Wednesday 30th November (The Last November Morning)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a clear November sky with the sun rising over the horizon. This was the last November morning of the year and one of the most special. Thin layers of grey cloud passed in front of a pink red dawn.
This bright colourful morning was enjoyed by the birds of Floreat Salopia. Black-headed gulls searched for remnants of food in the road and house sparrows could be heard chirping. Wood pigeons flew between the trees.
Mr. Kite looked at the recycling and took it to the local bottle bank. Looking around Mr. Kite watched carrion crows, pied wagtails, magpies, lesser black-backed gulls and blackbirds. So Mr. Kite and the birds made the most of the last November morning of the year.
Late in the morning Mr. Kite and His Lady went to place flowers on a Special Grave. Walking slowly through the churchyard Mr. Kite watched a magpie harass a kestrel causing it to fly and turn to dodge the persistent black and white bird. After about one minute a carrion crow joined in the fun and the kestrel was attacked from two directions before the crow gave up and then just after the kestrel retreated into a copse.
As the sun was hidden by the clouds the bird life went quiet with just one greater-spotted woodpecker flying over. Red and white flowers were placed on the grave with a strands of mistletoe and ivy. Thoughts were thought and the never ending sadness continued in remembrance of a Star.
Mr. Kite returned home for a tipple of Tetley tea and a silent reflection.
Wednesday 30 November 2011
Tuesday 29 November 2011
Tuesday 29th November (No Birding for Mr. Kite)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey winters Novembers morning. Not a bird stirred and Mr. Kite hardly stirred because he had some decorating to do.
Now Mr. Kite does not like work but today he worked and worked and worked until past six. With a darkness and little time for birding Mr. Kite did the next best thing he looked for a birding bottle of beer. Searching the dining room then the music room and then the kitchen Mr. Kite found a 'speckled hen'. This was not just an ordinary speckled hen but a Morland "Old Speckled Hen". Not just a birdie bottle of beer but a strong fine ale. So Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of the 'old hen'. Cheers from a bird drinking Mr. Kite.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey winters Novembers morning. Not a bird stirred and Mr. Kite hardly stirred because he had some decorating to do.
Now Mr. Kite does not like work but today he worked and worked and worked until past six. With a darkness and little time for birding Mr. Kite did the next best thing he looked for a birding bottle of beer. Searching the dining room then the music room and then the kitchen Mr. Kite found a 'speckled hen'. This was not just an ordinary speckled hen but a Morland "Old Speckled Hen". Not just a birdie bottle of beer but a strong fine ale. So Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of the 'old hen'. Cheers from a bird drinking Mr. Kite.
Monday 28 November 2011
Monday 28th November (No Time for Birding Today)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into another grey November sky. With chores to do Mr. Kite only had time to watch black-headed gulls fly over and listen to collared doves on the house roof. Following a busy day Mr. Kite had a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into another grey November sky. With chores to do Mr. Kite only had time to watch black-headed gulls fly over and listen to collared doves on the house roof. Following a busy day Mr. Kite had a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers.
Saturday 26 November 2011
Sunday 27th November (Where have all the leaves gone?)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into that grey November sky with traces if white and light grey. What few leaves that held on the the lime trees were blown off in last nights wind. Where are they? Piled up in Mr. Kites front doorway.
Sunday morning is usually the day when the black-headed gulls and carrion crows have the opportunity to eat discarded chips but today the wind had blown them down the road or under the hedge. The only item left for scavengers was a bottle of White Lightning cider left on the path half full. Only a desperate creature would bother with that on a Sunday morning.
So the birds were scarce near Mr. Kite. However thirty miles away was a desert wheatear but Mr. Kite was not going to go twitching today or a little closer there was a red-throated diver. Today Mr. Kite had a little plan to be fitted in amongst the newspaper reading, t.v. watching and the occasional drink.
In the November sunshine and breeze Mr. Kite cycled to Monkmoor Lagoon. Towards the end of the lane a group of four bullfinches flew into a low hedge, redwings and blackbirds picked leisurely at red berries. The lagoon was almost empty with four birds in total. One mute swan, one cormorant and a pair of mallards. In the bright low sunshine Mr. Kite scoured the well lit reeds looking for bitterns, coots, water rail, moorhens, grey herons and little grebe. None could be seen.
The sky around the lagoon contained black-headed gulls, carrion crows and wood pigeons. With his thirst developing Mr. Kite locked the reserve and cycled along the lane towards home when he met a fellow birder walking his dog. The main subject of the conversation was the steppe grey shrike and the mega twitch. And what a fantastic spectacle it was when viewed in a decent scope.
Mr. Kite reached home took off his flying suit and settled down to a double tipple of Leffe Tripel. Cheers from Mr. Kite.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into that grey November sky with traces if white and light grey. What few leaves that held on the the lime trees were blown off in last nights wind. Where are they? Piled up in Mr. Kites front doorway.
Sunday morning is usually the day when the black-headed gulls and carrion crows have the opportunity to eat discarded chips but today the wind had blown them down the road or under the hedge. The only item left for scavengers was a bottle of White Lightning cider left on the path half full. Only a desperate creature would bother with that on a Sunday morning.
So the birds were scarce near Mr. Kite. However thirty miles away was a desert wheatear but Mr. Kite was not going to go twitching today or a little closer there was a red-throated diver. Today Mr. Kite had a little plan to be fitted in amongst the newspaper reading, t.v. watching and the occasional drink.
In the November sunshine and breeze Mr. Kite cycled to Monkmoor Lagoon. Towards the end of the lane a group of four bullfinches flew into a low hedge, redwings and blackbirds picked leisurely at red berries. The lagoon was almost empty with four birds in total. One mute swan, one cormorant and a pair of mallards. In the bright low sunshine Mr. Kite scoured the well lit reeds looking for bitterns, coots, water rail, moorhens, grey herons and little grebe. None could be seen.
The sky around the lagoon contained black-headed gulls, carrion crows and wood pigeons. With his thirst developing Mr. Kite locked the reserve and cycled along the lane towards home when he met a fellow birder walking his dog. The main subject of the conversation was the steppe grey shrike and the mega twitch. And what a fantastic spectacle it was when viewed in a decent scope.
Mr. Kite reached home took off his flying suit and settled down to a double tipple of Leffe Tripel. Cheers from Mr. Kite.
Saturday 26th November (The Garden List)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into that sky described by John Freeman. Today Mr. Kite had a plan but with the strong wind it seemed pointless so Mr. Kite opened another bottle of Becks and went for the garden list.
After ten minutes in the buffeting wind Mr. Kite has nothing to report only that the Becks is good. With grey clouds whizzing overhead and some November sunshine Mr. Kite peered around in the garden to watched robins, blackbirds, wood pigeons and house sparrows.
It could be rightly said that Mr. Kite saw more beer bottles today than birds today. During the morning friends arrived and more beer and wine was drank than is healthy but every drop was enjoyed and a good day was had by all. Mr. Kite had many a tipple of Becks and a Tetley tea. Cheers.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into that sky described by John Freeman. Today Mr. Kite had a plan but with the strong wind it seemed pointless so Mr. Kite opened another bottle of Becks and went for the garden list.
After ten minutes in the buffeting wind Mr. Kite has nothing to report only that the Becks is good. With grey clouds whizzing overhead and some November sunshine Mr. Kite peered around in the garden to watched robins, blackbirds, wood pigeons and house sparrows.
It could be rightly said that Mr. Kite saw more beer bottles today than birds today. During the morning friends arrived and more beer and wine was drank than is healthy but every drop was enjoyed and a good day was had by all. Mr. Kite had many a tipple of Becks and a Tetley tea. Cheers.
Friday 25 November 2011
Friday 25th November (November Skies)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into the November sky. A carrion crow flew towards the window before climbing over the house roof. Today the sun was low down in the east lighting the sky with an azure colour. Now here is a coincidence. Mrs. Kite was sent a leaflet yesterday with ten poems on it and one of them was called November Skies by John Freeman (1880-1929).
So the November sky is described well in this poem. Read it and should will see what Mr. Kite has seen over the past two weeks out of his bedroom window. Mr. Kite had a plan for the day. But first he had some shopping to do followed by a dental appointment.
In the afternoon under the November sky Mr. Kite went bird watching. To cut a long story short it was very much like normal. Venus pool had its usual residents but many more teal, a pair of goosander and a shelduck family. Atcham Bridge was quiet so Mr. Kite headed towards Monkmoor Lagoon to watch the sun go down, the day turn to night and the birds come to roost.
However the most noticeable thing was that the mallards were feeling amorous and courting. The females were being pursued by lines of admirers with the odd quack. So after a good day enjoying the November sky Mr. Kite had a treble tipple of Leffe Triple. Cheers, cheers and cheers.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into the November sky. A carrion crow flew towards the window before climbing over the house roof. Today the sun was low down in the east lighting the sky with an azure colour. Now here is a coincidence. Mrs. Kite was sent a leaflet yesterday with ten poems on it and one of them was called November Skies by John Freeman (1880-1929).
So the November sky is described well in this poem. Read it and should will see what Mr. Kite has seen over the past two weeks out of his bedroom window. Mr. Kite had a plan for the day. But first he had some shopping to do followed by a dental appointment.
