Monday 1st August (A New Month and a New Start)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey and cloudy sky where Swifts flew. Some of the leaves and buds on the Lime trees  had served their purpose and were parting company with their lifeline and drifting down onto the road where they were collecting in the gutter. With millions of buds and leaves on the trees the number dropping did not make much difference to the foliage yet. But it is a sign that in August the onset of autumn is creeping up.

Now today Wood Pigeons and Collared Doves called from the Lime trees. So Mr. Kite thought that today he would use the Celtic Calender or Irish Calender and call August the first the start of autumn. Without any Pagan ceremonies planned Mr. Kite, after a painless visit to the dentist, took The Beast for a trip around some country lanes and past The Callow.

In the countryside autumn is the start of game shooting where Common Pheasants and Red-legged Partridge are shot. So Mr. Kite planned a little bird-watching trip to count the 'game birds' and any indigenous species that stand out. Mr. Kite then cycled through Hook-a-Gate, Annscroft, Plealey, Pontesbury, Minsterley and then over The Callow and then home. To cut a long story short Mr. Kite spotted one manky male pheasant and many healthy Common Buzzards, Carrion Crows, Ravens and Rooks. So Mr. Kites conclusion is that the artificial reared birds seem to be less healthy than the native birds. Perhaps this year there will be a fewer introduced game birds in the Salop countryside.

After a thirty miles trip Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers.