Monday 31st October (Witches, Broomsticks and Home)

Mr. Kite looked out of The London Residence into a bluish sky with some whispy grey clouds. It was too early for the witches to be riding across the Halloween sky but not for the feral pigeons. So with pigeons fluttering around Mr. Kite and His Lady headed for The Victoria and Albert Museum.

To cut a long story short Mr. Kite saw plenty of birds in the museum; ravens, eagles, and robins. However they were drawn on ceramic, cast in metal, sculpted from wood or cast in plastic; so these did not count in the tally. With The London List less than ten Mr. Kite returned back to Salop to continue his bird-watching experiences. Cheers from Mr. Kite enjoying a tipple of Tetley tea back in The Residence.

Sunday 30th October (London and the Tally Rises)

Mr. Kite looked out of The London Residence into a grey sky. Today was a lazy Sunday morning reading the paper and looking out into the London environment for signs of birds; nothing was seen only a magpie.

In the afternnon Mr. Kite walked to Hampstead Heath on a cloudy afternoon. To cut a long story short Mr. Kite arrived at The Heath just as the rain started so with blue tit and long-tailed added to the tally things were improving. Other birds flew around but in the dull light and darkening skies Mr. Kite ambled through Hampstead.

Mr. Kite felt thirsty but showed great resolve in walking past The Holly Bush and then The Flask. Eventually Mr. Kite walked through Belsize Park and into The London Residence. After a shower and writing down the score Mr. Kite went to Wetherspoons for beer and chips. Cheers from a Mr. Kite enjoying a tipple of Brakespeare Triple and a plate of crispy chunky chips.

Saturday 29th October (Hampstead and London)

Mr. Kite looked out of The London Residence window into a calm London morning. The birds were not singing but a large flock of pigeon flew over. Mr. Kite went outside and could hear the sound of a long-tailed tit but could not see it.

On this day the birds and Mr. Kite took life easy; so easy that hardly anything happened.

After a lazy morning Mr. Kite scanned Hampstead for bird life and could only add starling to the list. With one more on the list Mr. Kite had a tipple of Hook Norton Ale. Cheers.

Friday 28th October (Flying Machines and a Few Feathers)

Mr. Kite looked out of The London Residence into a brightening cloudless sky. The air was still and the leaves on the trees were motionless. Everything was so still and calm that the birds were not disturbed; they slept on peacefully. Today Mr. Kite had a plan. After breakfast he would try and raise The London List to four or maybe five ashe caught Uncle Gus to Golders Green before embarkinging on The Tube for a visit to RAF Hendon and the museum. Now at this point Mr. Kite had visions of a cool pint of Fullers London Pride but commonsense prevailed although his vitual senses could smell those heady hops and taste that bitter tart of the golden malt he chose wisely white coffee.

Without any alcohol in his system Mr. Kite set out on an excursion to The RAF Museum at Hendon. Scanning houses, bushes and trees Mr. Kite traveled by bus and tube to Colindale. Now very few birds were seen on this part of the journey; in fact Mr. Kite would say, "Zilch".

Walking from the tube to the museum Mr. Kites luck changed and he watched a stunningly friendly jay sitting at the bottom of a small oak pecking at old acorns. London jays are equally as handsome as their Salop relatives but more friendly. Soon a magpie and feral pigeon were added to The London List bringing the score to an almighty six.

To cut a long story short Mr. Kite studied flying machines and their power plants for hours in the museum popping outside occasionally to enjoy the warm autumn sunshine and to increase 'the list'. The list did not increase but Mr. Kites pleasant day did. At five Mr. Kite did the return trip to The London Residence and settled down for a starter; just a starter mind of Thornbridge Jaipur Indian Pale Ale. Cheers from a flighty Mr. Kite. who has just watched the a Hampstead fox trot along the path.

Thursday 27th October (The Morning Mist and the London List)

Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a darkish morning. Now things looked a bit damp outside with a watery mist swirling in the lime trees so Mr. Kite had a tipple of Becks followed by a few more; it was a cheery start to the day in contrast to the dull quiet morning outside.

At eleven o'clock Mr. Kite and His Lady were traveling towards London on a luxury coach. Mr. Kite noticed crows, buzzards and gulls. This coach went on a magical mystery tour through Milton Keynes, Dunstable and other unheard of depressing places. Eventually the magical mystery tour stopped at Finchley Road two hours late on a cool autumn afternoon. The grey was grey and the leaves on the trees yellow and brown.

