Tuesday 1st January (Let the New Year Begin)

In the dark early hours of that January morning Mr. Kite was awake and looking forward to a day of cycling and watching birds. Outside in the street the silence was only broken by an occasional car that travelled down the road. Not a bird sang, not a leaf stirred. Mr. Kite was listening and waiting and putting on the kettle.

This was unusual for New Year's Day because Mr. Kite did not have a hangover. Having only had a little brandy at midnight Mr. Kite was quite together and clear-headed. So just after dawn Mr. KIte stood in the garden looking at more than half of a moon as a flock of birds flew in front of it.

The only sounds were pigeons. Then a lone wood pigeon flew and fluttered and landed in the pear tree in the next garden. The first tick of the year. Looking onto the house roof Mr. Kite noticed that a black and white feral pigeon that likes the chimney was gazing at Mr. Kite.

So Mr. Kite made a cup of coffee and filled a flask before saddling The Bike and setting off to watch birds, identify birds and enjoy himself. Riding towards the Castle Walk Mr. Kite spotted starlings and blackbirds. Mr. Kite had cycled to the river to see the floods. From the bridge Mr. Kite watched blue tits and long-tailed tits feed in a tree.

On the way Mr. Kite took a detour to Springfield Mere. Here there were mallard, a mute swan, a goosander. 

Mr. Kite then decided to go to Venus Pool because of the swollen river and some flooded roads. On the way he spotted a magpie, dunnock, wren, jackdaw, collared dove, and in the sky about ten lesser-black-backed gulls flew over.

Reaching the country lanes Mr. Kite slowed down to scour the fileds that were sodden and ousing water. The gutters were a torrent of water racing towards culverts and drains. Often the flooded fields attract waders but toady none could be see. However two common buzzards sat in a muddy field picking at the sloppy surface. In the hedgerows Mr. Kite noticed chaffinch and great tits.

At Eaton Mascott Mr. Kite watched common pheasant, goldfinch, yellowhammer, house sparrow. Soon Mr. Kite was at V.P. where many bird-watchers were starting their year list. With nearly as many bird-watchers as birds Mr. Kite spotted coot, greylag goose, lapwing, teal, wigeon, gadwall, tufted duck and 40 common snipe.

On the reserve Mr. Kite ticked off robin, marsh tit, rook, great crested grebe and linnet.

Normally Mr. Kite would have cycled from Venus Pool to Attingham Park for a look into the bare trees for woodland birds but this year the plan had to be changed. Last year ended with the patter of rain and began with the sound of running water. So when Mr. Kite ignored radio warning of a road closure between Cross Houses and Atcham due to the flooding of the River Severn he got his new sandels and new socks wet before abandoning the plan and forgetting about Attingham Park until another day.

On the New Year's Day as usual Mr. Kite went to Monkmoor Lagoon for the last part of the day as the air cooled and the day turned to dusk. When he got there the pool was bare except a flying pied wagtail, a kestrel and six stock doves sitting on a pole.

At about 1630 the daylight faded, the owls were silent and Mr. Kite celebrated the start of a new year with an Old Speckled Hen. Cheers.

Monday 31st December (Back to Life)

The year of 2012 is drawing to a close. The sky is darkening, the light is fading and Mr. Kite is preparing himself for 2013 and another year of cycling and bird-watching amongst other things.

Today Mr. Kite cleaned his bicycle, checked his saddle-bags and put the finishing touches to his diary and planner. Tomorrow is the start of a New Year and new adventures. There will be birds to identify, roads to cycle down and a world full of nature. Mr. Kite will be there writing and recording his sightings and his thoughts.

So now that it is dark outside and the birds have gone home to roost Mr. Kite will draw the curtains and shut the outside world out until 'the new dawn'.

Monday 15th October (Fifteen Minutes in a Garden of Peace)

At one thirty in the afternoon Mr. Kite and His Lady sat in a garden of rest waiting for a funeral cortege to arrive.

For fifteen minutes Mr. Kite thought and watched the birds in the garden. Jays, jackdaws, carrion crows and magpies were making the most of a sunny peaceful garden.

Later in the afternoon Mr. Kite enjoyed a pint of Shropshire Lad. Cheers.

Monday 3rd September (The Indian Summer Continues)

Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into another blue sky. A great tit was calling and a pair of wood pigeons were cooing. The lime tree showed their fruit and the dying leaves were falling.

This was September with a prickle in the air, damp surfaces and autumn was starting. Mr. Kite was now trying to get back to nature now that the summer was leaving.

Sunday 2nd September (Buzzards Overhead)

Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a blue sky. The Indian Summer had arrived and Mr. Kite enjoyed the sight of the sun. Today Mr. Kite was busy but he did have time to watch common buzzards soaring over his garden in the warm sunny air.

Saturday 1st September (Autumn is Starting)

Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a blue sky where the sun shone. It was quiet in the road and the dark green leaves on the lime trees showed that autumn was approaching. Yellow and brown leaves lay on the ground confirming that the trees would gradually loose their foliage in the next months.

Today Mr. Kite had a plan following a slow start. At eleven o'clock he rode The Flying Pigeon towards Venus Pool. As a result of a week without cycling Mr. Kite took his time as he cycled along the country lanes. Pheasants were prominent and a few birds flitted in the hedgerows. Soon Mr. Kite was at V.P.

A flock of greylag geese took off and soon formed into a v-shape before heading away from the pool. On the pool canada geese, mute swans, coots, moorhens and cormorants were evident. With the duck in eclipse Mr. Kite looked carefully at each one to identify them. Plenty of mallards as expected and some more signs of autumn with at least six shovelers.

On the pool another duck appeared on the far side. Was it a tufted duck? It looked like one but was busy diving and could not be watched for long. Eventually it showed itself to be a male tuftie.

So autumn is arriving and Mr. Kite looked around the edge for waders butnone could be seen. But the birds are moving and it is time to go bird-watching.

Mr. Kite returned home for a bottle of Young's Bitter. Cheers.

Friday 10th August (Birds and Reptiles)

Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a clear blue sky. Today he was going for two hours with his birding companion to look at the birds of Shropshire.

At ten o'clock The Incapacitants were in competition with an expected bird count in the twenties. To cut a long story short the usual birds were ticked off before they arrived at The Mere where mallard, coot and moorhen were spotted. But sitting on a stump in the water was a terrapin. This was a sizeable specimen with a black shell, long black neck and a pointed snout. Basking in the warm sunshine this black thing seemed at home in a muddy pool.

Moving on The Incapacitants cycled to Atcham to watch sand martins prepare for their trip to Africa and a barnacle goose pretening to be canadian; but it's smaller size and coluring gave it away.

Lastly after a visit to V.P. The Incapacitants mangaed to cycle each side of a grass snake that tried to outpace them along the road before disappearing into a worm sized hole in the verge. With thirty three species of bird spotted the competition was a draw.

Friday 6th July (Back in Blighty)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window in the early morning to see the Enlish Channel lapping on the shores of Sandgate. Herring gulls and black-headed gulls were feeding in the receding tide. Mr. Kite watched these birds as they grabbed ' the fruits of the sea'.

Soon Mr. Kite and His lady were heading for Abbey Wood and a few days in London.

Monday 25th June (The Seaside)

Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window.

Sunday 26th June (Oricain)

Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window.

Saturday 25th June (More of Pamplona)

Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a blue sky.

Friday 22nd June (The Running of the Bulls)

Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a blue sky. Today mr. Kite was heading for Pamplona to walk the route used in 'the running of the bulls'. Starting near the Museum of Navarre Mr. Kite planned to follow the arrows to Plaza de Toros.