In the afternoon under the November sky Mr. Kite went bird watching. To cut a long story short it was very much like normal. Venus pool had its usual residents but many more teal, a pair of goosander and a shelduck family. Atcham Bridge was quiet so Mr. Kite headed towards Monkmoor Lagoon to watch the sun go down, the day turn to night and the birds come to roost.
However the most noticeable thing was that the mallards were feeling amorous and courting. The females were being pursued by lines of admirers with the odd quack. So after a good day enjoying the November sky Mr. Kite had a treble tipple of Leffe Triple. Cheers, cheers and cheers.
Wednesday 23 November 2011
Thursday 24th November (Autumn is Past and Winter is Here)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a light blue sky with small dark cotton wool clouds drifting by. The air was cold and almost frosty. The lime trees were bare except for some leaves that could be seen if you looked carefully. But really the trees were bare' dark trunks, boughs and twigs silhouetted against the lighter sky. Mr. Kite could not see or hear a feathery, fluttery or feeding bird.
For most of the day Mr. Kite was cooped up inside The Residence doing some repairs. Occasionally he ventured outside for some fresh air. Late in the afternoon Mr. Kite heard the croak of a raven. Looking up he watched two ravens fly over his house and drop down somewhere near the river. Now ravens are not uncommon over the town of Shrewsbury but Mr. Kite still considers it pretty exciting to see ravens over his garden.
As darkness descended Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Tetley tea as he listen to the robins. Cheers.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a light blue sky with small dark cotton wool clouds drifting by. The air was cold and almost frosty. The lime trees were bare except for some leaves that could be seen if you looked carefully. But really the trees were bare' dark trunks, boughs and twigs silhouetted against the lighter sky. Mr. Kite could not see or hear a feathery, fluttery or feeding bird.
For most of the day Mr. Kite was cooped up inside The Residence doing some repairs. Occasionally he ventured outside for some fresh air. Late in the afternoon Mr. Kite heard the croak of a raven. Looking up he watched two ravens fly over his house and drop down somewhere near the river. Now ravens are not uncommon over the town of Shrewsbury but Mr. Kite still considers it pretty exciting to see ravens over his garden.
As darkness descended Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Tetley tea as he listen to the robins. Cheers.
Wednesday 23th November (All Quiet until the Last Hour)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a greyish sky. The trees had few leaves and winter was in sight with a slight air frost.
Today Mr. Kite had a few chores and The Beast to mend. So the day was quiet until just before dusk M.r Kite sat in the garden listening to three robins marking their territory. In the still autumn air there was the "tic, tic, tic". Then there was the sharp "tseeeh". To change the song the robins sang fluty whistles and rippling notes.
The robins sang as mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a greyish sky. The trees had few leaves and winter was in sight with a slight air frost.
Today Mr. Kite had a few chores and The Beast to mend. So the day was quiet until just before dusk M.r Kite sat in the garden listening to three robins marking their territory. In the still autumn air there was the "tic, tic, tic". Then there was the sharp "tseeeh". To change the song the robins sang fluty whistles and rippling notes.
The robins sang as mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers.
Tuesday 22 November 2011
Tuesday 22nd November (Grey Skies and The Beast gets Hissed)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey sky. Some patches of bright bits shone. In the morning Mr. Kite cleaned some brickwork with slow progress.
With the sun going down in the west Mr. Kite cycled to Monkmoor lagoon to see the sunset and birds arrive for the evening. Just as Mr. Kite reached The Lagoon The Beast hissed and the rear tyre went flat. Never mind thought Mr. Kite what about the birds.
On the water one mute swan fed with it's head in the water and a grey heron pierced the surface of the water to pick out tiddlers. A group of about forty mallards roamed near the reeds. Looking at the sky Mr. Kite watched corvids, stock doves and wood pigeons. Black-headed gulls flew towards the river and magpies went to roost in the trees on the far side.
Just as the light was fading six pochard dropped in and one cormorant. Just as Mr. Kite closed the hide door a curlew flew over. Mr. Kite pushed The Beast home and then settled for a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers from a place where the clouds have gone.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey sky. Some patches of bright bits shone. In the morning Mr. Kite cleaned some brickwork with slow progress.
With the sun going down in the west Mr. Kite cycled to Monkmoor lagoon to see the sunset and birds arrive for the evening. Just as Mr. Kite reached The Lagoon The Beast hissed and the rear tyre went flat. Never mind thought Mr. Kite what about the birds.
On the water one mute swan fed with it's head in the water and a grey heron pierced the surface of the water to pick out tiddlers. A group of about forty mallards roamed near the reeds. Looking at the sky Mr. Kite watched corvids, stock doves and wood pigeons. Black-headed gulls flew towards the river and magpies went to roost in the trees on the far side.
Just as the light was fading six pochard dropped in and one cormorant. Just as Mr. Kite closed the hide door a curlew flew over. Mr. Kite pushed The Beast home and then settled for a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers from a place where the clouds have gone.
Monday 21 November 2011
Monday 21st November (More Autumn and Plenty of Mallards)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey sky. The air was still and the birds non-existent. In the gloom Mr. Kite went on a bird watching trip along the river to Atcham and Venus Pool. To cut a long story short there were plenty of mallards on the river and at V.P.
Today these colourful common ducks were feeding in the water and waddling around on grassy banks. One group of ducks played follow the leader as they walked in single file over the dried up bottom of V.P.
With some drizzle in the air Mr. Kite returned home stopping at Monkmoor Lagoon. Now here again there were plenty of mallards going around the lagoon in a group. So that was Mr. Kites day looking at mallards. Sitting in the front room of The Residence Mr. Kite had a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey sky. The air was still and the birds non-existent. In the gloom Mr. Kite went on a bird watching trip along the river to Atcham and Venus Pool. To cut a long story short there were plenty of mallards on the river and at V.P.
Today these colourful common ducks were feeding in the water and waddling around on grassy banks. One group of ducks played follow the leader as they walked in single file over the dried up bottom of V.P.
With some drizzle in the air Mr. Kite returned home stopping at Monkmoor Lagoon. Now here again there were plenty of mallards going around the lagoon in a group. So that was Mr. Kites day looking at mallards. Sitting in the front room of The Residence Mr. Kite had a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers.
Sunday 20 November 2011
Sunday 20th November (A Nice November Day)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey cloudy nice November sky. Nothing stirred in the still air; not even a wood pigeon.
Later in the morning Mr. Kite went for a walk to the bottle bank. Now Sunday morning is a day for the black-headed gulls and carrion crows to eat discarded chips left in the road by the drunken revelers returning home after a night clubbing it. So Mr. Kite walked along the road looking for evidence of a chip forage for the hungry birds. Near the Chinese takeaway a lone black-headed gull was picking at a container with chips in it. However these chips had mayonnaise on them and the gull carefully avoided this tasty stuff. Now one of Mr. Kite's favourite foods is egg and cress sandwiches with mayonnaise. So to see a gull avoiding the mayo made Mr. Kite think what a shame; fancy missing out on that lovely stuff. So gulls and crows like chips with curry sauce but not mayo.
Mr. Kite did not do too much bird watching today but he did spend some time drinking and doing birdie things like a clue on the crossword. So here is the clue. One bird (rook oddly) flew into another (5 letters). Now Mr. Kite will not tell you the answer but it is the name of a bird made up with the odd letters of rook and starting and ending with another generic name of birds. So take the odd number letters out of rook; all two of them. Then think of a three letter word that describes a female bird, or a domestic fowl, or a road island red. Put these five letters together to form the name of a bird; there are grey ones, purple ones, night ones and squaccos.
After such a strenuous day Mr. Kite had a few tipples of Whitechapel Porter, Manns Brown Ale and a gallon of Becks. Cheers to a heron.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey cloudy nice November sky. Nothing stirred in the still air; not even a wood pigeon.
Later in the morning Mr. Kite went for a walk to the bottle bank. Now Sunday morning is a day for the black-headed gulls and carrion crows to eat discarded chips left in the road by the drunken revelers returning home after a night clubbing it. So Mr. Kite walked along the road looking for evidence of a chip forage for the hungry birds. Near the Chinese takeaway a lone black-headed gull was picking at a container with chips in it. However these chips had mayonnaise on them and the gull carefully avoided this tasty stuff. Now one of Mr. Kite's favourite foods is egg and cress sandwiches with mayonnaise. So to see a gull avoiding the mayo made Mr. Kite think what a shame; fancy missing out on that lovely stuff. So gulls and crows like chips with curry sauce but not mayo.
Mr. Kite did not do too much bird watching today but he did spend some time drinking and doing birdie things like a clue on the crossword. So here is the clue. One bird (rook oddly) flew into another (5 letters). Now Mr. Kite will not tell you the answer but it is the name of a bird made up with the odd letters of rook and starting and ending with another generic name of birds. So take the odd number letters out of rook; all two of them. Then think of a three letter word that describes a female bird, or a domestic fowl, or a road island red. Put these five letters together to form the name of a bird; there are grey ones, purple ones, night ones and squaccos.
After such a strenuous day Mr. Kite had a few tipples of Whitechapel Porter, Manns Brown Ale and a gallon of Becks. Cheers to a heron.
Saturday 19 November 2011
Saturday 19th November (The Big Apple)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a clear blue sky with some thin layers of white cloud. Autumn was turning into winter and the lime trees were nearly bare. The road was quiet and the fallen leaves jeweled the ground with brown, golden and yellow shapes. Birds were scarce; in fact Mr. Kite stood looking for a minute and did not see any.