So at five o'clock The London List commenced; lesser-black backed gull, wood pigeon and carrion crow. With the tally on three, the day turned to night and the birds went to roost. At this point Mr. Kite decided to have a beer in The North Star; a tasty Hobgoblin. Cheers from Mr. Kite who is still under influence of todays Becks.

Mr. Kite enjoyed a few pints of Wychywood Hobgoblin in The North Star and drank more pints of beer than bird spotted. Lets hope tomorrow Mr. Kite spots lots of birds and drinks lots of beer.

Wednesday 26th October (Remnants, Remembrance and Remarkable)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom to see the remnants life left on the lime trees as their fine new spring greenery is now a tired scattering of dead leaves and nearly dead leaves. Life is a continuum in time and space from life to death encompassing joy and sorrow.

Mr. Kite had thoughts of remembrance this morning as a result of rreading last Saturday's Times newspaper. On June 18th 2011 Mr. Kite wrote about his visit to Le Cateau Cambresis in Northern France and visiting the impressive Maison de Forestiere at Ors where Wilfred Owen spent his last night. Although the building was still under construction the bare skeleton and quality of workmanship had 'the wow factor'.

Now Mr. Kite was very impressed by Simon Patterson's  walk-in sculpture and so was the writer of The Times article. In the mini theatre the words of Owen are read by Kenneth Branagh. So Mr. Kite would urge any person traveling through north France along the N43 from Cambrai past le Cateau Cambresis stop look and listen in this remarkable building before carrying on with your bird-watching trip.

Talking of poets and remembrance Mr. Kite read a poem by a star who sadly does not shine but brings a smile to the sad faces of Mr. Kite and His Lady about a monster. Today Mr. Kite will not write it out; but soon will.

Anyway Mr. Kite watched a sparrowhawk glide low over Monkmoor without moving his wings before decending over a roof and out of sight.Then Mr. Kite prepared for a trip but just as The Beast was saddled it rained 'cats and dogs' with lumps of white cold hail thrown in for good luck. So Mr. Kite returned to his house and settled down to a tipple of Fullers London Pride. Cheers.

Tuesday 25th October (A Wet Pavement)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window to see a wet pavement. Now this might not seem that unusual in 'wet old Blighty' but recently wet rain has been scarce. Hardly a drop has fallen from those grey clouds for months. The fields are dry and arid and the pools are baked mud. Mr. Kite is not pleased, although the farmers are. Mr. Kite prefers to wear scorching sunny sandals rather than wet weather wellies.

Now Mr. Kite is a campaigner; not a camp pain er. His recent campaign against game birds might not sound like the actions of a birdwatcher and conservationist but there are too many pheasants and red-legged partridge being released in Shropshire. So today Mr. Kite received a letter from his M.P.; well done Daniel. So the next stage is to write to James Paice, Minister of State at DEFRA.

Mr. Kite wrote a letter to James Paice asking him questions about the release of non-native invasive birds into the local environment. Mr. Kite does not believe that the countryside should be filled with non-native intrusive and invasive game birds; common pheasants are for Asia and red-legged partridge for France.

In the late afternoon Mr. Kite had a trip to Monkmoor Lagoon. To cut a long story short; four mute swans, four mallards, two moorhens and a grey heron were the only birds on the lagoon. At dusk Mr. Kite returned home for a tipple of Thwaites Tavern Porter; cheers from Mr. Kite.

Monday 24th October (A Quiet Day)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into the lime trees opposite. The breeze was blowing the leaves and more than half of the trees exposed the branches.

On this sunny morning Mr. Kite and His Lady traveled to Morville to place greenery on the a grave. The grave was tidied and plants put on the grave.

Mr. Kite returned home for a quiet tipple of Tetley tea. Today was not a day of celebration only quiet remembrance of a star who wit and life made live bright.

Sunday 23rd October (The Working Party)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a darkish sky where clouds drifted quickly between the trees. Now today Mr. Kite was going to join a working party improving the habitat of Venus Pool. Mr. Kite arrived at the almost waterless pool and watched a few mallards and black-headed gulls.

At ten o'clock the work began cutting trees, grass and brambles. Now the water rails will be easier to see and next spring the warblers will be visible. After a busy day helping birds Mr. Kite enjoyed a Thwaites Porter. Cheers from a thirsty Mr. Kite who has now cycled more than 3000 miles this year and cheers to The Beast for not causing to many problems.