Thursday 21st June (Back to Spain)

Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window onto St. Jean Pied de Port where a scop's owl was 'bleeping'. Today Mr. Kite was off to Espana and Pamplona.

Wednesday 20th June (Camino de Santiago)

Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a blue sky over The Pyrenees. Today Mr. Kite had a plan to cycle the first ten miles of 'the pilgrimage' towards Santiago de Compestella.

Tuesday 19th June (The Hedgehog Trap)

Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a cloudy morning. A rustling noise had caught his attention. Down below a hedgehog was walking around with a peanut wrapper on it's head. Now that is very unusual. Mr. Kite recognised the wrapper as the one he put in the bin last night. The hedgehog had put it's head into the rubbish and picked the final bits out

Monday 18th June (St. Jean Pied de Port)

Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a cloudy sky. Today Mr. Kite headed to Saint Jean Pied de Port in cloud and showers. To cut a long story short Mr. Kite spotted booted eagles, griffon vultures and watch dippers feeding in the clear stream that passes through St. Jean.

Sunday 17th June (Cool and Cloudy)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a cloudy sky. The only bird song was a wood pigeon. Spring had only a few more days left. House sparrows chirped but spring was now turning into summer.

In the morning Mr. Kite cycled to Biarritz airport to watch a few other things flying and a kestrel.

Saturday 16th June (Back to France)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a clear blue sky. The air was already warm.

However today Mr. Kite and His Lady were returning to France. So with The Joint packed they set off from Villafranca to Biarritz. However on the way Mr. Kite drove into the desert for a last look at the crested larks and woodlarks.

Driving over the mountains Mr. Kite spotted lots of griffon vultures and red kites. In the early afternoon Mr. Kite arrived in a cool cloudy Biarritz.

Soon Mr. Kite was enjoying a tipple of San Miguel. Cheers.

Friday 15th June (To the Reservoir)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a blue sky. There was no dawn chorus. Today mr. Kite had a plan.

In the morning Mr. Kite set out to Embrial ed el Ferial; a reservoir. On the way nightingales could be heard. Seventeen miles later Mr. Kite was on the 'dam wall' looking at one great crested grebe. Searching the area Mr. Kite located house sparrows, bee-eaters and possibly lesser kestrels. For one hour Mr. Kite watched the fish in the lake and the birds.

In the heat it was time to move on. So a descent into Caparroso was followed by an ascent into the deserted village of San Nicolas where house sparrows and pied wheatears were on show. As the heat increased Mr. Kite decided it was time for a tipple.

He returned to The Joint for an Aurum Pilsen. Cheers from a scorching Spain.  

Thursday 14th June (La Blanca Baja)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window intoa blue sunny sky. A few house sparrows were chirping. Spring was drawing to a close and the dawn chorus was quieter or not at all. Today Mr. Kite had a plan.

On this sunny morning Mr. Kite cycled through Arguedas and into The Bardenas Reales of Navarre. On the way Mr. Kite spotted woodlarks, crested larks and thekla larks. In the La Bardena Blanca it was hot, bare and desert like; similar to the Wild West. Plenty of larks and linnets were on show with a few subalpine warblers. However spot of the day was a black-eared wheatear that perched on a fence post.

It was too hot in La Blanca so Mr. Kite returned leisurely to The Joint stopping on the way to investigate the 'paddy fields' where cattle egrets, little egrets and black-winged stilts fed in the damp earth.

Mr. Kite returned to The Joint for a tipple of Mahou Classica. Cheers.

Wednesday 13th June (To The Park)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a cloudy sky. Gradually the cloud dispersed and the sun shone warming the earth.

Vultures soon appeared in numbers of around thirty. They circled high and then dropped down into a field just over the horizon. Mr. Kite saddled The machine and headed towards Caparosso. On the way black kites. red kites, honey buzzards and booted eagles were watched. Serins, woodlarks and crested larks were numerous on the side of the road.

To cut a long story short Mr. Kite did not reach his objective; a lake in the park. But he did watch lots of birds and had a good view of a golden oriole. Mr. Kite returned in the afternoon to watch more griffon vultures and enjoy a tipple of Aurum Pilsen. Cheers.

Tuesday 12th June (Pastures New)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a bluish sky. The rain had stopped and the sun was showing in a partly cloudy sky.

Today Mr. Kite was on the move to Villafranca near Parque Natural de las Bardenas Reales. On arrival Mr. Kite watched black kites and house sparrows. The area looked promising in the emerging sunshine.

Monday 11th June (Bird-watching in Haro: The Spanish Way)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window onto a wet grassy camp-site. The scop's owl had stopped bleeping and the heavens had opened.

Today Mr. Kite had a plan to listen to, locate and identify the birds of Haro. In the still morning air with the sun shining Mr. Kite prepared himself by listening to a serin and finding it in a tree nearby. Slowly the wind speed increased and the leaves on the trees went horizon so Mr. Kite and His Lady headed for the square in Haro to watch the birds.

White storks flew around their nests. The landing required great skill in the strong wind and eddys from the buildings: but turning into the wind. lowering legs and a power flap here and there, the landing manoeuvre was completed with a graceful controlled touch-down.

Sitting in a street cafe drinking Rioja is a Spanish way to watch birds. In the low trees house sparrows chirped and flitted around as they caught small insects and picked up morsels of food left by the cafe customers.

Overhead kestrels, booted eagles and black kites looked for stragglers and birds that were off-guard. So for a few hours Mr. Kite and His Lady watched birds; the Spanish way. A glass of Rioja, a pincho tortilla and a plate of patata bravas enhanced the experience.

After watching Rafa Nadal win the French Open Mr. Kite and His Lady returned to The Joint to watch black kites, booted eagles and England play football.

Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of San Miguel. Cheers.

Sunday 10th June (Windy Spain)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a cloudy sky.  Today Mr. Kite had a plan to identify all the birds singing in the area.

To cut a long story short Mr. Kite's plans were abandoned because of the strong wind.

But Mr. Kite did enjoy a few tipples of Mahou Classica. Cheers.

Saturday 9th June (Cool and Cloudy and an Adder)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint into a cool and cloudy sky. The camp-site was full of camping vans and tents. Overhead swifts flew and two hot air balloons were blown in the breeze and from a poplar tree a golden oriole called.

Today Spain was in festive mood and holidaying so Mr. Kite and His Lady went into Haro to eat tapas and drink Rioja. From the street cafes they watched white storks adding more twigs to their nests.

On the way back to the camp-site Mr. Kite and His Lady came across an adder basking in the evening sunshine on the pavement. As the pavement was quite busy Mr. Kite thought that it was better for the reptile to move out of the way of the people and onto the other side of a low wall.

Mr. Kite picked up a stick to encourage the viper to move and gently eased it towards the wall. However the snake bite the stick and was quite aggressive and reluctant to move. Now Mr. Kite thought about picking it up by it's tail but the adder was not keen on being touched; so Mr. Kite and His Lady had to rethink the plan. Looking around Mr. Kite noticed an old glove and a flat piece of wood. The snake was then scooped up and popped over the wall.

Soon Mr. Kite was enjoying an Aurum Special. Cheers to the adder and his future.

Friday 8th June (Some Rain in Spain)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a cloudy sky where there were some blue bits. Orioles and serins could be heard and overhead lots of swifts screeched through the air.

Mr. Kite had a lazy morning but in the afternoon went for a short ride on The Machine to San Felice stopping to watch woodlarks and red kites. Serins tinkled from the side of the road and corn buntings made similar sounds.

With clouds increasing and rain looking likely Mr. Kite returned to The Joint. Sitting enjoying a tipple of Tetley tea Mr. Kite watched a booted eagle soar, dive, glide, soar, circle, dive soar and dive out of view. The only explanation seemed to be that this eagle enjoyed the freedom of the air.

Later Mr. Kite had a tipple of Mahou Classica. Cheers.

Thursday 7th June (Hello from Haro)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into an evergreen oak where a great tit sat. Better still on a nearby pine tree two golden orioles flirted and called. In the shaded wood their feathers looked golden.

Soon Mr. Kite and His Lady were on the road travelling towards the Roman ruins of Clunia Sulpicia. Perched in a hollow at more than 1000 metres overlooking a plain the remains were the impressive remains of a Roman City.

Then Mr. Kite and His Lady followed the tourist route through the mountains towards Burgos. At one point about fifty griffon vultures circled around the side of a mountain.

Soon Mr. Kite was on a camp-site in Haro sitting in pleasant warm sunshine. Looking around Mr. Kite watched griffon vultures, white storks, black kites and a booted eagle. In the warm air the booted eagle soared to a great height before dropping down rapidly.

In the evening Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple or two of San Miguel. Cheers from the Rioja region of Spain.

Wednesday 6th June (A Cooler Day)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a cloudy sky. A scop's owl had just finished calling and a golden oriole now started as a woodpecker drummed quietly on a tree. It was cloudy and cool under the evergreen oak trees.

Later in the morning Mr. Kite set out along the BU-925 through Quemada, Zazuar and onto the impressive skyline of Penaranda de Duero. Overhead booted eagles mixed with black kites and two honey buzzards made an appearance.

On the ground crested larks and woodlarks were plentiful. One golden oriole made a flight across a road. To cut a long story short Mr. Kite did not watch too many birds. Returning to the camp-site via Aranda de Duero Mr. Kite went into a local park to see lots of captive ducks. Poor things.

With more than forty miles covered Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Mahou Classica. Cheers.

Tuesday 5th June (Plenty of Bird Song)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a lightening sky. A scop'sowl was desperately calling for a friend. A nightingale sat in a low bush singing.

In the morning Mr. Kite had a trip along a road to Banos deValearados stopping on the way to watch more wodlarks, northern wheatears, booted eagles, griffon vultures and crested larks. On a church in Banos de Valearados a pair of white storks 'smackered' for a godd half hour. Their loud clackig of beaks could be heard all over the town.

Mr. Kite returned slowly down a quiet road and into Villanvea de Gumiel where cetti's warblers called from the banks a of a trickle of water that was once a river.

Following a warm day cycling Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Ambar 1900. Cheers from a place where the Romans had left their mark.

Monday 4th June (A Few More Azure-winged Magpies)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into the nest of a spotless starling. Soon Mr. Kite and His Lady would be traveling to Aranda de Deuro.

Just after lunch-time Mr. Kite and His Lady sat on a camp site amongst pine trees listening to golden orioles, hoopoes and chaffinch.

In the late afternoon Mr. Kite went for a short trip in the warm sunshine and watched woodlarks.

Returning to the camp site Mr. Kite once again met an old friend; the azure-winged magpie. Now Mr. Kite was surprised to find these birds so far north.

Soon it was time for a Mahou Classica. Cheers.

Sunday 3rd June (Sunday in Sunny Spain)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a bit of blue sky. Twenty metres away a golden oriole called before moving to another trees. The house sparrows were chirping and a hoopoe was calling for a mate.

The black kite was scouring the sheep pasture for food. This was a sunny Sunday in Spain.

Saturday 2nd June (El Acueducto)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window and in the distance the mountains still had some snow. A black kite flew slowly over a meadow looking for food.

Later in the morning Mr. Kite and His Lady travelled on the bus into Segovia. The bus stopped by a splendid acueducto. The Romans and their slaves had made a good job of it.

Then it was to The Cathedral for the six euro walk. Now Mr. Kite can say it was worth every penny; not quite every penny but every cent. The Cathedral was impressive in art history and extravagance. but standing in the cloisters Mr. Kite heard jackdaws and then a much more chattering racous cry. That was a chough thought Mr. Kite. Looking around Mr. Kite then saw red-billed chough. These gregarious birds were making a noise and flying quickly around the area.

Soon it was too hot for sight-seeing and Mr. Kite and His Lady returned to The Joint. This time the starter was salad in sherry vinegar and oil dressing. The main course was potatoes bravas with broad beans. Once again the house sparrows joined in and once again they were a pleasure to eat with. This time they invited a spotless starling who occasionally made a shrilling noise.

Mr. Kite enjoyed a Mahou Classica. Cheers to the birds of Segovia and the Romans.

Friday 1st June (The Spadgers Join Mr. Kite for Tea)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a clear blue sky. A black redstart was singing from a tree.

Today Mr. Kite and His Lady travelled to Segovia. On the way they stopped to watch black kites, red kites and a booted eagle.

In the late afternoon Mr. Kite sat down for tea. Starters were a salad with sherry vinegar dressing from Jerez. The main course was aubergine and red peppers in a rich tomato sauce and mashed potatoes. Lots of Spanish bread and butter was on hand.

As soon as the food was placed on the table dozens of spanish house sparrows joined Mr. Kite and His Lady for tea. When the bread was broken the crumbs were soon eaten by the foragers. Enjoying the quality of the picking some house sparrows soon sat on the table picking at the morsels that had dropped from the serving spoons.

Their manners were very good for the first time with Mr. Kite and His Lady. There was not too much squabbling and they did not talk with their mouths full. With water on hand they seemed to enjoy the meal and ate until the last crumb was gone.

Now the house sparrow is a very attractive bird when studied closely; as are all birds. A nice greyish head with tinges of white and a streaked back of brown, black and white.

Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Mahou Classica. Cheers and good health to all those chirpy house sparrows.

Thursday 31st May (More Fine Weather and a Black Cow)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a clear blue sky. Today Mr. Kite had a plan and that was to cycle up the mountain and watch birds for two hours.

So in the morning Mr. Kite put the saddlebags on his new Dawes Horizon and set out towards La Quesaera. With plenty of water on board Mr. Kite kept The Machine going up the mountain having a drink every two kilometres. Eventually Mr. Kite reached the highest point on the road and settled down for two hours watching the birds.

To cut a long story short the birds were resting and out of sight. Woodlarks, rock buntings, wood pigeons and a coal tit were spotted.

Now Mr. Kite was sitting there enjoying the warmth and the view when a large black cow came by and stood by Mr. Kite. Swishing the flies away with it's long tail this cow, with long sharp horns, seemed to like The Machine. If Mr. Kite turned his head the big black cow headed for The Machine. If The Machine  had been old and battered Mr. Kite would have allowed the cow a chance to lick it or push it. But it was new and Mr. Kite did not want it damaged by a big black Spanish cow.

Half an hour later the big black cow walked slowly down the road leaving a nice green trail. At three in the afternoon Mr. Kite free wheeled down the mountain back to The Joint where he had a tipple of Mahou Classica. Cheers.

Wednesday 30th May (Spain comes to a Standstill)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window trying to find the scops owl that was calling and circling nearby. After breakfast Mr. Kite cycled down the road towards the railway station. On the way he watched a red-backed shrike moving around the tops of bushes. This masked bird had a very pink front and reddish brown back.

Later Mr. Kite cycled down the main road where the workers were resurfacing half the road. Now with only half of the road in use the traffic was controlled at end end of the road by men with phones. Vehicles were let through from one direction and then the other. When Mr. Kite was allowed through he cycled with cars passing and soon he was on his own riding around the bends up a long gentle climb. To cut a long story the resurfacing was one mile long and it took fifteen minutes for Mr. Kite to reach the top of the hill. In the mean time the traffic was held back. When Mr. Kite reached the top there was a queue of vehicles about three miles long. Mr. Kite had brought Spain to a standstill.

Then Mr. Kite turned off the main road and headed for La Pinilla stopping to watch stonechats, griffon vultures and corn buntings. Then for three hours Mr. Kite searched for birds but did not find anything different.

On this warm afternoon Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Mahou Classica. Cheers.  

Tuesday 29th May (Up the Mountain)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a blue sunny sky. Serins made tinkling noises, cuckoos went cuckoo and a green woodpecker laughed.

So Mr. Kite made the gentle ascent to La Quesera stopping to watch willow warblers, rock buntings and a pair of honey buzzards.

On the top Mr. Kite looked for other birds but could only manage chaffinch, blue tit and great tit. Some unusual louder calls were heard but nothing spotted.

On the descent Mr. Kite stopped to listen to warblers and blackcaps. On this warm day Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Mahou Classica. Cheers.

Monday 28th May (The Birds are Calling)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a dark sky where a scops owl was making a noise. Soon a cuckoo, nightingale and wood pigeon could be heard.


Around the camp site little birds flew and Mr. Kite's next task was to identify them. 


Mr. Kite was enjoying his breakfast with His Lady when a unusual bird call was heard. A kittera kittera sound was heard. Then a cuckoo appeared with a long tail and light underparts followed by a hassling magpie that chased the cuckoo. What a great start to the bird identifying and watching a great spotted cuckoo. The bird was then seen a few more times before the magpies sent it somewhere else to lay an egg.

Later in the morning Mr. Kite cycled to the ski slopes at La Pinilla just outside Riaza. A few griffon vultures flew over and lots of house martins were building nests on the buildings. On the return trip Mr. Kite stopped to watch jays, ravens, willow warblers and a booted eagle. Other birds were heard that could not be identified. So Mr.Kite's next task is to listen to the songs of some warblers and birds of the mountains.

To do this Mr. Kite will have a tipple of Mahou Classica. Cheers.

Sunday 28th May (Sunshine and Snow)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint  into a blue sky. Soon Mr. Kite and His Lady were in Riaza where the sun shone and snow was in the mountains. Nightingales sang and serins flew around the small trees. Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Mahou Classica. Cheers.

Friday 25th May and Saturday 26th May (Toledo)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window over Harcajo de Les Montes where swallows, swift, house martins and azure-winged magpies flew. Soon Mr. Kite and His Lady were in Toledo.

For a day Mr. Kite walked the streets of Toledo and visited the museum of El Greco.

However Mr. Kite did watch cattle egrets, hoopoes by The Joint and tree sparrows feeding their young in the small trees on the camp site.

Thursday 24th May (Golden Order for the Booted Eagle)

Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a blue sky over the Cabaneros park. Four azure-winged magpies screeched past the window and in the background a wood pigeon cooed quietly. This is a great place except for the scops owl that bleeps all night.

After breakfast Mr. Kite and His Lady went shopping in Horcajo de Les Montes passing the white stork that were nesting on the rickety church tower. Mr. Kite stopped to pick up a large black and white feather; probably from the white stork.

At midday Mr. Kite cycled down the CM-4106 towards Alcoba. Mr. Kite stopped to identify and watch an eagle. Circling this buzzards sized eagle was a booted eagle looking for food. As it circled another much larger eagle dropped onto it and flung it to one side causing it to leave the vicinity. This large eagle then sat on the ground probably picking up the food the booted eagle had his eyes on. The eagle then flew to the rocks showing golden feathers on hit's back and wings. The bird gained height and then dropped into a rocky part on a mountain. So the booted eagle had had the order of the golden eagle.

Now Mr. Kite continued his ride along the road stopping to watch golden orioles, crag matins, red-rumped swallows, woodchat shrikes and some red deer. Two griffin vultures flew overhead and a short-toed eagle searched in vain for a reptile.

In the late afternoon Mr. Kite returned to The Joint for a tipple of Das Schwarze. Cheers to that booted eagle with the golden order.

Wednesday 23rd May (One Less Dartford Warbler)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window over Horcajo de Les Montes. The scop's owl had stopped calling and a desperate cuckoo started. Soon the sun was shining on the plains of the land.

So in the heat Mr. Kite cycled along the road into Cabaneros Parque Nacional. With great optimism Mr. Kite went in search of warblers. To cut a long story short the only positive identification was a dead dartford warbler. Looking rather colourful and forlorn Mr. Kite put the corpse under a bush and looked for it's living relatives. A few fleeting glimpses of warblers was had but no positive sighting could be seen.

Two griffon vultures flew over and on the return leg Mr. Kite watched two eagles; possibly golden but they were flying fast in the wrong direction.

Not the best days watching birds was followed by a cool tipple of Das Helle Suffig Vollmundig. Cheers to the birds of Cabaneros. Time for more beer. Cheers.

Tuesday 22nd May (Into the Park)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window over the village of Horcajo de Los Montes as the sun rose over the Parc Nacional Cabaneros. Mr. Kite sat on the terrace drank coffee and looked out over a spectacular view.

A few hours later Mr. Kite rode down the CM-4017 into the park. To cut a long story short it was quiet. Hardly a car was seen. two griffon vulture flew over. Sardinian warblers flitted in the scrub and a host of nightingales sang their hearts out.

Eventually Mr. Kite retuned to The Joint for a tipple of Mahou Classica in the coll evening air and watch a sparrowhawk being hassled by swallows. Cheeers from Cabaneros.

Monday 21st May (Off Road in Spain in The Joint)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a blue sky and tree tops where golden orioles sang. Today Mr. Kite was on the move to Horcajo de Los Montes on the edge of the Parque National de Cabaneros; but first he had to travel there along the Spanish roads.

First part of the trip was into Guadalupe to visit a church and buy some castanettes and a loaf of bread followed by a drive down a windy road stopping to talk to some English motor-cyclists and watch black storks and griffon vultures; all very pleasant.

Then it was down a five mile track to join the main road. This track made The Joint rattle and shake and bump and other funny noises. Avoiding pot-holes, trees and overhangs The Joint arrived at the main road in one piece. Then a few miles down the main road before turning off on the 'tourist route' with the spectacular scenery. The first part was a track with pot-holes that would engulf The Joint but Mr. Kite carefully avoided them. With four miles of the eighteen completed M.r Kite was contemplating turning back as the road became non-existent. Just before giving up Mr. Kite noticed a lorry in the far distance. Things looked hopeful. Men were fixing the road. So the track became a sticky narrow lane of new tar surface. The Joint then increased in speed and the trip continued. Then just before a village the road ended with a large trench.

Now Mr. Kite was surprised that the road should suddenly end. Not to worry. Then some Spaniards pointed down a mud track around the outside of a field. So Mr. Kite and The Joint traveled across country joining another dirt track before reaching a pot-holed road. This road went through a village with gaps just big enough for The Joint. Carefully avoiding flower pots, dogs, cars, pot-holes, dead donkey and Spaniards Mr. Kite drove through the village without incident reaching the far side.