After repairing The Beast Mr. Kite cycled to Polemere as the sunshine turned to mist. Once again Polemere's water level was low allowing the mallards, greylag geese and lesser-black back gulls a chance to paddle in the shallows. Pied wagtails, carrion crows, wood pigeons and teal fed around the muddy edges. Two buzzards rested in an adjacent field now that the sun had disappeared and the lack of thermals made flying more difficult.
Now it was an uneventful trip back to The Residence until Mr. Kite reached The Big Apple. This Big Apple did not have The Empire State Building or The Statue of Liberty. No, this Big Apple had a core, seeds and flesh and was lying in the road. Mr. Kite was looking around for birds and he ran into The Big Apple trapping it in front of the wheel until the wheel pierced The Big Apple and then the apple disintegrated causing a slippery surface and Mr. Kite fell off The Beast. Now Mr. Kite lying in the road is not a pretty sight so he picked himself up and went home.
After some minor repairs to his body Mr. Kite had a tipple of Abbot Ale Greene King. Cheers.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a clear blue sky with some thin layers of white cloud. Autumn was turning into winter and the lime trees were nearly bare. The road was quiet and the fallen leaves jeweled the ground with brown, golden and yellow shapes. Birds were scarce; in fact Mr. Kite stood looking for a minute and did not see any.
After repairing The Beast Mr. Kite cycled to Polemere as the sunshine turned to mist. Once again Polemere's water level was low allowing the mallards, greylag geese and lesser-black back gulls a chance to paddle in the shallows. Pied wagtails, carrion crows, wood pigeons and teal fed around the muddy edges. Two buzzards rested in an adjacent field now that the sun had disappeared and the lack of thermals made flying more difficult.
Now it was an uneventful trip back to The Residence until Mr. Kite reached The Big Apple. This Big Apple did not have The Empire State Building or The Statue of Liberty. No, this Big Apple had a core, seeds and flesh and was lying in the road. Mr. Kite was looking around for birds and he ran into The Big Apple trapping it in front of the wheel until the wheel pierced The Big Apple and then the apple disintegrated causing a slippery surface and Mr. Kite fell off The Beast. Now Mr. Kite lying in the road is not a pretty sight so he picked himself up and went home.
After some minor repairs to his body Mr. Kite had a tipple of Abbot Ale Greene King. Cheers.
Friday 18 November 2011
Friday 18th November (Laziness is Mr. Kite)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey sky with a hint of sunshine somewhere in the distance. A gentle breeze blew and the trees showed that winter was approaching. Mr. Kite had a few chores to do so he lazily went about them.
Mr. 'Lazibones' Kite did complete his chores by three in the afternoon and then went for a short bird-watching trip to Monkmoor Lagoon. Just as Mr. Kite arrived at the nature reserve The Beast hissed and the rear tyre deflated in one millisecond. Mr. Kite did not swear or throw a tantrum because he was going to watch the serene sight of birds on Monkmoor Lagoon.
Opening the hide window Mr. Kite noticed that the air was still and the water surface like a sheet of glass. On the water mallards, canadian geese and mute swans swam leisurely around the lagoon. Now the interesting thing was that in the calm water and air the swimming birds made bow waves and wakes at the rear. The mute swan caused a powerful bow wave when it pushed forward rapidly. The geese and duck made neat 'v' shaped wake patterns with ripples and different sized wave lengths. Given time Mr. Kite would use his mathematical skills to model the waves and wakes of water-fowl but with a fridge full of beer he headed home. With The Beast unrideable Mr. Kite walked the three thousand yards looking forward to those bottle of Becks. Cheers from a relaxed and lazy Mr. Kite.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey sky with a hint of sunshine somewhere in the distance. A gentle breeze blew and the trees showed that winter was approaching. Mr. Kite had a few chores to do so he lazily went about them.
Mr. 'Lazibones' Kite did complete his chores by three in the afternoon and then went for a short bird-watching trip to Monkmoor Lagoon. Just as Mr. Kite arrived at the nature reserve The Beast hissed and the rear tyre deflated in one millisecond. Mr. Kite did not swear or throw a tantrum because he was going to watch the serene sight of birds on Monkmoor Lagoon.
Opening the hide window Mr. Kite noticed that the air was still and the water surface like a sheet of glass. On the water mallards, canadian geese and mute swans swam leisurely around the lagoon. Now the interesting thing was that in the calm water and air the swimming birds made bow waves and wakes at the rear. The mute swan caused a powerful bow wave when it pushed forward rapidly. The geese and duck made neat 'v' shaped wake patterns with ripples and different sized wave lengths. Given time Mr. Kite would use his mathematical skills to model the waves and wakes of water-fowl but with a fridge full of beer he headed home. With The Beast unrideable Mr. Kite walked the three thousand yards looking forward to those bottle of Becks. Cheers from a relaxed and lazy Mr. Kite.
Wednesday 16 November 2011
Thursday 17th November (A Promising Start and a Chopper)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a clear cold November sky. The air was still and the few leaves on the tree motionless. Looking down Mr. Kite could see a robin sitting on The Joint. Now Mr. Kite was tempted to open the bedroom window and tell the robin to go and sit in a tree just like any other bird but he thought to himself, 'why shouldn't a robin sit on top of a camper.
The road was increasing in traffic and people were walking the pavements towards work but Mr. Kite was looking for bird; not going to work like the unfortunate people outside. Now today Mr. Kite had a plan.
At mid-morning Mr. Kite and his birding companions were birding on a sunny and pleasant day. In Meole Brace a pair of wood pigeon were watched. Now in Meole Brace you might expect all birds to be in pairs but that is not true because five house sparrows were also spotted.
Near Condover The Incapacitants watched a congregation of golden plover and desert of lapwing feeding in a field. Today The Incapacitants were careful not to disturb the birds. However a kestrel did fly low over them scattering a few but they soon returned.
Just outside Condover The Incapacitants watched turkeys in a field. These big dark noisy birds were strutting around a field with a sign nearby advertising turkey for Christmas. So these noisy non-native cluckers were enjoying their last November before being stuffed with chestnuts, sage and onions.
With flocks of fieldfare flying over and mistle thrushes adding to a Christmas feeling The Incapacitants headed towards Lodge Hill. At the final few furlongs The Beast hissed and the rear tyre went flat. The bicycles were put behind a tree and The Incapacitants went bird-watching in the trees of Lodge Hill. Coal tits and goldcrests were in abundance in the warm sunshine and feeding hungrily they made good and easy watching. Oblivious to The Incapacitants the goldcrests gold crests shone like a crown as they foraged yards away upside down on the low shrubbery with a smattering of black and white stripey headed coal tits. Nuthatches sounded off, ravens croaked and a number of unidentified birds flew between the trees.
With the sun in the south The Incapacitants timed their walk to the summit of Lodge Hill so that the trees could be searched for crossbills. With woodpeckers calling the tension rose. Eyes searched the cones in the top of the firs and then one of those noisy damn helicopters appeared where the crossbills should be. The blue and yellow flying machine circled, hovered and flew up and down the line of trees, Dropping down behind the trees the noise of the chopper increased as it then popped up just above the tree tops. The door opened and a flier in green overalls waved a white handkerchief at The Incapacitants before dropping down into the field by the trees. For ten minutes The Chopper made bird-watching impossible as the noise of the engines, the smell of the kerosene and the sight of a large flying beast scared every bird away for ten miles.
The Incapacitants returned to their trusty bicycles. The puncture was repaired and The Incapacitants headed towards home stopping to walk around a filed where greenfinch, goldfinch, chaffinch and yellowhammers fed in the hedgerow. With the sun dropping down in the west The Incapacitants called it a day. The competition was a draw with over thirty species spotted. A good day was had and Mr. Kite returned home for a tipple of Abbot Ale Green King. Cheers to all those turkeys waiting to be put on a plate.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a clear cold November sky. The air was still and the few leaves on the tree motionless. Looking down Mr. Kite could see a robin sitting on The Joint. Now Mr. Kite was tempted to open the bedroom window and tell the robin to go and sit in a tree just like any other bird but he thought to himself, 'why shouldn't a robin sit on top of a camper.
The road was increasing in traffic and people were walking the pavements towards work but Mr. Kite was looking for bird; not going to work like the unfortunate people outside. Now today Mr. Kite had a plan.
At mid-morning Mr. Kite and his birding companions were birding on a sunny and pleasant day. In Meole Brace a pair of wood pigeon were watched. Now in Meole Brace you might expect all birds to be in pairs but that is not true because five house sparrows were also spotted.
Near Condover The Incapacitants watched a congregation of golden plover and desert of lapwing feeding in a field. Today The Incapacitants were careful not to disturb the birds. However a kestrel did fly low over them scattering a few but they soon returned.
Just outside Condover The Incapacitants watched turkeys in a field. These big dark noisy birds were strutting around a field with a sign nearby advertising turkey for Christmas. So these noisy non-native cluckers were enjoying their last November before being stuffed with chestnuts, sage and onions.
With flocks of fieldfare flying over and mistle thrushes adding to a Christmas feeling The Incapacitants headed towards Lodge Hill. At the final few furlongs The Beast hissed and the rear tyre went flat. The bicycles were put behind a tree and The Incapacitants went bird-watching in the trees of Lodge Hill. Coal tits and goldcrests were in abundance in the warm sunshine and feeding hungrily they made good and easy watching. Oblivious to The Incapacitants the goldcrests gold crests shone like a crown as they foraged yards away upside down on the low shrubbery with a smattering of black and white stripey headed coal tits. Nuthatches sounded off, ravens croaked and a number of unidentified birds flew between the trees.