Saturday 22nd October (The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a dark morning. The sun had yet to rise above the horizon. Now Mr. Kite had another bottle of Becks whilst he waited for the sun to appear. Mr. Kite decided that he would drink Becks until he saw the sun. The good news is that the sun did not appear until ten thirty and the bad news is that Mr. Kite drank a crate of Becks in the mean time.

When the sun shone in the sky Mr. Kite and His Lady went to the Shropshire Wildlife Trust to look at apples, talk to people and listen to great music. This inspired Mr. Kite to play his guitar. So after a wonderful hour he returned home to play, 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face'.

Mr. Kite failed to see a bird today but did see some lovely little females. Cheers from a very naughty drunk Mr. Kite who plays his guitar and whilst enjoying Abbot Ale. Cheers.

Friday 21st October (What next?)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a white and grey sky. The lime tree leaves fluttered as they hung onto the branches by a single stem. Some of the thin branches moved up and down showing their light green turning brown hangers on.

Mr. Kite planned a trip to Polemere so he set off in the morning. Now something pleasant helped Mr. Kite cycle through Copthorne. A flock of birds would help but this help was the smell of the brewing wort at The Salopian Brewery. Mr. Kite cycled along the road sniffing the warm malty air; hmmm. Passing the steaming chimney Mr. Kite took one last sniff before heading to Polemere.

Polemere had the usual canada and greylag geese sitting in the shallow water alongside a flock of lesser black-backed gull. Today the gulls did not fly much but just sat about with their legs immersed in Polemere Water. So this gave Mr. Kite the opportunity to study these gulls in all their different stages of development examaning plumage, bills and shape.

Then it was time to see Monkmoor Lagoon. Now The Lagoon was not too busy; mallards, a cormorant and a grey heron. But in the hide Mr. Kite waited and watched a few more visitors appear.

Then Mr. Kite cycled home for a tipple of Becks. Cheer.

Thursday 20th October (Green Leaves, Brown Leaves and a Green Macaw)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a white and grey sky with a hint of the sun hidden somewhere behind. Today Mr. Kite had some plans of some sort.

So at ten o'clock Mr. Kite met his birding companion and The Incapacitants cycled to Plealey before going for a hike. In the warm sunshine and gentle breeze the birds were active. The Incapacitants stopped to watch a sparrowhawk circle and climb.

Now in Annscroft The Incapacitants stopped to look into a living room in a house. They were not being nosey; they did not stop to admire the decor or the architecture of the house and there was not a naked female inside. No they stopped to look at a parrot perched on top of a cage in the window of the living room; this parrot was a green macaw. This handsome bird did not count in the competition.

From Plealey The Incapacitants walked into Broompatch; a well managed woodland. Here they watched nuthatch, treecreepers, marsh tits and a greater-spotted woodpecker. Also a number of mistle thrush flew around. Overhead ravens croaked, rooks went 'kaah, kaah, kaah' and common buzzards squarked.

Walking through Longden Manor and Oak Woods The Incapacitants headed towards Habberley and The Mytton Arms. Now the bird count rose and their thirst increased. The good news is that The Mytton Arms sells good beer but the bad news is that it shut just as The Thirsty Incapacitants arrived.

So dismayed, distraught and disappointed The Thirsty Incapacitants changed the planned walk over the summit of Earls Hills and headed to The Plough in Pontesbury along wooded footpaths, minor roads and country lanes. Now The Plough also sells good beer so The Incapacitants headed enthusiastically to the pub. With a good thirst, salivating at the mouth and tasting that bitter tart they arrived at the closed and locked door of The Plough. Blinking heck, what a disaster; but never mind The Nags Head was only down the road.

So ambling through the village ticking off collared dove The Incapacitants headed towards that tasty, thirst quenching pint of best bitter in The Nags Head.  Now this was a major disaster; the pub was closed. The let down was indescribable. So they set off back towards the chained cycles over fields and through woods and over newly ploughed fields thirsty and sober.

At this stage the birding competition was a draw but then a grey heron flew into view and Mr. Kite was losing. The loss was confirmed by a fluttering song thrush. Now Mr. Kite had a good day bird-watching and went home for a well deserved tipple of Becks. Cheers.

Wednesday 19th October (Autumn Sunshine and Lack of Water)

Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a bright clear blue sky. The sunlight poured through the trees where the leaves had should be and the remaining drying leaves moved gently in the breeze.

