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.