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'.