With the sun in the south The Incapacitants timed their walk to the summit of Lodge Hill so that the trees could be searched for crossbills. With woodpeckers calling the tension rose. Eyes searched the cones in the top of the firs and then one of those noisy damn helicopters appeared where the crossbills should be. The blue and yellow flying machine circled, hovered and flew up and down the line of trees, Dropping down behind the trees the noise of the chopper increased as it then popped up just above the tree tops. The door opened and a flier in green overalls waved a white handkerchief at The Incapacitants before dropping down into the field by the trees. For ten minutes The Chopper made bird-watching impossible as the noise of the engines, the smell of the kerosene and the sight of a large flying beast scared every bird away for ten miles.
The Incapacitants returned to their trusty bicycles. The puncture was repaired and The Incapacitants headed towards home stopping to walk around a filed where greenfinch, goldfinch, chaffinch and yellowhammers fed in the hedgerow. With the sun dropping down in the west The Incapacitants called it a day. The competition was a draw with over thirty species spotted. A good day was had and Mr. Kite returned home for a tipple of Abbot Ale Green King. Cheers to all those turkeys waiting to be put on a plate.
Wednesday 16th November (New Pastures)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a dark grey sky. Not one green leaf was hanging on the trees only golden ones and golden ones with green on the inside. The birds were silent.
Now Mr. Kite and His Lady went to Tamworth to visit someone; not a pig. Mr. Kite had some time on a local nature reserve where nothing much was spotted in the cold misty autumnal day. it was new pastures and ponds but nothing new to report.
In late evening Mr. Kite returned to The Residence for a tipple of Becks. Cheers.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a dark grey sky. Not one green leaf was hanging on the trees only golden ones and golden ones with green on the inside. The birds were silent.
Now Mr. Kite and His Lady went to Tamworth to visit someone; not a pig. Mr. Kite had some time on a local nature reserve where nothing much was spotted in the cold misty autumnal day. it was new pastures and ponds but nothing new to report.
In late evening Mr. Kite returned to The Residence for a tipple of Becks. Cheers.
Tuesday 15 November 2011
Tuesday 15th November (A Low Pass by a Formation of Geese)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window just as about one hundred canadian geese clipped the roof of The Residence flying east into the sunrise. Never mind the leaves on the trees today; that was an impressive start.
Now today Mr. Kite and His Lady went off to the RAF Museum at Cosford. Mr. Kite wanted to know how the wings were held onto a Wellington bomber. Just outside the museum Mr. Kite watched the flapping wings of jackdaws, carrion crows, black-headed gulls and starlings. Flapping too fast and covered in feathers Mr. Kite assumed that bird wings were held on by cartilage, muscle and skin. In the emerging sunlight these common birds were very impressive flying around in the open space.
Mr. Kite went into the workshops of the museum to talk to am man who knows how the wings of a Wellington bomber are held on. Examining the skeleton of a Wellington the 'man who knows' showed Mr. Kite The Main Spar and the mainplanes and the fuselage complete with the location brackets for securing The Kite together. Fabulous.
For the next five hours Mr. Kite and His Lady sat by flying machines, read about flying machines and touched flying machines. After all this manufactured metal it was time for a short visit to The Natural World.
When Mr. Kite left the museum it was dark and he drove to Morville to listen to owls whilst lighting some candles on The Special Grave. Tonight the weather was cloudy but still, the countryside was dark and The Church of St. Gregory the Great was solid, black and silhouetted against the sky. Walking through the graveyard Mr. Kite could see the faint shining of a solar light. On reaching The Special Grave Mr. Kite could see the light was shining on yellow flowers placed at the head of the grave. Mr. Kite and His Lady placed t-lights on the grave and lit them. The surrounding lit up, shiny surfaces reflected the twinkling light and ina small area of Morville there was light.
In the wood nearby tow tawny owls hooted to each other and a barn owl called. So Mr. Kite listened for thirty minutes to owls in the flickering light of a graveyard. It was then time to go. Mr. Kite returned home for a tipple of Shepherd Neame Late Red Autumn Hop Ale to celebrate a memorable day out. Cheers.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window just as about one hundred canadian geese clipped the roof of The Residence flying east into the sunrise. Never mind the leaves on the trees today; that was an impressive start.
Now today Mr. Kite and His Lady went off to the RAF Museum at Cosford. Mr. Kite wanted to know how the wings were held onto a Wellington bomber. Just outside the museum Mr. Kite watched the flapping wings of jackdaws, carrion crows, black-headed gulls and starlings. Flapping too fast and covered in feathers Mr. Kite assumed that bird wings were held on by cartilage, muscle and skin. In the emerging sunlight these common birds were very impressive flying around in the open space.
Mr. Kite went into the workshops of the museum to talk to am man who knows how the wings of a Wellington bomber are held on. Examining the skeleton of a Wellington the 'man who knows' showed Mr. Kite The Main Spar and the mainplanes and the fuselage complete with the location brackets for securing The Kite together. Fabulous.
For the next five hours Mr. Kite and His Lady sat by flying machines, read about flying machines and touched flying machines. After all this manufactured metal it was time for a short visit to The Natural World.
When Mr. Kite left the museum it was dark and he drove to Morville to listen to owls whilst lighting some candles on The Special Grave. Tonight the weather was cloudy but still, the countryside was dark and The Church of St. Gregory the Great was solid, black and silhouetted against the sky. Walking through the graveyard Mr. Kite could see the faint shining of a solar light. On reaching The Special Grave Mr. Kite could see the light was shining on yellow flowers placed at the head of the grave. Mr. Kite and His Lady placed t-lights on the grave and lit them. The surrounding lit up, shiny surfaces reflected the twinkling light and ina small area of Morville there was light.
In the wood nearby tow tawny owls hooted to each other and a barn owl called. So Mr. Kite listened for thirty minutes to owls in the flickering light of a graveyard. It was then time to go. Mr. Kite returned home for a tipple of Shepherd Neame Late Red Autumn Hop Ale to celebrate a memorable day out. Cheers.
Monday 14 November 2011
Monday 14th November (Dull, Dirty Day ending with a Duck)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey November sky hoping to see a bird fly across the sky, down the road or fly aimlessly. With only a few leaves on the trees there was plenty of light patches to silhouette any lurking bird. It must be said that the was bird less.
Now today Mr. Kite was working on The Residence in the dull darkness of a chimney-breast. So that is the closest Mr. Kite was to a bird today; a chimney-breast. Never mind there is always tomorrow. However late in the afternoon, just before dusk, Mr. Kite watched five starlings fly around for about thirty seconds. He watched to see if a pattern would emerge; or a shape. But all that could be said it was five starling flying around.
However later in the evening Mr. Kite did see a mallard. This was not any old mallard but one drawn by John James Audubon. Now that is what I call a mallard. Cheers from Mr. Kite who is enjoying a Tetley tea.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey November sky hoping to see a bird fly across the sky, down the road or fly aimlessly. With only a few leaves on the trees there was plenty of light patches to silhouette any lurking bird. It must be said that the was bird less.
Now today Mr. Kite was working on The Residence in the dull darkness of a chimney-breast. So that is the closest Mr. Kite was to a bird today; a chimney-breast. Never mind there is always tomorrow. However late in the afternoon, just before dusk, Mr. Kite watched five starlings fly around for about thirty seconds. He watched to see if a pattern would emerge; or a shape. But all that could be said it was five starling flying around.
However later in the evening Mr. Kite did see a mallard. This was not any old mallard but one drawn by John James Audubon. Now that is what I call a mallard. Cheers from Mr. Kite who is enjoying a Tetley tea.
Saturday 12 November 2011
Sunday 13th November (Wales, Wind and Cader Idris)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into dark sky. The orange light from the street lamps turned the very few lime tree leaves golden. Outside it was silent.
At seven o'clock The Incapacitants were heading, by car, to North Wales to watch birds and walk up Cader Idris. Now Sunday morning is always a special day in Floreat Salopia for birds because the drunken Saturday night revelers leave chips, pizzas and curry on the pavements or sometimes the road. Today in Abbey Foregate the black-headed gulls were having a chip fest with curry sauce. The thin chips from the Greek chippies are not as good as the fat chunky chips from Monkmoor Road but they very good and provide plenty of squabbling opportunity for the 'gannet like gulls'.
To cut a long story short the birding competition was a draw. In the strong mountainous winds the birds kept their heads down. One unfortunate walker was blown over a cliff and went home in a box; courtesy of a yellow helicopter. A great day was had fighting the gale force wind and looking out over some great views; and The Incapacitants lived to bird another day. Mr. Kite can report that the roads near Welshpool are infested with non-native pheasants scurrying around causing accidents to motorists and themselves.
Mr. Kite returned home for a tipple of Shepherd Neame Late Red Autumn Hop Ale.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into dark sky. The orange light from the street lamps turned the very few lime tree leaves golden. Outside it was silent.
