Wednesday 3rd August (Formation Flying on an Autumnal Morning)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window. Mr. Kite had decided that this was the third day of autumn although lots of people are enjoying their summer holiday. Now on this autumn morning the sky was light blue with a few clouds. Looking closely Mr. Kite could see that the clouds were in two layers; the lower level clouds were 'wispy' and black whilst the higher level clouds were white and tinged with pink edges caused by the rising sun.

Now the word 'wisp' made Mr. Kite think; the collective noun for Common Snipe; a wisp of Snipe. Anyway Mr. Kite was unlikely to see Common Snipe out of his bedroom window.

Mr. Kite then went down the stairs and into the garden. The cool air had that tingle of autumn; the air of pleasantly dry and cool but only just; a little cooler and the arms would need to be covered. Around Mr. Kite listened to Wood Pigeons and Collared Doves. In the relaxed and familiar sound Mr. Kite then heard the more anxious loud rattling call of geese. Looking up Mr. Kite counted seven Greylag Geese flying west in a fast low flying disorganised formation. In the five seconds that it took for the formation to fly into view and out of sight Mr. Kite thought that this must be a family of Greylags practicing their formation flying. With the continual cackling of instruction the tail end of the flock were manoeuvring to slot into the slipstream of the lead birds. But their lack of skill and speed was making it difficult as once in position they could not stay there and then had to turn and speed up to catch the leading birds. It is not easy being a goose learning to fly in that relaxed efficient formation.

Now Mr. Kite went into the garden to count the Swifts not watch geese. But that is bird-watching; have an aim but then be distracted by something unexpected. With the Swift count zero and the thoughts on formation flying Mr. Kite had another unexpected sighting. This was not something exceptional or scarce or a major event but was related to birds flying in formation.

Having just watched seven Greylag Geese trying to fly as a formation three Mallards then appeared from the west in a close tight formation and climbed gently as they turned through ninety degrees and headed south in a line abreast. This was a relaxed, smooth and fast turn. Silently the Mallards completed the turn equidistant and close together. A well rehearsed manoeuvre looks simple, professional and does the job. With the Swift count on zero Mr. Kite went indoors.

In the afternoon Mr. Kite and 'his birding companion' went for a cycle and bird-watching trip. After cycling through Hook-a-Gate The Incapacitants stopped at The Bridges for a quick beer whilst watching birds. Pied Wagtails, House Sparrows, Sparrowhawk and Red Kite were noted but more beer was consumed than birds spotted. The bird count went up, the Clerics Cure went down and The Incapacitants money passed into the pubs profit.

After three hours The Incapacitants returned to Shrewsbury for a tipple of Bank's Bitter in The Crown where, from the beer garden, Mute Swan, Mallard and Cormorant were spotted. With the evening creeping up and the money going down it was time to return home. The birding competiton was won by Mr. Kites 'birding companion' with a tally of twenty-eight.

The day was rounded off with Becks. Cheers after a great day.