Friday 8th July (A Summer Morning in England)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window and saw that the sky was grey and rain drops clung to the pane. This is England and summer. Looking into the Lime trees that line the road Mr. Kite was trying to decide whether they were Large-leaved Lime of Short-leaved Lime; both had remnants of yellow flowers.

With some bright spells forecast Mr. Kite planned a gentle cycle ride around lanes that he has not ridden down since the end of March. In the murk and gloom of a typical English summers day Mr. Kite cycled through Berrington and Eaton Mascot to Venus Pool. Only a few common birds were seen as they did not want to pop their heads up on this drizzly day.

On arriving at Venus Pool Mr. Kite saw three young birds on the water that he did not recognise. They were white underneath with a black/brown back and a unfinished dark cap. By elimination Mr. Kite knew these ducklings were not Mallards, Teals, Pochards etc.; partly because they were about the size of a slender Mallard. Just as Mr. Kite was thinking their parents appeared from around an isle; these ducklings were Shelduck. This is the first time Mr. Kite has ever seen a family of Shelduck at Venus Pool. When they all appeared there were five duckling or are they goslings. Whatever they were hungry and feeding.

This made Mr. Kite think about what other young birds he could see. Two young Great-cested Grebes swam in the middle of the pool and two Coots walked on an isle. Looking out of the hide window a young 'little brown thing' appeared that was impossible in that short time to identify. So Mr. Kite considers identifying fledglings, ducklings and goslings as something that can be difficult.

With the rain pouring down Mr. Kite returned to The Dwelling along roads through Acton Burnell and Condover. The most colourful spot was a Yellowhammer that added colour to a drab day. Soon Mr. Kite was enjoying a tipple of Tetleys tea. Cheers from a wet Saolpia on a summers day.