At seven o'clock The Incapacitants were heading, by car, to North Wales to watch birds and walk up Cader Idris. Now Sunday morning is always a special day in Floreat Salopia for birds because the drunken Saturday night revelers leave chips, pizzas and curry on the pavements or sometimes the road. Today in Abbey Foregate the black-headed gulls were having a chip fest with curry sauce. The thin chips from the Greek chippies are not as good as the fat chunky chips from Monkmoor Road but they very good and provide plenty of squabbling opportunity for the 'gannet like gulls'.
To cut a long story short the birding competition was a draw. In the strong mountainous winds the birds kept their heads down. One unfortunate walker was blown over a cliff and went home in a box; courtesy of a yellow helicopter. A great day was had fighting the gale force wind and looking out over some great views; and The Incapacitants lived to bird another day. Mr. Kite can report that the roads near Welshpool are infested with non-native pheasants scurrying around causing accidents to motorists and themselves.
Mr. Kite returned home for a tipple of Shepherd Neame Late Red Autumn Hop Ale.
Saturday 12th November (The Bottle Bank List of Singers)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a bright blue sky. The leaves on the trees were few and still in the calm air. After drinking too much beer Mr. Kite had to take the bottles to the bottle bank so he decided to make a list of singing birds that he heard and saw on his walk.
On this sunny morning the birds were on show and singing. The first sound was the 'chirp, chirp, chirrup' of the house sparrow. Looking around Mr. Kite noticed a host of them flitting around the gutter on a house. Further down the road a carrion crow called, 'kraa, kraa' with a deep harsh voice from a t.v. aerial. Near the bottle bank a number of robins were marking their territory by singing and flying around 'their manor' staking claim to what they considered theirs. Today their song was a short sharp, 'tic, tic, tic' with the occasional melodic rippling song. Lastly the soft 'coo, coo' of the wood pigeon was sang from the branch of a lime tree.
La Becasse
Now just after eleven o'clock Mr. Kite heard another bird call. This call was complicated and varied. It started with two clunks similar to a glass and a bottle being placed on a wooden piano. Then there was a metallic rattle resembling the loose screw thread in a wine-bottle opener followed by more metallic tap sounding like a wine-bottle opener touching a crown cap on a beer bottle. Shortly after there was a short 'schhh' sounding like escaping gas followed by water trickling and a few glugs. In fact it was the bird song of la becasse, the woodcock, prior to being drunk. This fabulous cherry flavoured beer ends the song bird list for today. Cheers from a happy Mr. Kite sitting by a table full of Mexican food drinking la becasse and a woodcock on The Mantlepiece.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a bright blue sky. The leaves on the trees were few and still in the calm air. After drinking too much beer Mr. Kite had to take the bottles to the bottle bank so he decided to make a list of singing birds that he heard and saw on his walk.
On this sunny morning the birds were on show and singing. The first sound was the 'chirp, chirp, chirrup' of the house sparrow. Looking around Mr. Kite noticed a host of them flitting around the gutter on a house. Further down the road a carrion crow called, 'kraa, kraa' with a deep harsh voice from a t.v. aerial. Near the bottle bank a number of robins were marking their territory by singing and flying around 'their manor' staking claim to what they considered theirs. Today their song was a short sharp, 'tic, tic, tic' with the occasional melodic rippling song. Lastly the soft 'coo, coo' of the wood pigeon was sang from the branch of a lime tree.
La Becasse
Now just after eleven o'clock Mr. Kite heard another bird call. This call was complicated and varied. It started with two clunks similar to a glass and a bottle being placed on a wooden piano. Then there was a metallic rattle resembling the loose screw thread in a wine-bottle opener followed by more metallic tap sounding like a wine-bottle opener touching a crown cap on a beer bottle. Shortly after there was a short 'schhh' sounding like escaping gas followed by water trickling and a few glugs. In fact it was the bird song of la becasse, the woodcock, prior to being drunk. This fabulous cherry flavoured beer ends the song bird list for today. Cheers from a happy Mr. Kite sitting by a table full of Mexican food drinking la becasse and a woodcock on The Mantlepiece.
Friday 11 November 2011
Friday 11th November (Armistice Day)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey sky. The top of the lime trees were bare and the leaves nearer the base were fewer and countable. Now Mr. Kite does not mind counting birds but leaves on a tree are a different matter.
Today it seemed that the people in the street wore poppies in remember of fallen soldiers; not fallen leaves. Now Mr. Kite lives in the house of a fallen poet who parents were notified of his demise ninety-three years ago this morning at midday with 'the knock on the door'.
Hopefully there will be no knocks on the door today. The poets parents had one knock on the door and Mr. Kite and His Lady have had their knock on the door. Today there will be no knocks on the door only on the old fireplace wall. So a bit of wall-knocking will be followed by a bit of bird-watching.
So after some brick removal Mr. Kite went to Monkmoor Lagoon and today it was a good place to go bird-watching. With about two hundred canadian geese, scores of mallard, a few teal and mute swans with one solitary barnacle goose. With lots of birds to watch Mr. Kite watched them all rather than return to being a demolition worker in The Residence. After one hour Mr. Kite had watched all the birds and back to the building site.
In the evening Mr. Kite settled down to a tipple of Courage Directors. However in this technological world Mr. Kite and His Lady listened to yesterdays radio programme with Christine Finn visiting the Maison de Forestiere at Ors in Northern France. Now this reminded Mr. Kite of his visit to The Maison on June 18th 2011 where Mr. Kite and His Lady entered the building site and cellar for a sneak preview. With this amazing building still fresh in Mr. Kite's memory he had another drink.
Cheers to the Mayor of Ors, the people of Ors and all those who made this impressive building possible. Mr. Kite's contribution is a half-finished fire-place in the former home of the poet.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey sky. The top of the lime trees were bare and the leaves nearer the base were fewer and countable. Now Mr. Kite does not mind counting birds but leaves on a tree are a different matter.
Today it seemed that the people in the street wore poppies in remember of fallen soldiers; not fallen leaves. Now Mr. Kite lives in the house of a fallen poet who parents were notified of his demise ninety-three years ago this morning at midday with 'the knock on the door'.
Hopefully there will be no knocks on the door today. The poets parents had one knock on the door and Mr. Kite and His Lady have had their knock on the door. Today there will be no knocks on the door only on the old fireplace wall. So a bit of wall-knocking will be followed by a bit of bird-watching.
So after some brick removal Mr. Kite went to Monkmoor Lagoon and today it was a good place to go bird-watching. With about two hundred canadian geese, scores of mallard, a few teal and mute swans with one solitary barnacle goose. With lots of birds to watch Mr. Kite watched them all rather than return to being a demolition worker in The Residence. After one hour Mr. Kite had watched all the birds and back to the building site.
In the evening Mr. Kite settled down to a tipple of Courage Directors. However in this technological world Mr. Kite and His Lady listened to yesterdays radio programme with Christine Finn visiting the Maison de Forestiere at Ors in Northern France. Now this reminded Mr. Kite of his visit to The Maison on June 18th 2011 where Mr. Kite and His Lady entered the building site and cellar for a sneak preview. With this amazing building still fresh in Mr. Kite's memory he had another drink.
Cheers to the Mayor of Ors, the people of Ors and all those who made this impressive building possible. Mr. Kite's contribution is a half-finished fire-place in the former home of the poet.
Thursday 10 November 2011
Thursday 10th November (More Gloom and Doom but The Condover Congregation was Magic)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a light grey sky. The breeze blew the remaining leaves on the trees and the outlook seemed bleak. But Mr. Kite and his birding companion went bird-watching.
Now to cut a long story short The Incapacitants watched fifty different species of birds and the competition was a draw because they had not expected to see so many birds. Today the birds were plentiful in the calm air, bare hedgerows and green fields. All the common birds were having a day behaving like birds; flying, tweeting, feeding and having the occasional squabble.
On the return trip, just before Condover, The Incapacitants disturbed a field full of lapwings and golden plover and they took to the air. The huge flock took to the air and circled with the congregation of golden plovers climbing faster than the desert of lapwings. Soon the 'The Big Wing' split with the lapwings going right towards Bayston Hill and the golden plover continuing to circle and climb.
Mr. Kite watched with interest the hundreds of golden plover because they did not fly as a flock in formation; it was a mixture of different types of formations and solos. Some flew in lines playing follow the leader. Others flew in line side by side with numbers up to ten. A flew groups flews as crescents. However the most interesting were groups flying in 'v' formations making arrows in the sky. Against the white cloudy sky these black shapes made fantastic patterns, shapes and dot to dot drawings. Now Mr. Kite would have to urge any bird-watcher to look at a flock of flying golden plover and observe the changing and varied shapes in the sky. It is an incredible sight.
After a great day birding Mr. Kite returned to The Residence for a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers to all the members of 'The Congregation 'that crowded the sky to perform a great display.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a light grey sky. The breeze blew the remaining leaves on the trees and the outlook seemed bleak. But Mr. Kite and his birding companion went bird-watching.
Now to cut a long story short The Incapacitants watched fifty different species of birds and the competition was a draw because they had not expected to see so many birds. Today the birds were plentiful in the calm air, bare hedgerows and green fields. All the common birds were having a day behaving like birds; flying, tweeting, feeding and having the occasional squabble.
On the return trip, just before Condover, The Incapacitants disturbed a field full of lapwings and golden plover and they took to the air. The huge flock took to the air and circled with the congregation of golden plovers climbing faster than the desert of lapwings. Soon the 'The Big Wing' split with the lapwings going right towards Bayston Hill and the golden plover continuing to circle and climb.
Mr. Kite watched with interest the hundreds of golden plover because they did not fly as a flock in formation; it was a mixture of different types of formations and solos. Some flew in lines playing follow the leader. Others flew in line side by side with numbers up to ten. A flew groups flews as crescents. However the most interesting were groups flying in 'v' formations making arrows in the sky. Against the white cloudy sky these black shapes made fantastic patterns, shapes and dot to dot drawings. Now Mr. Kite would have to urge any bird-watcher to look at a flock of flying golden plover and observe the changing and varied shapes in the sky. It is an incredible sight.
After a great day birding Mr. Kite returned to The Residence for a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers to all the members of 'The Congregation 'that crowded the sky to perform a great display.
Wednesday 9 November 2011
Wednesday 9th November (Dullness, Birds Nests and Beer)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into another grey cloudy November sky. The gloom and lack of bright sunshine made Mr. Kite feel dull but not being a dullard Mr. Kite had a birding plan.
Now on The Estate there are a number of trees that keep growing and overhang the boundary. So today Mr. Kite did a bit of pruning in preparation for next years nesting. With a ladder, a saw and some snips Mr. Kite scaled trees, swung from branches and clambered up tree trunks. Today Mr. Kite found seven wood pigeons nests, three blackbirds and a song-thrushes on The Estate. The bird boxes produced nothing.
So after five hours pruning Mr. Kite's Estate is ready for next year. Lastly Mr. Kite cleaned the chimneys and dislodged an old jackdaws nest.
With The Estate in order and the chimney swept Mr. Kite went to The Observatory to watch a few flying birds. Twenty goldfinches and a small murmaration of starling flew around the sky just as darkness was falling. After all the hard work Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Fullers London Pride. Cheers.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into another grey cloudy November sky. The gloom and lack of bright sunshine made Mr. Kite feel dull but not being a dullard Mr. Kite had a birding plan.
Now on The Estate there are a number of trees that keep growing and overhang the boundary. So today Mr. Kite did a bit of pruning in preparation for next years nesting. With a ladder, a saw and some snips Mr. Kite scaled trees, swung from branches and clambered up tree trunks. Today Mr. Kite found seven wood pigeons nests, three blackbirds and a song-thrushes on The Estate. The bird boxes produced nothing.
So after five hours pruning Mr. Kite's Estate is ready for next year. Lastly Mr. Kite cleaned the chimneys and dislodged an old jackdaws nest.
With The Estate in order and the chimney swept Mr. Kite went to The Observatory to watch a few flying birds. Twenty goldfinches and a small murmaration of starling flew around the sky just as darkness was falling. After all the hard work Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Fullers London Pride. Cheers.
Tuesday 8 November 2011
Tuesday 8th November (Cloud, Gloom and Damp)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey sky where the cloud were low. The leaves on the trees has almost disappeared from the tops and most of the remaining leaves were nearer to the bottom of the tree.
In the damp November air Mr. Kite started his trip to Polemere. The roads were wet, the surface water was muddy and the gutters were running with the residue. As usual the fields were grey and dull but the corvids seemed happy. A few birds flitted quickly around the hedgerows.
To cut a long story short Polemere was also in the gloom. About twenty teals fed around the edges of the water and five mallards swam across the narrow pool. Mr. Kite sat and scanned the surrounding area noticing that the gloom was descending and the clouds lowered and the drizzle more persistent. So it was time for home. However there was one bright moment when a grey wagtail flew across the river by the Station Bridge.
Cheers from Mr. Kite enjoying a warm tipple of Tetley tea on a cold grey day. Cheers.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey sky where the cloud were low. The leaves on the trees has almost disappeared from the tops and most of the remaining leaves were nearer to the bottom of the tree.
In the damp November air Mr. Kite started his trip to Polemere. The roads were wet, the surface water was muddy and the gutters were running with the residue. As usual the fields were grey and dull but the corvids seemed happy. A few birds flitted quickly around the hedgerows.
To cut a long story short Polemere was also in the gloom. About twenty teals fed around the edges of the water and five mallards swam across the narrow pool. Mr. Kite sat and scanned the surrounding area noticing that the gloom was descending and the clouds lowered and the drizzle more persistent. So it was time for home. However there was one bright moment when a grey wagtail flew across the river by the Station Bridge.
Cheers from Mr. Kite enjoying a warm tipple of Tetley tea on a cold grey day. Cheers.
Sunday 6 November 2011
Monday 7th November (There's a Nip in the Air)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a clear sky. The dawn was still breaking and a few grey clouds could be seen in the distance. Looking onto the parked cars below Mr. Kite could see that Jack Frost had paid a little visit leaving a thin layer of frozen condensation on the windscreens. The 'nip in the air' was joined by two black-headed gulls that flew above the road. Mr. Kite had a theory about these gulls and that is they were looking for discarded chips.
As the morning progressed the clouds became thicker and darker turning a clear sky into a murky day with that nip still in the air. In the morning Mr. Kite and His Lady traveled to The Church of St. Gregory the Great in Morville to tidy The Special Grave. The grass was trimmed, weeds removed and flowers laid. Today the fog was descending and the birds were hidden. A glimpse of a wood pigeon, a common pheasant and a small flock of starlings was about Mr. Kites lot.
So with a nip in the air, birds rare and the comfort of a chair Mr. Kite and His Lady returned to The Residence for a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers on a dull, dreary November day.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a clear sky. The dawn was still breaking and a few grey clouds could be seen in the distance. Looking onto the parked cars below Mr. Kite could see that Jack Frost had paid a little visit leaving a thin layer of frozen condensation on the windscreens. The 'nip in the air' was joined by two black-headed gulls that flew above the road. Mr. Kite had a theory about these gulls and that is they were looking for discarded chips.
As the morning progressed the clouds became thicker and darker turning a clear sky into a murky day with that nip still in the air. In the morning Mr. Kite and His Lady traveled to The Church of St. Gregory the Great in Morville to tidy The Special Grave. The grass was trimmed, weeds removed and flowers laid. Today the fog was descending and the birds were hidden. A glimpse of a wood pigeon, a common pheasant and a small flock of starlings was about Mr. Kites lot.
So with a nip in the air, birds rare and the comfort of a chair Mr. Kite and His Lady returned to The Residence for a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers on a dull, dreary November day.
Sunday 6th November (Carrion Crow and Chips)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom into a blue sky with the sun climbing above the horizon. Two wood pigeons and a black-headed gull flew over. Now looking onto the pavement Mr. Kite noticed a shiny black carrion crow opening a paper wrapper to eat the chips inside. The crow then pulled out long square chips and devoured them. So Mr. Kite has something in common with a carrion crow; that is they both like chips. Yesterday Mr. Kite was very greedy and had Marstons English Pale Ale and chips. Returning home Mr. Kite drunk plenty of Becks before buying more chips from the chippie to make chip butties. Luckily the local chippie is one of the best and the crow was enjoying some discarded chips from this chippie.
The thought of chips and beer curtailed Mr. Kites birding activity for the day although he did listen to a flock of house sparrows chirping in the warm autumn sunshine. A short spell in The Observatory on the third floor of The Residence produced a few starlings but the view of The Berwyn Mountains was pretty stunning.
After a leisurely morning Mr. Kite settled down for a tipple of Leffe Triple and Shepherd Neame 1698. Now carrion crows might eat up discarded chips in the street but Mr. Kite will not encourage them to drink good beer because he makes sure that every drop is drunk and dregs are not left in the bottle. Cheers to all those chip chomping carrion crows.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom into a blue sky with the sun climbing above the horizon. Two wood pigeons and a black-headed gull flew over. Now looking onto the pavement Mr. Kite noticed a shiny black carrion crow opening a paper wrapper to eat the chips inside. The crow then pulled out long square chips and devoured them. So Mr. Kite has something in common with a carrion crow; that is they both like chips. Yesterday Mr. Kite was very greedy and had Marstons English Pale Ale and chips. Returning home Mr. Kite drunk plenty of Becks before buying more chips from the chippie to make chip butties. Luckily the local chippie is one of the best and the crow was enjoying some discarded chips from this chippie.
The thought of chips and beer curtailed Mr. Kites birding activity for the day although he did listen to a flock of house sparrows chirping in the warm autumn sunshine. A short spell in The Observatory on the third floor of The Residence produced a few starlings but the view of The Berwyn Mountains was pretty stunning.
After a leisurely morning Mr. Kite settled down for a tipple of Leffe Triple and Shepherd Neame 1698. Now carrion crows might eat up discarded chips in the street but Mr. Kite will not encourage them to drink good beer because he makes sure that every drop is drunk and dregs are not left in the bottle. Cheers to all those chip chomping carrion crows.
Saturday 5 November 2011
Saturday 5th November (Remember, Remember the Fifth of November)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a white sky. The few remaining leaves on the lime tree fluttered gently in the wind. Now Mr. Kite being a bird-watcher looked out for birds to identify and watch their behaviour. To cut a long story short he did not see any birds and therefore has nothing ornithological to write about.
However Mr. Kite is yet to decide whether he is 'bird-brained'; that is having a small brain and being silly. Now yesterday Mr. Kite drank an enormous amount of London Pride, Abbot Ale and Becks; now that is silly because he ended the day in a fuzzy daze. But he did learn one term and that is 'library cormorant'; a few words used to describe Samuel Taylor Coleridge who wrote The Ancient Mariner; a poem with an albatross.
So the birds are not out there in the trees but in here; in Mr. Kite's brain. Today Mr. Kite and His Lady walked about one hundred meters to the nearby pub. Inside they sat down and talked to family, ate pasta and chips. Now Mr. Kite drank beer from Cornwall and plenty of Marstons English Pale Ale. Cheers.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a white sky. The few remaining leaves on the lime tree fluttered gently in the wind. Now Mr. Kite being a bird-watcher looked out for birds to identify and watch their behaviour. To cut a long story short he did not see any birds and therefore has nothing ornithological to write about.
However Mr. Kite is yet to decide whether he is 'bird-brained'; that is having a small brain and being silly. Now yesterday Mr. Kite drank an enormous amount of London Pride, Abbot Ale and Becks; now that is silly because he ended the day in a fuzzy daze. But he did learn one term and that is 'library cormorant'; a few words used to describe Samuel Taylor Coleridge who wrote The Ancient Mariner; a poem with an albatross.
So the birds are not out there in the trees but in here; in Mr. Kite's brain. Today Mr. Kite and His Lady walked about one hundred meters to the nearby pub. Inside they sat down and talked to family, ate pasta and chips. Now Mr. Kite drank beer from Cornwall and plenty of Marstons English Pale Ale. Cheers.
Friday 4 November 2011
Friday 4th November (Just Another Day)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a dull morning, Now today Mr. Kite felt dull. In fact Mr. Kite was exceedingly dull but he mounted The Beast and cycled along those Salop roads. To cut a long story short Mr. Kite cycled and cycled and cycled. He watched blue titis, great tits, meadow pipits, chaffinch, ravens and all the common birds of Shropshire.
Now Mr. Kite cycled over The Stiperstones and Long Mynd in the rain. Just before descending into Church Stretton down The Burway Mr. Kite stopped to look at The Little Pond. where The Star had his final moments. Sadly, sadly and more sadly Mr. Kite looked at the spot where The Star ended his life.
Today Mr. Kite had a tipple of London Pride. No cheers, no fun but immense pain. Cheers from a bird-watcher.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a dull morning, Now today Mr. Kite felt dull. In fact Mr. Kite was exceedingly dull but he mounted The Beast and cycled along those Salop roads. To cut a long story short Mr. Kite cycled and cycled and cycled. He watched blue titis, great tits, meadow pipits, chaffinch, ravens and all the common birds of Shropshire.
Now Mr. Kite cycled over The Stiperstones and Long Mynd in the rain. Just before descending into Church Stretton down The Burway Mr. Kite stopped to look at The Little Pond. where The Star had his final moments. Sadly, sadly and more sadly Mr. Kite looked at the spot where The Star ended his life.
Today Mr. Kite had a tipple of London Pride. No cheers, no fun but immense pain. Cheers from a bird-watcher.
Thursday 3 November 2011
Thursday 3rd November (Not a Twitch to Twitch but some Birding Correspondence)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a lightish sky and wet road. The rain had passed by and the few remaining thin clouds sailed smoothly across the sky. Now looking into the lime trees Mr. Kite thought that recently the birds had not perched in these trees. Today there was nowhere to hide in the almost bare trees for the large doves and pigeons. Looking carefully into four trees Mr. Kite could not see any sign of bird life.
Now this morning Mr. Kite received a letter from his M.P. asking for his permission to raise the issue of the release of non-native into Floreat Salopia with The Minister. So Mr. Kite's name will soon be spoken in 'The Corridors of Power'.
Also another birding issue reached Mr. Kite this morning. Yes an e-mail popped into the inbox from a bird. JayW contacted Mr. Kite offering him the Early Bird Savings on a Christmas crate of wine. Now this is strange correspondence; a jay offering a kite a crate of Early Bird wine. At the moment Mr. Kite does not need any early bird wines as the early bird has stocked up with Becks and Abbot Ale.
After answering the birding correspondence Mr. Kite saddled The Beast and cycled to Venus Pool where the dry soil is being replaced by wet mud. To cut a long story short Mr. Kite scanned the outside of the pool and recognised the usual residents before watching a grey heron fishing in the centre of the pool.
This grey heron casually plucked sprats from the shallow water without moving far. Then two goosander dropped in to join the heron and quickly dived below the surface and circled the static heron raising their heads occasionally to reposition small fry so that they had an easy route to the stomach. Now the submerged goosander disturbed the small fish so much that they leapt out of the water to escape their sawbills. This attracted the attention of black-headed gulls. These birds then flew slowly or barely hovered above the water surface dropping quickly onto fish that had leapt out of the water as they splashed back into the water before they had time to gain control of their movements. This feeding frenzy lasted about ten minutes.
When the goosander had finished their gourmet meal they flew away leaving the gulls to fend for themselves. The gulls soon returned to the mud for easy prey leaving the grey heron happily picking out luscious silvery sprats and sometimes a much larger fish. It seemed to Mr. Kite that perhaps the grey heron had ate so much it could not move.
With rain starting to fall Mr. Kite returned home for a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers from a Mr. Kite who enjoyed bird-watching today at V.P.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a lightish sky and wet road. The rain had passed by and the few remaining thin clouds sailed smoothly across the sky. Now looking into the lime trees Mr. Kite thought that recently the birds had not perched in these trees. Today there was nowhere to hide in the almost bare trees for the large doves and pigeons. Looking carefully into four trees Mr. Kite could not see any sign of bird life.
Now this morning Mr. Kite received a letter from his M.P. asking for his permission to raise the issue of the release of non-native into Floreat Salopia with The Minister. So Mr. Kite's name will soon be spoken in 'The Corridors of Power'.
Also another birding issue reached Mr. Kite this morning. Yes an e-mail popped into the inbox from a bird. JayW contacted Mr. Kite offering him the Early Bird Savings on a Christmas crate of wine. Now this is strange correspondence; a jay offering a kite a crate of Early Bird wine. At the moment Mr. Kite does not need any early bird wines as the early bird has stocked up with Becks and Abbot Ale.
After answering the birding correspondence Mr. Kite saddled The Beast and cycled to Venus Pool where the dry soil is being replaced by wet mud. To cut a long story short Mr. Kite scanned the outside of the pool and recognised the usual residents before watching a grey heron fishing in the centre of the pool.
This grey heron casually plucked sprats from the shallow water without moving far. Then two goosander dropped in to join the heron and quickly dived below the surface and circled the static heron raising their heads occasionally to reposition small fry so that they had an easy route to the stomach. Now the submerged goosander disturbed the small fish so much that they leapt out of the water to escape their sawbills. This attracted the attention of black-headed gulls. These birds then flew slowly or barely hovered above the water surface dropping quickly onto fish that had leapt out of the water as they splashed back into the water before they had time to gain control of their movements. This feeding frenzy lasted about ten minutes.
When the goosander had finished their gourmet meal they flew away leaving the gulls to fend for themselves. The gulls soon returned to the mud for easy prey leaving the grey heron happily picking out luscious silvery sprats and sometimes a much larger fish. It seemed to Mr. Kite that perhaps the grey heron had ate so much it could not move.
With rain starting to fall Mr. Kite returned home for a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers from a Mr. Kite who enjoyed bird-watching today at V.P.
Wednesday 2 November 2011
Wednesday 2nd November (Twitch, Twitch; Twitch Twitch)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a threatening grey sky. The nearly bare lime tree was struggling to hold onto its remaining leaves in the breeze. Today Mr. Kite had a plan.
Now Mr. Kite firstly set out to Polemere via The Quarry where he stopped to watch mute swans, black-headed gulls and two goosander being fed by old ladies with stale sliced white bread. Cycling towards Polemere was a little tough in the headwind but wood pigeons flew overhead and corvids fed in the fields. Mr. Kite arrived at Polemere to see a large flock of greylag geese lazily sitting around the waters edge. Mallards, teal and lapwings were in the shallows. Redwings and fieldfare fed on the hawthorn and elderberries in the surrounding hedgerows. So Polemere was busy place; so busy it attracted the attention of Mr. Red Fox who appeared and looked enviously at the ducks and geese who had of measure of Old Raynard as they kept a wary eye on him. Whilst some birds kept their heads down enjoying a kip others quacked and croaked informing Raynard that they knew his tricks.
In the brisk wind Mr. Kite cycled through Lea Cross and into Condover where he rode through the ford and headed to an unnamed small pool that is hidden from the road. Today on this pool the colour scheme was black and white with a flock of canadian geese and a few tufted ducks. Snipe Bog and Berrington Pool were empty and finally Monkmoor Lagoon is becoming home for an increasing number of birds including grey herons, moorhens and coots. Colourful bullfinches popped over the boundary fence to add red, blue and grey to the colour. At one o'clock Mr. Kite arrived home following a good morning watching birds.
Time for a Twitch
At two-thirty Mr. Kite's birding companion arrived at The Residence and The Incapacitants set out for a twitch; not just a twitch but a mega twitch. Today mode of travel was The New Car although given more time and a favourable wind The Incapacitants would have cycled there.
Thirty minutes later The Incapacitants walked from a temporary grassy car park with cow muck and sheep turds dalloped out around a few cars at Wall Farm Telford. Following a well trod track The Incapacitants walked along a hedgerow past a hide, over a wooden bridge and into a wetland field where a group of 'twitchers' had gathered on the far side. Today the quiet wetlands and pools had been invaded and the bird sanctuary forgotten about because of the mega twitch.
On reaching the group of twitchers Mr. Kite set up The Super Scope so as to focus on a hedgerow about one hundred metres away. A minute later the cry went up, "There she blows", or something similar and Mr. Kite saw a dark shape with some white patches on its wing drop down behind the hedge. Now that could not be counted as a 'tick in the book'.
Two mintues later The Twitchers sprang to life and equipment was focused on 'The Phallic shaped Tree'. Sitting on the right hand side was a blackbird sized bird with a white breast, grey back with some black streaks. The Incapacitants had a good view for about ten seconds before the bird dropped down, revealing long narrow wings with largish white patches on its wing.
At that point most of The Twitchers put a 'lifer tick' in their book and set off to the country car park decorated with turds. Now Mr. Kite could put a tick in his book but decided that he wanted a better view; so The Incapacitants stayed on with 'Two other Twitchers'. The light was fading and a large murmuration of starling appeared on the skyline and 'The Target of the Twitch' came to life. Sitting here, sitting there, moving left, moving right, dropping to the floor, flying to The Phallic Tree, resting here and resting there the bird was viewed in much more detail.
Slightly shorter than the grey grey shrike and with a lighter beak and with a shorter streak over the eye; and showing more white this was a mega twitch. The bird in The Superscope was a steppe grey shrike; LANIUS MERIDIONALIS PALLIDIROSTRIS: wow.
The show continued and the 'mega lifer tick' was put in the book just as a few unfortunate working twitchers arrived after a frustrating day in the workplace waiting for the minute that they could take off their shackles and do what Mr. Kite can do any time; watch birds. Their visit was also rewarded.
So a quarter to five The Incapacitants called it a day and returned home. Mr. Kite settled down to a celebratory tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers from a happy Mr. Kite who is colouring in his 'mega lifer tick'.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a threatening grey sky. The nearly bare lime tree was struggling to hold onto its remaining leaves in the breeze. Today Mr. Kite had a plan.
Now Mr. Kite firstly set out to Polemere via The Quarry where he stopped to watch mute swans, black-headed gulls and two goosander being fed by old ladies with stale sliced white bread. Cycling towards Polemere was a little tough in the headwind but wood pigeons flew overhead and corvids fed in the fields. Mr. Kite arrived at Polemere to see a large flock of greylag geese lazily sitting around the waters edge. Mallards, teal and lapwings were in the shallows. Redwings and fieldfare fed on the hawthorn and elderberries in the surrounding hedgerows. So Polemere was busy place; so busy it attracted the attention of Mr. Red Fox who appeared and looked enviously at the ducks and geese who had of measure of Old Raynard as they kept a wary eye on him. Whilst some birds kept their heads down enjoying a kip others quacked and croaked informing Raynard that they knew his tricks.
In the brisk wind Mr. Kite cycled through Lea Cross and into Condover where he rode through the ford and headed to an unnamed small pool that is hidden from the road. Today on this pool the colour scheme was black and white with a flock of canadian geese and a few tufted ducks. Snipe Bog and Berrington Pool were empty and finally Monkmoor Lagoon is becoming home for an increasing number of birds including grey herons, moorhens and coots. Colourful bullfinches popped over the boundary fence to add red, blue and grey to the colour. At one o'clock Mr. Kite arrived home following a good morning watching birds.
Time for a Twitch
At two-thirty Mr. Kite's birding companion arrived at The Residence and The Incapacitants set out for a twitch; not just a twitch but a mega twitch. Today mode of travel was The New Car although given more time and a favourable wind The Incapacitants would have cycled there.
Thirty minutes later The Incapacitants walked from a temporary grassy car park with cow muck and sheep turds dalloped out around a few cars at Wall Farm Telford. Following a well trod track The Incapacitants walked along a hedgerow past a hide, over a wooden bridge and into a wetland field where a group of 'twitchers' had gathered on the far side. Today the quiet wetlands and pools had been invaded and the bird sanctuary forgotten about because of the mega twitch.
On reaching the group of twitchers Mr. Kite set up The Super Scope so as to focus on a hedgerow about one hundred metres away. A minute later the cry went up, "There she blows", or something similar and Mr. Kite saw a dark shape with some white patches on its wing drop down behind the hedge. Now that could not be counted as a 'tick in the book'.
Two mintues later The Twitchers sprang to life and equipment was focused on 'The Phallic shaped Tree'. Sitting on the right hand side was a blackbird sized bird with a white breast, grey back with some black streaks. The Incapacitants had a good view for about ten seconds before the bird dropped down, revealing long narrow wings with largish white patches on its wing.
At that point most of The Twitchers put a 'lifer tick' in their book and set off to the country car park decorated with turds. Now Mr. Kite could put a tick in his book but decided that he wanted a better view; so The Incapacitants stayed on with 'Two other Twitchers'. The light was fading and a large murmuration of starling appeared on the skyline and 'The Target of the Twitch' came to life. Sitting here, sitting there, moving left, moving right, dropping to the floor, flying to The Phallic Tree, resting here and resting there the bird was viewed in much more detail.
Slightly shorter than the grey grey shrike and with a lighter beak and with a shorter streak over the eye; and showing more white this was a mega twitch. The bird in The Superscope was a steppe grey shrike; LANIUS MERIDIONALIS PALLIDIROSTRIS: wow.
The show continued and the 'mega lifer tick' was put in the book just as a few unfortunate working twitchers arrived after a frustrating day in the workplace waiting for the minute that they could take off their shackles and do what Mr. Kite can do any time; watch birds. Their visit was also rewarded.
So a quarter to five The Incapacitants called it a day and returned home. Mr. Kite settled down to a celebratory tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers from a happy Mr. Kite who is colouring in his 'mega lifer tick'.
Tuesday 1 November 2011
Tuesday 1st November (Floreat Salopia: May Shropshire Thrive)
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a blue sunny sky. The lime trees lining the road showed more branches and twigs than leaves. The remaining leaves quivered gently in the morning breeze.
Now back in Salop the 'big birding news' is that a Steppe Grey Shrike has landed at Wall Farm. Of course the debate is now about whether it is a version of the Southern Grey Shrike. Mr. Kite does not have too much time today otherwise he would have saddled The Beast and headed east but with the lack of time The Beast will be saddled and west will be best.
So in the morning Mr. Kite set out for a short trip in Salop where it was noted that there is plenty of wildlife and birds. After the dismal display in London Mr. Kite enjoyed cycling along spotting starlings, jackdaws, collared doves, wood pigeons and many others. Stopping at Atcham Bridge Mr. Kite looked up to see rooks and buzzards and down to see mallards and mute swans. This is what Mr. Kite calls bird-watching. Heading towards Venus Pool Mr. Kite saw redwings and blackbirds in the hedge mixing with dunnocks and robins.
Floreat Salopia was in good form. Now that the rain had turned the dry mud into small puddles, Venus Pool was looking like a bird reserve where the birds looked as though they were enjoying life rather than sitting idly on the newly formed ups and downs. The wet ground was encouraging black-headed gulls to peck at the new mud joined by moorhens. The pool had mallards, teal, shoveler, goosander and a pied wagtail looking at the busy birds.
Soon it was time to spy on the trout pool to see a large flock of canada geese, many coots, a few great-created grebes and one solitary whooper swan with a super yellow bill. With Floreat Salopia living up to its name Mr. Kite made a visit to Monkmoor Lagoon to watch mute swans, mallards and cormorants. After a busy day Mr. Kite arrived home as the darkness replaced the daylight and celebrated with a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers from a happy Mr. Kite and a drink for 'Floreat Salopia'.
Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a blue sunny sky. The lime trees lining the road showed more branches and twigs than leaves. The remaining leaves quivered gently in the morning breeze.
Now back in Salop the 'big birding news' is that a Steppe Grey Shrike has landed at Wall Farm. Of course the debate is now about whether it is a version of the Southern Grey Shrike. Mr. Kite does not have too much time today otherwise he would have saddled The Beast and headed east but with the lack of time The Beast will be saddled and west will be best.
So in the morning Mr. Kite set out for a short trip in Salop where it was noted that there is plenty of wildlife and birds. After the dismal display in London Mr. Kite enjoyed cycling along spotting starlings, jackdaws, collared doves, wood pigeons and many others. Stopping at Atcham Bridge Mr. Kite looked up to see rooks and buzzards and down to see mallards and mute swans. This is what Mr. Kite calls bird-watching. Heading towards Venus Pool Mr. Kite saw redwings and blackbirds in the hedge mixing with dunnocks and robins.
Floreat Salopia was in good form. Now that the rain had turned the dry mud into small puddles, Venus Pool was looking like a bird reserve where the birds looked as though they were enjoying life rather than sitting idly on the newly formed ups and downs. The wet ground was encouraging black-headed gulls to peck at the new mud joined by moorhens. The pool had mallards, teal, shoveler, goosander and a pied wagtail looking at the busy birds.
Soon it was time to spy on the trout pool to see a large flock of canada geese, many coots, a few great-created grebes and one solitary whooper swan with a super yellow bill. With Floreat Salopia living up to its name Mr. Kite made a visit to Monkmoor Lagoon to watch mute swans, mallards and cormorants. After a busy day Mr. Kite arrived home as the darkness replaced the daylight and celebrated with a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers from a happy Mr. Kite and a drink for 'Floreat Salopia'.
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