Now Mr. Kite had a lazy day reading, writing and thinking. In the afternoon, as the sun was setting, Mr. Kite watched a small murmuration of starlings whilst listening to the evening song of a blackbird. Mr. Kite ended the day with a tipple of Becks. Cheers.

Tuesday 18th October (Wind, Autumn and a Few Birds in Hiding)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window to see a blue cloudless sky. The lime trees had lost about half of their leaves showing the silhouette of the thin branches. The wind blew the remaining leaves and their position was looking increasingly precarious.

Today Mr. Kite and 'his birding companion' set off on a birding competition. The guestimates were thirty-eight and forty for the number of species to be spotted. Soon The Incapacitants were pedaling into wind, breeze and bluster as the bird count progressed slowly. With the blustering wind the birds were scarce; the usual bird haunts were just wavering bushes, plants and shrubs devoid of birds.

In the warm sunshine The Incapacitants stopped, scoured and searched the surrounding vegetation and sky for bird but in the chilly breeze that blew they pedaled to the next sheltered spot to avoid The Big Chill. The count increased slowly with the usual. Sharpstone Quarry produced very little but corvids. Springfield Pool had mallards, coots and moorhens. Now Atcham Bridge was pretty good with a juvenile herring gull and a kingfisher flashing around.

Then it was onto Venus Pool where the water is draining away. A few ducks and gulls and little else. A walk around the outside produced bullfinches, great tits and not much else. Snipe Bog was bare. Now at this stage the competiton was hotting up with thirty eight species spotted; so it onto the unnamed pool at 519068 on OS126. With cormorant and tufted duck Mr. Kite shot into the lead then to mark the occasion about two hundred meadow pipits flew from the field to the waters edge repeatedly. Now this large flock of tietiks was the best spot of the day; a large bobbing flock of pipits. To cut a long story short The Incapacitants then returned via Condover and saw very little.

After a good day out Mr. Kite celebrated with a tipple of Tetley's tea. Cheers.

Monday 17th October (Home)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window in the morning light. A little owl was making his final call of the night before settling down for a quiet day.

Mr. Kite and His Lady packed up The Joint and returned home stopping on the way to visit a person from Cambodia. The weather was changing from warm and dry to cold and wet. mr. Kite did not a small murmaration of starlings and corvids in the field and little else.

So in the evening Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Becks. Cheers.

Sunday 16th October (Plenty of Sunshine and a Few Birds)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window. The sun shone in the blue sky to the right and most of the moon shone on the left. A great start to the day. On the pool nearby black-headed gulls flew around.

So Mr. Kite cycled to Newport Wetlands. Now the Transporter Bridge was closed so Mr. Kite had to cycle around the estuary. But the estuary was full of water.

Mr. Kite reached The Wetlands just as the tide was ebbing. So sitting on a bench Mr. Kite watched the reeds in one direction and the sea on the other. To cut a long story short the reeds had stonechat, reed buntings and wrens. The sea shore had ducks of all species, gulls of many species, curlews of one species and shelduck galore. The tide ebbed quickly and birds covered the area feeding on the uncovered mud.

Then Mr. Kite cycled to Golding to see a flock of lapwings. In the sunshine Mr. Kite was happy birdwatching a few birds. After hours watching birds Mr. Kite returned to The Joint for a tipple of Shepherd Neame Spitfire. The chattering of jackdaws was as spectacular as ever and the late evening fly past of canadian geese ended a good day. Cheers from Mr. Kite in Wales.

Saturday 15th October (The Gondola)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into the tall trees of the park. The dark morning sky was just beginning to brighten and the little owl and tawny owl had just stopped calling for the night.

Mr. Kite has a little trip around the park and purchased a newspaper. Inside it mentioned the Transporter Bridge and the gondola that Mr. Kite had enjoyed the previous two days; what a coincidence. The day was quiet although the black-headed gulls squabbled on the local pool.

Now today Mr. Kite had a quiet day reading, writing and watching a few birds in the park. Just before dusk the chattering of jackdaws appeared and made a fantastic fanfare at the end of the day as they flew between roosts.

After such a fabulous end to the day Mr. Kite had a tipple of Shepherd Neame Spitfire to celebrate the fliers that brighten the sky and make you look up. Cheers.

Friday 14th October (One Gondola, Two Swallows and Eight Bearded Tits)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a misty sky where a cool autumnal breeze blew. After breakfast Mr. Kite cycled towards Newport Wetlands as the sun emerged from the mist warming up the cool autumn air.

Three miles after leaving Tredegar Mr. Kite was suspended on The Gondola under the Transporter Bridge. The tide was ebbing in The River Usk and the water was brown and muddy. Continuing along Route 4 Mr. Kite enjoyed the autumnal colours; leaves of green, orange, gold, red and brown and red, yellow and green fruit. A fabulous display of colour.

On reaching the Wetlands Mr. Kite went to the hide and scanned the duck on the pool before watching the reeds for cetti's warblers or bearded titis. The cetti's were heards but the bearded tits were neither seen or heard.

Mr. Kite then cycled to Seawall to see the sea. Gulls and a little egret sat on the beach but the sea was far out and not too good for spotting the waders. So Mr. Kite went to see lapwings and common redshank on the lagoons at Goldcliff. The bird life here was quiet but the sunshine, peace and hides were spot on.

On returning to The Wetlands Mr. Kite watched two swallows flying randomly towards Africa. Then Mr. Kite sat on a bench looking over the reeds with the sun behind him. Very little was seen but after about forty minutes eight, yes eight, bearded tits took to the air. Light brown and white blobbed shaped this group flew up into the air; flew to the left, flew to the right, flew to the left, flew to the right, gained height then dropped down just behind the hide. Success.

Mr. Kite then cycled back to The Joint to enjoy a Becks after a good day in the reed beds. Cheers from Mr. Kite.

Thursday 13th October (Tredegar)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into the trees of Tredegar Country Park. From the small pond a mallard quacked and from a tree near the pond a little owl called. The day looked promising and Mr. Kite was full of energy.

So at ten o'clock Mr. Kite was on route 4 cycling from Tredegar Country Park. Ten minutes later Mr. Kite was admiring Newport Transporter Bridge and soon was ferried across The Usk on a suspended Victorian platform; a very impressive ride.

Once over the river Mr. Kite headed along the roads and reached The Solutia Nature Reserve. Today Mr. Kite read the notice had a brief look and then carried on to The Great Traston Meadow. But Mr. Kite's target was Newport Wetlands.

Eventually Mr. Kite arrived at Newport Wetlands and was walking through the reserve towards The Lighthouse. Now Mr. Kite had a very pleasant day in the wetlands and watched at least thirty species of bird included spotted redshank, ruff, a good range of ducks and a female blackcap. Mr. Kite enjoyed the varied habitat that included the sea, the sea shore. reed beds, freshwater pools, woods, pools of sea water and plain simple trees and bushes.

Mr. Kite had a relaxing day in the sun sitting on seats and scanning the area. Now Mr. Kite then focused on two birds; the cetti's warbler and the bearded tit. Now Mr. Kite heard five cetti's warbler and possibly had a glimpse of one as it popped up out of the undergrowth before dropping back down. The bearded tit will have to wait for another day.

At the end of the afternoon Mr. Kite returned stopping at Gwent Level to look over the wall but nothing was there. Mr. Kite arrived at The Joint and enjoyed a tipple of Becks and the large flock of jackdaws appeared. Cheers from Mr. Kite who had a good day bird-watching.

Wednesday 12th October (A Cardiff Corvid Passage)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window to see some sunshine in the blue sky with a few small clouds. The Joint was packed and Mr. Kite and His Lady drove through Ludlow, Leominster, Hereford and somewhere else before arriving at Tredegar House Country Park.

The warm sun shone and soon Mr. Kite was cycling around The Park watching coots, moorhen and gulls. Lots of grey squirrels raced across the grass and into the trees. To cut along story short Mr. Kite had an enjoyable afternoon cycling around the wet areas of Newport. Mr. Kite did meet two cranes on his travel. This were not unusual cranes but Mr. and Mrs Crane who looked after caravans.

Now Mr. Kite arrived back at The Joint and sat outside watching the sun disappear behinds the trees. Then Mr. Kite heard a noise like rain with the occasional cackle. Looking up Mr. Kite saw a jackdaw version of 'a murmaration of starlings'. Thousands of black jackdaws flew across the sky with thousands of cackles cackling. A noisy black spotted shape flew to one roost then back to the first before returning to the second.

When this stopped Mr. Kite then sat in The Joint before the whole noisy display would start again. To make the experience more exciting Mr. Kite opened a bottle of Shepherd Neame 1698 Kentish Strong Ale. Cheers to the Cardiff Corvid passage.

Tuesday 11th October (The Wind Blows the Leaves and The Lagoon has One Moorhen)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a light and dark patchy grey sky. The wind blew the green and golden leaves showing areas of the tree did not have leaves.

