Wednesday 31st August (Autumn and a Train Trip)


Mr. Kite looked out into a grey and white sky with a little patch of blue in the east where the edges of the cloud shone in the sunlight. Mr. Kite's plan was to go on a train trip to the seaside.

At nine-thirty Mr. Kite was looking out of the train window as it trundled along the line towards the Cambrian Coast. To cut a long story short Mr. Kite spotted the usual birds in Shropshire and into Wales. However the train to Barmouth travels along The Dovey Estuary, the Cambrian Coast through Aberdovey and around the Mawddach Estuary to Barmouth. The Dovey Estuary was at high tide when the train traveled around the edge so the birds were scarce. But on a sunny clear morning the views of the wide estuary and heather clad mountains were spectacular. Gradually the train reached Aberdovey where the the flat blue Irish Sea came into view and once again the views were unbeatable.

Every now and again Mr. Kite spotted Herring Gulls sitting on buildings, Starlings perched on aerials and House Sparrows on the edge of the villages flying into the grass for seeds. The high tide along the Cambrian Coast hid the shoreline so only a few flying Cormorants were spotted. Passing Llanyngwril the little town of Barmouth came into view flat and view against the green and brown mountains that are the back drop.

So Mr. Kite sat on the beach for five hours in the sun watching Herring Gulls intimidate chip eating holiday makers. Sitting on the promenade wall these large white and grey birds squawked at people with food and moved towards them until they tossed a chip or morsel of sandwich onto the ground. Mr. Kite thought that the people feeding the gulls were afraid of them as they had large bills and behaved aggressively reminding Mr. Kite of Hithcock's film 'The Birds'.

At five o'clock Mr. Kite boarded the train and sat by the window looking out onto The Irish Sea lit by the bright sunshine. Now in contrast to the morning ride when the tide was high, this time it was low tide and the seashore and mudbanks were fully exposed showing a vast area suitable for birds. So at intervals Mr. Kite noticed large flock of Oystercatchers, Herring Gulls and Curlews.

At seven thirty Mr. Kite sat at home enjoying a tipple of Becks. Cheers.