Now here the road became a track then a series of off-road pistes full of holes. With eight miles showing on The Sat-nav Mr. Kite pressed on as the road crumbled away. A few miles down the road the track narrowed over a dam that was just wide enough for The Joint. Just across the dam the road improved slightly then Mr. Kite saw a lorry and workers; the road was being repaired.

So eventually Mr. Kite and His Lady with The Joint intact rreached Horcajo de Los Montes and a campsite that looked out of the national park. After such stress Mr. Kite enjoyed a few tipples of Mahou Classica as he watched azure-winged magpies. Later in the eveneing a scop's owl brightened up a dark night. Cheers.

Sunday  2oth May (A Cool Day in Guadalupe)

Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a line of trees. As usual the dawn chorus was the golden oriole.

Full of energy Mr. Kite jumped on his Dawes Galaxy and headed to Ermita del Humilladero.  As he climbed the hill Mr. Kite noticed the big black clouds that surrounded him and the approaching rain. Not wishing to be soaked and wet his new bicycle Mr. Kite returned to The Joint for a cup of tea. Then the rain started.

However some sunshine appeared and Mr. Kite went for a walk to The Viaduct passing a new corpse of an Egyptian mongoose. Blackcaps sang in the bushes and two griffon vultures flew overhead. When Mr. Kite stopped to watch the Spanish sparrow colony he was joined by a green woodpecker that gave a short drum on the eucalyptus tree before heading off.

In a bush a Spanish version of a chiffchaff sat with a more yellowish breast that could not match the numerous yellow serins that fluttered about. The warming air brought out the eagles. The booted ones flew low and were easily identified but higher up four other large eagles were watched. Their height and speed made identification difficult but Mr. Kite view is that one was probably bonelli’s and another a golden eagle. However disappointing it is not to be positive their aerial displays were impressive as the sped across the sky and dived out of view.

So Mr. Kite enjoyed a casual stroll and stopped to inspect a fig tree on his return.

Later in the afternoon Mr. Kite went for a short stroll along the camino stopping to watch a sardinian warbler. This little bird was flitting in a bush 'ticking' merrily. With more clouds approaching Mr. Kite returned to The Joint for a Tetley tea. Cheers.

Saturday 19th May (A Different Day)

Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into the line of trees where at least ten black male blackbirds were enjoying a breakfast of worms.

Being a vegetarian Mr. Kite had a breakfast of coffee and cereals before setting out on a short walk. With clouds and spots of rain Mr. Kite continued his trek passing the corpses of a deer, two frogs and a colourful horseshoe whip snake.

In the a large eucalyptus tree a flock of Spanish sparrows were nesting. The sound of the sparrows and the strong smell of the eucalyptus oil was Mediterranean.

Passing the tree and following Camino 116 Mr. Kite listened to warblers, robins and blackcaps stopping to spot them. Soon a more shrilling quieter sound was heard and Mr. Kite located the small brown bird walking up the trunk of a tree. Now trunks, trees and a ‘tserrrrrh’ meant treecreeper; not any old treecreeper but a short-toed treecreeper.

Mr. Kite looked carefully at this bird to notice the differences but without a comparator it was impossible. The bird moved up and around the trunk before disappearing out of sight. In the shrubs and bushes the birds sang and a bright yellow serin brightened up the place before the rain started and Mr. Kite want back to The Joint.

More thunder storms kept Mr. Kite in The Joint for the rest of the day but he did watch blackbirds, Spanish sparrows, azure-winged magpies with the golden oriole playing the background music.

At four o’clock it was time for a tipple of Mahou Classica. Cheers.

Friday 18th May (The Sights and Sound of Guadalupe)

Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into the dark trees as a scop’s owl had woke him up. Bleep, bleep, bleep called the scops as it desperately sought a partner. Mr. Kite thought that this must be the only scop’s in the area.

Soon the darkness turned to light and it was now time for the golden oriole to sing ‘o-ri-ole’ in a soft fluty whistle.

In the warm sunshine and clear sky Mr. Kite cycled three miles to a viewing point just outside Guadalupe near Ermita del Humilladero.  A booted eagle and short-toed eagle flew past. Then it was time to cycle two more miles along a track near Las Villuercas. 

A few hours watching the sky resulted in more booted, short-toed and a fast moving bonelli’s eagle. The bonelli’s was quite light underneath. A few black kites appeared.

In the heat Mr. Kite then returned to the campsite without hardly pedaling the bicycle. Later in the afternoon Mr. Kite and His Lady went on a nature walk under the viaduct and to a picnic area by the stream. Overhead two honey buzzards circled showing their distinction head shape and lighter wing patterns. Around a grey wagtail paddled in the water as cetti’s warblers, blackcaps and robins sang. In the back ground hoopoes, nightingales and doves called.

Mr. Kite had a good day watching birds before enjoying a Mahou Classica. Cheers

Thursday 17th May (The Plain in Spain)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a sunny sky. Today Mr. Kite and His Lady were leaving Caceres and going to Guadalupe.

So The Joint was packed and restocked with beer, wine and bread and set forth on the road. Turning off the main road mr. Kite headed towards Santa Marta de Magasca. Tinted blue rollers sat on the electicity pylons, red-legged partridge ran along the road and the sky was full of griffon vultures.

Passing Santa Marta the road was bumpy but this was the plains of Spain. Then a large bird passed in front of The Joint. This christmas sized turkey landed on the grass and wandered into a hollow. So Mr. Kite stop The Joint and set up The Superscope and scanned the area for an hour before giving up on the great bustard.. But plenty of white storks were watched as flock of spanish sparrows flew around.

Mr. Kite drove through Trujillo to Guadalupe passing over one ladder snake and watching a viperine in a stream.

Soon Mr. Kite was enjoying a Mahou Classica. Cheer to a great bustard

Wednesday 16th May (Rollers and Lesser Kestrels)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a tree where an azure-winged magpie was carefully constructing a nesting platform from thin twigs.

At 1100 Mr. Kite set out in the heat to watch rollers. Soon Mr. Kite was watching a pair flying over their nesting site rolling about in the sky. When one landed Mr. Kite could see a colourful bluish body but the heat haze made closer details impossible.

The final part of the trip was to watch lesser kestrels near Valdesalo. On the telegraph poles a number of these smaller and finer kestrels sat. Occasionally they took off with fast flapping wings but soon gave up in the heat.

Mr. Kite returned to The Joint for a cold Leffe Ruby. Cheers. 

Tuesday 15th May (Another Good Day)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window to see two of everything. Adjusting his glasses mr. Kite realised that he had drank too much the night before.

Never mind by noon Mr. Kite was cycling north of Caceres towards a river. Stopping at ria Guadiloba Mr. Kite watched European pond terrapins. moorhens and mallards. The temperature was rising as Mr. Kite glided along the road stopping at a viewing point overlooking the river.  Black kites, red kites and a chattering of jackdaws were soon spotted and woodchat shrike.

House martins flew through the air chasing insects before they were joined by alpine swifts. Larger than the usual swifts these well bellied birds raced around the sky. Egyptian vultures flew by before an dashing eagle appeared. Not booted or short-toed this impressive fast flying bird was bonelli's eagle. With a pale tail, yellow legs and dark trailing edge on the wings this birds circled quickly before gaining height in the hot air and then gliding quickly over the hill.

Well what could follow that. Mr. Kite cycled back to Caceres stopping for a full half hour to study a short-toed eagle perched on a pylon. With ruffled feathers and a white front this bird with a fabulous yellow eye watched the world go by as Mr. Kite watched it.