In the middle of the afternoon Mr. Kite took The Beast from the store and cycled to Monkmoor Lagoon hoping to watch a range of ducks, geese and other feathered friends fluttering about. With great excitement Mr. Kite opened the door of the hide and peered through the cobwebbed windows to see the rippling surface of the lagoon empty. Not one bird was diving the depths, feeding on fish or wallowing in the water.

Looking into the sky Mr. Kite did see a group of black-headed gulls followed wood pigeons, carrion crows and magpies. Then to Mr. Kites great excitement a solitary moorhen appeared from the rushes and headed across the pool. Mr. Kite was not sure whether this bird was lucky or unlucky. The moorhen had the lagoon for itself without competition but unlucky because it did not have another creature to enjoy the pickings.

Soon Mr. Kite went back home for a tipple of Marstons Old Empire Indian Pale Ale. Cheers to the few birds Mr. Kite had the pleasure in watching today and the readers who read my birding experiences.

Monday 10th October (Not a Wrenning Day and an Empty Box)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window. The leaves on the lime trees formed horizontal lines in the brisk wind.

In the morning Mr. Kite played wordsmiths and tried to do a crossword. Now in doing some research Mr. Kite learned about St. Stephen's Day on 26th December and how some country people called it Wrenning Day. On this day the local peasants would hunt and stone a wren to death.

Mr. Kite is against stoning a wren or stoning a crow; in fact Mr. Kite is against stoning any bird. This afternoon Mr. Kite watched small flocks of starlings hoping to see a murmaration; a great aerobatic shimmering cloud.

Late in the afternoon whilst looking for a murmaration Mr. Kite posted The Empty Box; the common buzzard was too far gone for the pathologist.

The murmaration did not materialise so Mr. Kite had a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers to wrens and starlings.

Sunday 9th October (A Day of Rest but no Rest for the Wicked)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window. Now that the curtains have fallen from the rail it is very easy. The sky had dark grey clouds interspersed with a light grey background. The road was wet and the remaining green and brown leaves on the lime trees hung on to the swaying branches.

Mr. Kite is a campaigner and the first birding experience of the day was to write another letter to his local M.P. about the releasing of game birds into the environment at a cost to native flora and fauna. Being a day of rest but not for the wicked Mr. Kite had a few tipples of Wychwood Goliath for breakfast.

Having drunk his breakfast Mr. Kite went into the garden because the sky was becoming lighter. Two sounds attracted Mr. Kite's attention. The first was the sound of geese calling in flight but they could not be seen. Having heard plenty of geese recently Mr. Kite considered this was a higher pitched call than canada or greylag geese and more random; probably pink-footed geese. The second sound was a carrion crow perched on a chimney pot with his head down the chimney calling to someone inside the house. As the Japanese G.P. was on television Mr. Kite assumed the crow was asking, "Who is winning?"

The day progressed and Mr. Kite prepared food and drink for a few people later in the day. Thinking of drink Mr. Kite thought it was time for another Wychwood Goliath. Cheers from Mr. Kite who campaigning to support the flora and fauna of The English Countryside.

Saturday 8th October (The Coffin remained Empty but a Campaigner reached Camp Norton)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into the lightening sky as dawn was breaking. The tree had less leaves than yesterday. Now today Mr. Kite and his 'birding companion' had a job to do.

So at ten o'clock The Incapacitants set out with The Coffin. Why would The Incapacitants take a coffin anywhere? Because on Thursday they came across a dead buzzard on land where game shooting is prevalent. This made Mr. Kite suspicious so he contacted the Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme who sent The Coffin with instructions so that the bird could have a post-mortem.

When The Incapacitants reached the poor buzzard they studied the bird and poked it before deciding that the bird 'was too far gone for any further tests'. So the box remained empty.

So the birding competition started and The Incapacitants went to Craven Arms to walk The Three Woods. Starting at The Secret Hills Centre The Incapacitants walked to the Onni as the sun shone brightly on the fabulous South Shropshire hills. The usual common birds were spotted before they entered the first wood and headed uphill to Camp Norton. Now Mr. Kite is a campaigner. It could be said he is an old campaigner and writes letters to further his whingeing. So what does he campaign about? Simply the breeding, rearing and releasing of common pheasants and red-legged partridge in the English Countryside. Approaching Camp Norton The Incapacitants came across a grotesque act of vandalism; a fenced off area with two million stupid pheasants strutting about. Enough said.

