Sunday 24th July (Summer, Sunshine and the Odd Beer)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window. The sky was blue and sunshine light up some of the leaves on the Lime trees giving them a dappled green colour. In the trees birds stirred moving the leaves as they moved through the foliage. Between two trees the round shape of the sun could be seen. Having the sun on view might seem a trivial mundane event but recently Mr. Kite had forgotten what the sun looks like and how pleasant it can be to feel in it's warm rays. Today looked like summer.

Last week Mr. Kite read an article in a local newspaper about an injured Carrion Crow that 'local professional' animal and bird caring societies refused to treat but offered to 'put it down' raising the question, "What's wrong with corvids?"

So Mr. Kite is thinking about an answer to that question. But before that Mr. Kite and his 'birding companion' were going for a short bird-watching trip. So at nine o'clock The Incapacitants were in competition as they spotted birds. They set out to Well Meadow along the slow country lanes of Shropshire. The usual bird were spotted Greenfinch, Goldfinch etc. as they cycled along. In the clear blue sky Common Buzzards soared as they took advantage of the warm air.

Arriving at Well Meadow The Incapacitants surveyed the uncut meadow with grasses and flowers supporting a number of butterflies. Real meadows are a rarity and this one, although small, is indication of what a meadow could be.

Heading towards Ratlinghope The Incapacitants stopped to watch a family of Common Redstarts moving around between bushes and trees as the parents kept them moving and feeding preparing them for the adult world of the bird and the migratory trip to Africa. Further along the road a family of Ravens took to the air. This family would not have the same dangers as the Redstarts but learning to fly in search of food must be a staring point.

After Ratlinghope The Incapacitants rode over the hills towards Pulverbatch where Kestrels, Stock Doves and Meadow Pipits were common and on a pond a family of Mallards fed. The sunshine and hills had became an attraction for many people and the area had plenty of people sitting and enjoying the warm summers day.

From the top of the hills to Pulverbatch was mostly a good downhill cycle. Soon The Incapacitants were back in Shrewsbury. Mr. Kite had won the birding competition and the sun was still shining.

Mr. Kite returned to The Dwelling and sat in the garden with his tipple of TEA. The Traditional English Ale is brewed in Tongham Surrey by Hogs Back Brewery. If every summer day was like this in England Mr. Kite would be a very happy bird-watcher. What is better than summer, sunshine and the odd beer? Cheers.