After a great day out Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Leffe Ruby. Cheers to all those eagles of the extremadura.

Monday 14th May (One Leveret Bites the Dust)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a clear sunny Spanish blue sky. A hoopoe called and a nightingale could be heard singing.

Mr. Kite set off for Casa de Casceres down an undulating road. Thekla larks, crested larks, bee-eaters and eagles were watched on the plain in Spain. A tour of the town was followed by a visit to a church where the nuns were mopping the floor.

Then it was to a local pond where all types of gaggling geese waddled about in the dirty water and mallards, coots and moorhens joined in.

Returning to Casceres Mr. Kite stopped to watch a booted eagle sitting on a rock watching a white stork. The white stork picked up a leveret. The leveret did not like the white stork picking it up and it struggled and kicked and made noises. One of the parents of the leveret also did not like the white stork handling it's offspring and repeatedly ran at the bird and 'rabbit punching' it. For two minutes the leveret struggled to release itself from the large red bill of the stork as the parent ran and butted the bird from all directions.

Now the white stork seemed to want 'liebre Espana' as a treat and would not release the tasty morsel. To tenderise the hare the stork kept pummeling it on the ground. When the leveret stopped moving the white stork swallowed it. Yum. Then it flew away and the hare ran away with one less mouth to feed.

From Casceres Mr. Kite followed the ex 390 for five miles stopping at rio Guadiloba to watch European pond terrapins and a black-winged stilt. Hundred of terrapins swam around or lounged in the sun.

Further along the road Mr. Kite watch griffon vultures feeding on a carcass. On the ground these large birds were a  great sight as others circled, dropped down their legs and popped in for a feed.

At the end of the afternoon Mr. Kite returned to The Joint for a tipple of Negra Modelo. Cheers to that leveret that made a tasty meal.

Sunday 13th May (Not too Many Birds but lots of Heat)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a cork oak to see an azure-winged magpie. On the ground two crested larks strutted along with their crests pointing up.

Today Mr. Kite was going 'roller watching' before the Spanish Grand Prix. To cut a long story short the views he had were not worth mentioning because the birds were too far away.

On his return trip to The Joint Mr. Kite passed two landmarks. The first was that he had cycled one thousand miles this years. At this point in the road a few years ago Mr. Kite and The Joint collided with a Ladder Snake. Luckily The Joint was not injured but the poor old snake was.

Mr. Kite returned to The Joint put on his shirt and went to the bar to watch the Grand Prix with The Spaniards.

Late in the afternoon Mr. Kite cycled to the Plaza de Toros and the nearby viewing point looking north from Casceres. In the warm air vultures and eagle glided, circled and soared over the plain.

Mr. Kite returned to The Joint and enjoyed a tipple of 1906 Reserva Especial. Cheers.

Saturday 12th May (Not Many Birds but a Number of Reptiles)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window to see a crested lark walking on the path.

Later in the morning Mr. Kite cycled down the ex100 for a few miles stopping on a bridge over a small river. Three warblers could be heard; cetti's fan-tailed and reed. Only the cetti's was spotted. But in the water viperines were have a morning of swimming, climbing trees and sitting on rocks. The odd adder appeared with a ladder snake for good measure.

One group of viperines was sat on by a European pond terrapin but they did not seem to mind. One viperine swam into the water to catch a fish whose progress down the snake could be clearly seen and watched by a passing crayfish.

In the heat Mr. Kite made his way into more open spaces looking for 'birds of the plain' but none were found; so that is for next time. In the late afternoon Mr. Kite returned to the camper to enjoy a Negra Modelo. Cheers from Caceres in warm sunny Spain.

Friday 11th May (A Last Visit to the Rock)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window to see three azure-winged magpies sitting in a tree. In the morning sun their azure blue wings were shiny.

Later in the morning Mr. Kite and His Lady went for a final visit to Mirador de la Portilla del Tietar to watch the eagle owl chicks. Within the last day their down was being replaced by feathers and they were walking around the niche taking more interest in the outside world and watching any movement with curiosity.

The pair of spanish imperial eagles made loud noises as they hassled the griffon vultures perched near their nest and flew high and low occasionally stopping to rest on a dead tree where they could be viewed in The Superscope. And mighty impressive they were with their white feathers and massive hooked beak.

It is not just the size of the birds that makes it impressive. A rock bunting sat by the viewing point with a superbly stripped head and buff plumage. For a time this bird was the centre of attention as the papparazi clicked away on their cameras.

A few hours later mr. Kite was in Caceres enjoying a tipple of Maternus Premium Pilsener. Cheers.

Thursday 10th May (Too Hot for Mr. Kite and the Birds)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a dawn morning. A scop's owl was sounding off like a faulty car alarm.

A few hours later Mr. Kite was cycling in the Monfrague park. Vultures circled overhead and eagle glided over the hot ground.

To cut a long story short Mr. Kite was searching for warblers and in the heat failed to really identify any. Lots of woodchat shrikes ate the swarms of insects that were enjoying their last hot day on earth.

Mr. Kite watched a Bonelli's eagles nest where what looked like a chick stir but the heat beat everyone.

So in the late afternoon Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Leffe Ruby. Cheers

Wednesday 9th May (Evening Meal with the Birds)

Now Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window on this Spanish morning to see clouds and hear the thrill of the spotless starlings. A leisurely morning ended with a walk along a track by the main road looking at the crested and thekla larks. Very few were seen so the more detailed study was put off for another day. However the corn buntings were in an energetic mood as they flew from bush top to bush top and provided the bird-watching experience.

A few hours gaps appeared in the clouds and the sun shone warming the earth and the air. Slowly the griffon vultures began to glide overhead, the booted eagles soared over the cork oaks. The white stork headed for the meadows to feed and three short-toed eagles hovered high above the ground searching for reptiles.

Mr. Kite kept an eye on the meadows birds and an eye on the sky. Sitting comfortably on a concrete post Mr. Kite identified the birds above him saying, “Grifffon, booted, black kite, red kite, griffon, short-toed, black kite, possible honey buzzard’.

Half an hour later Mr. Kite then said, “Black vulture”, as a larger and more dark shape glided towards him with some straggly feathers on the wing tips. Looking closely Mr. Kite noticed the straighter wings, a completely black underside and two lighter feet showing. Wow the first black vulture of the trip.

With the sun shining and the air warming Mr. Kite returned to The Joint to cook pasta for tea. At seven o’clock Mr. Kite and His Lady sat outside eating pasta and cheese while overhead white storks, booted eagles, short-toed eagles, red kites, black kites and kestrel flew. In the tree by the table a family of azure-winged magpies looked on waiting for a chance to eat pasta and cheese.

With a bottle of Kronenbourg 1664 in his hand Mr. Kite drank a health to the birds of the Extramadura. Cheers.

Wednesday 9th May (Dawn Chorus)

Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window as the sun was peering over the horizon. Six thousands cuckoos were calling the dawn chorus with the occasional shrill of the spotless starling and ‘hoop, hoop’ of a hoopoe.

The world was waiting to be watched.

So at nine in the morning Mr. Kite set out into Monfrague National Park. Firstly Mr. Kite was going to identify three types of lark. So on the road he stopped to watch crested larks with their lighter colour and more slender shape. A little further on another lark sat singing with a neat stripe above it's eye. This bird sang very fluidly and had a slight crest that it baarely raised. A woodlark was added to the list.