Camp Norton has impressive defences but that did not stop The Incapacitants from trespassing on the old fort. A very impressive place where a very impressive bird flew over; a red kite. The kite was flying low over the ground showing it's rich patterned wings in the sunshine. Soon another bird appeared on the ground. This was another menace a red-legged partridge; although colourful these birds are alien to England.

The Incapacitants continued their enjoyable walk watching three ravens do some acrobatics, a sparrowhawk clutching a little bird in it's talons, a flying greater-spotted woodpecker; never mind the grey herons feeding in a meadow near some rooks.

They continued the walk into the second wood. In this sheltered wood on the slope of a steep hill the air was calm and the sound of birds could be heard clearly. Listening to the songs The Incapacitants located babblers, blackbirds, a goldcrest, two marsh tits, a nuthatch, four chaffinch and some goldfinches.

The pace of the walk was slowing as the interest increased. So The Incapacitants walked back to Craven Arms arriving later than planned but pleased with the day. The competition was a draw. Mr. Kite went home for a tipple of Becks. Cheers from a campaigner who reached Camp Norton.

Friday 7th October (Golden Plover Or Goldfinch)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window and saw a wet road with leaves being blown down it. This sight did not inspire Mr. Kite so he idled away an hour before his birding companion rang to arrange a bird-watching trip.

So Mr. Kite dried The Beast and packed his bags; just as the postman delivered The Coffin but that is another story. Soon The Incapacitants were spotting birds in competition. Both had guestimated about thirty species.

Starting in Meole Village The Incapacitants ticked off starling, house sparrow, wood pigeon, jackdaw and the usual. Cycling along the A49 The Incapacitants turned off the main road and headed to Condover. Mr. Kite looked over the fields and being 'hawk eyed' noticed some dark blobs resting on the ground. The Incapacitants looked closely hoping to see grey partridge but no; these were golden plover. Great stuff. Then some of them stirred revealing their short beak and goldenish plumage in the faint sun.

A few miles further on The Incapacitants had spotted twenty species before they parked the cycles and followed a footpath over some fields that contained areas of seed plants for finches to feed upon. Firstly the seed had coloured hues of orange, red, purple and yellow in the emerging sunshine and the greenfinches feeding nearby were splendid with yellow streaks and green shiny plumage. Secondly three birds then flew and landed on a bare branch and shone in the sunlight; a greenfinch, a pinky peach breasted linnet and a bright yellow and brown yellowhammer.

Then it was time for Lodge Hill where a kestrel and then a peregrine greeted The Incapacitants. To cut a long story short the walk over the hill was very quiet, very quiet and very quiet. But at the end quiet turned to gold with a charm of about two hundred goldfinches. This was charming and magnificent. A charm of bobbing and colourful birds; red, gold, white, black and gold.

Eventually it was time to go home. With of a bird count of twenty-three the competition was a draw so Mr. Kite celebrated not losing with a tipple of Shepherd Neame Bishops Finger Kentish Strong Ale. Cheers from the gold or and gold of Salop.

Thursday 6th October (Words are all I Have)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window to see the dark leaves on the lime tree clinging on to the branches for dear life. With such a morning welcome Mr. Kite sat in the chair, read some articles and tried a crossword. Sitting around Mr. Kite is growing old learning something new every day and today he learned another name for the meadow pipit; the 'tietick'.

Mr. Kite also learned about The Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme because having located a deceased common buzzard, on land used by game shooters, Mr. Kite is suspicious and has arranged for them to send a coffin so that the bundle of feathers can be 'post mortemed'.

Mr. Kite also learned about a 'Giddy Goose'. Now this is not a disorientated greylag or egyptian but a beer produced by the Hook Norton. Just mentioning beer has made Mr. Kite very thirsty so he is now off for a tipple of Marstons Old Empire. Cheers from a man of words and a smell of alcohol.

Wednesday 5th October (Wind in the Willows)


Mr. Kite looked wearily and fuzzily out of his bedroom window because his alcohol consumption the previous evening was excessive. The leaves on the lime trees were thinning out revealing branches and twigs.

Following a phone call from Mr. Kite's birding companion The Incapacitants were in competition at midday on a bird spotting expedition. To cut a long story short the gloomy windy grey day kept the birds inside. Very few appeared willingly on display. Corvids were most prominent sitting in the fields pecking the ground. With over thirty species spotted the competition was a draw.

Mr. Kite returned for a tipple of Tetley tea.

