toed Treecreeper and listened to Reed Warblers in the reeds.

Mr. Kite then cycled to another hide on the reserve to watch the noisy colony of Black-headed Gulls but also spotted a Shoveler and a Black-winged Stilt walking in shallow water on it’s long legs. Then a pair of Short-toed Eagles glided low over the pool and continued on their way just as ‘an enormous number of Belgian Birders’ arrived.

Mr. Kite then cycled to Etang de la Sous and returned past Beauregard to Rosnay. Just a Mr. Kite arrived back at The Joint another ‘birder on a bike’ appeared and he and Mr. Kite had a birding conversation. This birder had spotted the same species as Mr. Kite including the two Short-toed Eagles.

Soon Mr. Kite was enjoying a tipple of Kronenburg 1664. Cheers