On the slopes in the park Mr. Kite watched very green greenfinches and yellow serins with woodchat shrikes dropping onto insects nearby. A pair of larks caught Mr. Kite's eye. These birds were slightly stocky, darker and a neat darkish tail. Both birds had a white underside and flew into the air before dropping down rapidly into the undergrowth; thekla larks. Mr. Kite now had a target on warblers and wheatears. To cut a long story short neither really appeared in view at a close distance.

Now with vultures, eagles and stoks in the air and Belgians, French, Germans, Danes and the odd Spaniard Mr. Kite noticed linnets. Soon Mr. Kite was cycling past eagle owl chicks and spanish imperial eagles before stopping to watch a golden oriole and a nightingale. A monster of a green lizard crossed the road; thankfully the dragon disappeared into the undergrowth before too long.

In the late afternoon heat Mr. Kite cycled his new cycling machine back to camp stopping to listen to a cetti's warbler on the route. Soon Mr. Kite was enjoying a tipple of Leffe Ruby. Cheers to the Extremadura and the birds.

Tuesday 8th May (Monfrague)

On Wednesday 2nd May Mr. Kite and His Lady arrived in the Extramadura. The Joint was parked in the camp site and soon the cheeky azure-winged magpies were checking out the new arrivals . Now these colourful characters are a wonderful sight with their black caps. Warm buff bodies and azure blue wings. Their behaviour makes them a delight to watch as they hop, bounce, fight, chase sparrows and peck the morsels from your table or just sit on your saucepan eating your cous cous.

Spotless starling thrilled as they built their nests in the broken roof tiles of the toilet block. House sparrows, goldfinches, blue tits, cukoos, chaffinch, blackbirds, nuthatch and house martins made their appearance on the site.

Overhead booted eagles, black kites and a white stork circled. In the hint of sunshine Mr. Kite put on his walking boots and walked a long a track adjacent to the road where corn buntings and crested lark flew around and called to each other.

In the cloud, gloom and rain Mr. Kite walked around the local area watching blackbirds, stonechats, hoopoes, collared doves, kestrels. Spotted flycatchers, yellowhammers, greenfinch, long tailed tits, swifts, bee-eaters and a common buzzards.

Mr. Kite then looked a little more carefully and  found woodchat shrike and a southern grey shrike. In the cork oaks the shrikes were a common sight. Soon an Egyptian vulture took to the air flapping powerfully to take it’s large black and white body off the ground. Rock doves required less effort and the red rumped swallows never seemed to touch the ground as they continually flew around.

Great tits, wood pigeons and tree pipits soon caught Mr. Kites attention before a singing warblers was spotted on a telegraph wire. This yellowy singing warbler was in full song but continually turning to sing in different direction. A melodious warbler was looking for a mate. Overhead a short-toed eagle expended valuable energy looking for food before a dashing little kestrel plummeted from the sky onto a tapas of some kind.

The first sunny morning of the tour was Sunday 6th May and Mr. Kite packed his new bicycle and set off to Miranda de la Tajadilla. The new machine was a joy to ride on the warm Spanish road. To cut a long story short Mr. Kite reached his target and was pleased with the warm sunny air. The water from the dam had stopped leaving pools of water where the fish were stranded. Unluckily for them six grey herons and a great white egret enjoyed the easy pickings before being joined by a black stork. Now this was a stunning sight the black and white stork with the red legs and bill feeding with grey herons and a great white egret. Three large birds at the same table for once; eating the same lunch.

Nearby a little ring plover and pied wagtail picked at food on the edge of the pools where two red deer were gently sipping water. On the cliff opposite a raven was having a hard time with a griffon vulture whilst the crag martins flew backwards and forwards along the cliff face.

In the heat Mr. Kite cycled slowly back to The Joint stopping to look in the scrub land where a subalpine warbler and black-eared wheatear were located. Following a good day out Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Campo Cruz. Cheers.

Monday 7th May (Mirador de la Portilla del Tietar)

Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a cloudy sky. Soon Mr. Kite and His Lady were heading to the Mirador. Passing cormorants, jays and a pair of red-legged partridge they reached the Mirador as the rain started.

Ten minutes later the rain stopped and Mr. Kite and His Lady set up The Superscope facing the cliff on the other side. Soon large brown griffon vultures were being studied with their long necks, shaggy plumage and powerful beaks.

Then it was time to focus on two eagle owl chicks. Now these two fluffy down covered attractions played to the audience at they walked to the edge of the niche and looked out. The occasional peck at each other, a short sleep before their large attentive eyes opened for a further scan of the world outside where they would have to compete. Surrounded by vultures on a cliff their’s is a precarious world.

Soon a pair of Spanish imperial eagles appeared making loud nasal sounds to make their presence known. These large black eagles with hints of white on their back and wings moved the griffon vultures away from their nest by touching them. Aerial combat displays took place as the vultures were pushed from their rocky perch onto one further away. The eagles celebrated with ‘high fives’ as they touched legs in the air and rolled over in flight.

At times the eagles landed on the ground where their powerful bodies could be seen. A great hooked beak looked the part to tear a rabbit to pieces.  But that hooked weapon did not stop a black kite continually diving towards any sitting eagle. The eagle had to continually raise it’s head and open it’s beak as the kite swooped time after time after time over the Spanish imperial eagles head. No rest for the wicked. However grand and rare this bird one black kite was not to be subservient to a Spanish imperial eagle.

For more than four hours Mr. Kite and His Lady watch a flying display of Spanish imperial eagles. griffon vultures and black kites. The eagles flew low and high; banked and rolled showing every conceivable feather. The eagle owls continued to show new behaviour and plumage as the turned their back on the audience and moved in the niche.

Of course not everything that was exciting was large and raptorish. A dazzling blue rock thrush sat above the eagle owls showing that he too was worth looking at. A black redstart; not an ordinary black redstart but a giraltarienlfis made an appearance. Black as the ace of spades with two shiny white streaks on it’s body and a tinged blue cap he was a stunner.

So Mr. Kite and His Lady had a great day out in The Monfrague National Park. To celebrate they had a tipple or two of Maternus Premium Pilsener. Cheers from the place where those azure-winged magpies are magical.

Sunday 29th April (Mr. Kite is on Tour in the Rain)

From Thursday 19th April until Friday 27th April Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window onto a pond in La Brenne in the village of Rosnay. Often with a nightingale singing in the ditch behind The Joint and a hoopoe hooping from a nearby tree and a cuckoo flying over. One morning Mr. Kite looked out of the window to see thirty cattle egrets feeding by the pond.

To cut a long story short it rained every day in La Brenne and Mr. Kite got cold feet and wet clothes but he still went cycling, walking and bird-watching. So here are a list of the birds that Mr. Kite watched. Great tit, chaffinch, blackcap, common redstart, cattle egret, black-headed gull, mallard, starling grey heron, pied wagtail, wood pigeon and collared dove.

Soon Mr. Kite was cycling around the area looking over ponds and into woods. On the first complete day in the area Mr. Kite watched the first barn swallows, hoopoe, ring ousel, night heron, nightingale, purple heron, red crested pochard, greenshank, tree pipit and cuckoo.

The more common goldfinch, chiffchaff, tufted duck, house sparrow, blackbird, jackdaw, jay, cormorant common pheasant, skylark, gadwall, coot, little egret, mute swan, teal, great crested grebe, pochard, Canada goose, kestrel,  common buzzard, long tailed tits, greenfinch, common redshank,  northern pintail,marsh harrier were spotted.