Tuesday 4th October (Pictures, Pots and Port Sunlight)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a silver birch tree where the leaves were dropping down one by one. Today Mr. Kite and His Lady were heading home, but first a visit to the impressive Lady Lever Art Museum.

To make the visit more interesting Mr. Kite and His Lady were met by a black-headed gull perched on the tall Lever Hulme column. Now that what all good sculptures are for; a perch for birds. Well down to the designer Edward Onslow Ford for sculpting such a spectacular perch.

More birdie themes included hats that included ostrich, goose and jay feathers. Eagle heads on a lions body with a candle-holder stuck on top and Stubbs picture of The Farmers Wife and the Raven. Now Mr. Kite enjoyed the gallery very much.

At the end of the afternoon Mr. Kite returned home for a tipple of Becks. Cheers to all the birds that have inspired pictures, pots and Port Sunlight.

Monday 3rd October (A Windy Day on The Dee Estuary)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into another blue sunny where four mistle thrushes flew towards The Dee Estuary. Soon Mr. Kite and His Lady were sitting on a bench overlooking the mud, sand and peebles of the vast flat Dee Estuary where the tide was ebbing just before flowing back to fill the area with sea.

Now at this quiet time the thousands of oystercatchers sat on the land taking occasionally to the air to make a black flock of birds and then a white flock of birds. Gulls sat near the muscle fishermen walking to pick up some scraps that had emerged from the sand. Flocks of common redshank, lapwings, and knot flew around stopping to feed on the shallow waters edge.

Mr. Kite had come to listen to the sounds of the estuary. The loud piping 'kleep' of the oystercatchers; the 'cour loo' shrill of the curlews; the yelping 'tyuuuu' of the common sandpipers; the melancholy 'pee wee' of the lapwings; and the gulls.

With thousands of gulls Mr. Kite watched and listened to the grating 'kwarr' of the black-headed gulls; the nasal squealing of the common gulls; the barking 'kau kau kau' of the herring gulls; the 'rru rru rru' of the lesser black-backed gull; and finally the much less common deep, masculine throaty bark of the greater black-backed gulls.

Then the ebbing tide turned to a flowing tide and mud flats began to shrink. The flowing water crept into gullies and the narrow shallow streams of water changed direction and wood and weeds began to flow inland. The waders took to the air and flew to the higher marshy ground; the oystercatchers joined the waders; the gulls just sat about before the water eventually reached them and carried them floating away towards Chester. Now the shelducks did a bit of each; some flew inland and other waited for the flowing tide to unbeach them. And the muscle fishermen took to their inflatables so that they could unload their catch onto lorries parked by the rising waters edge near their vehicles.

Just in time the vehicles left the sand before the water filled the estuary leaving gulls floating, flocks of waders flying and Mr. Kite and His Lady happy in the strengthening wind. With the sun shining Mr. Kite and His Lady returned to The Joint for a cuppa of Tetley tea. Cheers.

Friday 30th September (Waders)


Mr. Kite looked out of His Bedroom window into a silver birch tree where a greater-spotted woodpecker made a noise. After a short lazy spell Mr. Kite sat on a cliff in The Wirral Country Park watching the tide reach its high point before dropping rapidly.

As the mud appeared from the receding water flocks of common redshank, knots, black-tailed godwits and dunlins came to feed on the newly uncovered creatures. The common redshanks and dunlins moved along pecking into the mud to pick up morsel whilst the knots and godwits moved slowly stopping to use their longer beaks to penetrate the mud and dig deeper for worms.

Having disturbed the surface creatures the common redshanks would then move onto a freshly uncovered mud flat before the creatures had time to sink safely into the mud. After hours and hours of pleasure Mr. Kite had more pleasures with a tipple of Becks listening to a tawny owl. Cheers from a hard working bird-watcher.

Sunday 2nd October (The Dee Estuary)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a few silver birch trees where a magpie sat. After a lazy morning reading the paper Mr. Kite went bird-watching along the wet lands of The Dee Estuary. With millions of birds on the water, in the air and in the fields Mr. Kite spotted a blue tit, starling, little egret, moorhen, collared dove, goldfinch, canada goose, and greylag goose.

A quick trip to West Kirby was followed by a rest followed by another spell of bird-watching at Heswall Fields just as the tide started to recede. The marsh was full of shelduck and geese and the shallows full of common redshank.

Mr. Kite returned when the rain started to have a tipple of Courage Best Bitter. Cheers.