Mr. Kite continued his cycling and walking tour of La Brenne visiting the Maison du Parc and acting like a man on holiday. It was Saturday 21st April before Mr. Kite spotted his first great white egret, northern wheatear, common whitethroat, stonechat, cirl bunting, black-necked grebe and sedge warbler.

Mr. Kite enjoyed the rain as he watched little grebe, magpie, moorhen and mistle thrush.

On Sunday 22nd April Mr. Kite cycled to La Gabriere where more than thirty black terns flew around in a variety of black and white shiny plumage. With so many birds it was interesting to see the variation. Nearby a short-toed eagle hovered and glided before leaving the area. Not a good day for a hungry eagle because the grass snakes were well and truly hiding.

On Tuesday 24th April Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window to see that swifts had arrived and were joined by house martins.

On Thursday 26th April Mr. Kite completed a circular walk around Rosnay on a showery day where the clouds rolled in and the rain came down but it was a good day. Red deer wandered leisurely in front of Mr. Kite, golden orioles piped a fluting tune, a pair of turtle doves cooed and what looked like a hawfinch made a brief appearance. Hoping to watch the local woodpeckers in action Mr. Kite sat in a few woods watching but only a passing greater spotted woodpecker was a certain.

Mr. Kite enjoyed La Brenne although the cold wet weather was not to his liking. With more than seventy species of birds watched Mr. Kite felt happy as he headed off to sunny sunny Espana.

Sunday 6th May (Eagles, Vultures and the Extramadura)

Monday 30th April (La Brenne)


Sunday 29th April (Mr. Kite is on Tour in the Rain)

From Thursday 19th April until Friday 27th April Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window onto a pond in La Brenne in the village of Rosnay. Often with a nightingale singing in the ditch behind The Joint and a hoopoe hooping from a nearby tree and a cuckoo flying over. One morning Mr. Kite looked out of the window to see thirty cattle egrets feeding by the pond.

To cut a long story short it rained every day in La Brenne and Mr. Kite got cold feet and wet clothes but he still went cycling, walking and bird-watching. So here are a list of the birds that Mr. Kite watched. Great tit, chaffinch, blackcap, common redstart, cattle egret, black-headed gull, mallard, starling grey heron, pied wagtail, wood pigeon and collared dove.

Soon Mr. Kite was cycling around the area looking over ponds and into woods. On the first complete day in the area Mr. Kite watched the first barn swallows, hoopoe, ring ousel, night heron, nightingale, purple heron, red crested pochard, greenshank, tree pipit and cuckoo.

The more common goldfinch, chiffchaff, tufted duck, house sparrow, blackbird, jackdaw, jay, cormorant common pheasant, skylark, gadwall, coot, little egret, mute swan, teal, great crested grebe, pochard, Canada goose, kestrel,  common buzzard, long tailed tits, greenfinch, common redshank,  northern pintail,marsh harrier were spotted.

Mr. Kite continued his cycling and walking tour of La Brenne visiting the Maison du Parc and acting like a man on holiday. It was Saturday 21st April before Mr. Kite spotted his first great white egret, northern wheatear, common whitethroat, stonechat, cirl bunting, black-necked grebe and sedge warbler.

Mr. Kite enjoyed the rain as he watched little grebe, magpie, moorhen and mistle thrush.

On Sunday 22nd April Mr. Kite cycled to La Gabriere where more than thirty black terns flew around in a variety of black and white shiny plumage. With so many birds it was interesting to see the variation. Nearby a short-toed eagle hovered and glided before leaving the area. Not a good day for a hungry eagle because the grass snakes were well and truly hiding.

On Tuesday 24th April Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window to see that swifts had arrived and were joined by house martins.

On Thursday 26th April Mr. Kite completed a circular walk around Rosnay on a showery day where the clouds rolled in and the rain came down but it was a good day. Red deer wandered leisurely in front of Mr. Kite, golden orioles piped a fluting tune, a pair of turtle doves cooed and what looked like a hawfinch made a brief appearance. Hoping to watch the local woodpeckers in action Mr. Kite sat in a few woods watching but only a passing greater spotted woodpecker was a certain.

Mr. Kite enjoyed La Brenne although the cold wet weather was not to his liking. With more than seventy species of birds watched Mr. Kite felt happy as he headed off to sunny sunny Espana.

Saturday 21st April (Birds, Bees and Beer)


Mr. Kite looked out The Joint window.

Friday 20th April (Ponds, Lakes and La Brenne)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window.

Thursday 19th April (La Brenne)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window.

Wednesday 18th April (Bon Jour)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window.

Tuesday 17th April (London to Dover)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a cold blue sky. On the road The Joint was packed and heading south.

Monday 16th April (Town and Planning)

Sunday 15th April (A Small Trip Planned)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a blue sky and a bright sun.

Saturday 14th April (It has Rained)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window onto a wet pavement; it had rained. Today Mr. Kite did very little as he prepared for his trip. But he did enjoy a tipple of Shepherd Neame Spitfire. Cheers.

Friday 13th April (Will there be a Migrant)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window in some rays of sunshine although the clouds loomed on the horizon. As the day progressed Mr. Kite plans did not happen. But he did watch a sparrowhawk glide over the garden. Later he enjoyed a tipple of Old Speckled Hen. Cheers.

Thursday 12th April (More Summer Visitors)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey sky. The leaves on the lime trees wee clearly showing a clean bright green. Today Mr. Kite had a plan.

At eleven o'clock Mr. Kite met his birding companion and they cycled off to watch birds. The sun began to shine on The Incapacitants as they stopped at intervals to watch the usual town birds. Then a different bird song was heard from a tree. This song was flowing and melodic and slightly more tuneful than a robin that was singing in a low bush. The song was familiar but not heard this year; this was a migrant blackcap. Scouring a bare tree the bird could be clearly seen singing loudly.

Soon another migrant was heard and seen; a chiffchaff. The common birds continued to be seen.

Sharpstone Quarry


It was then over to Sharpstone Quarry. Today it was quiet with a number of skylarks and corvids. However a pair of tree sparrows seemed to be building a nest in an oak tree.

The River Severn and Atcham


On the river canadian geese swam and goosander sat on the banks showing their clean red legs. Flitting around the river and over the fields about twenty sand martins enjoyed the sunshine.

Venus Pool


The usual birds were at V.P. but four little ringed plovers flew around and waded in the shallows. Spring and the summers migrants were here.

With the birding competition progressing the score was around forty and below the expected number. A few more birds were added to the list including guinea fowl but the competition was a draw.

Following a good day out in the sun and cool breeze Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers.

Wednesday 11th April (One Tick for the Year)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a cool cloudy sky. Spring was progressing in the brief wintry spell.

Today Mr. Kite went visiting to Newcastle-on-Clun. To cut a long story short Mr. Kite looked out of the dining room window into a garden that was very bird friendly. Goldfinches, chaffinches, house sparrows, dunnocks, robins, blue tits, great tits and surprisingly lots of siskins. Some of these were almost canary yellow.

Overhead common buzzards, carrion crows and jackdaws flew overhead. In the late afternoon the clouds thickened and darkened. Then the rain started turning to hailstones as the temperature dropped. Following a good day Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Wychwood Hobgoblin. Cheers to the siskins.

Tuesday 10th April (A Man, A Plan, A Lazy Man)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a blue sky with some thin white clouds. The ends of the lime trees showed the buds of green leaves that were about to burst out. Today Mr. Kite had some plans.

Monday 9th April (Still No Spadgers)


Mr. Kite looked out of the residence window into a grey sky. The paths were wet and the rain come down. Rain has been scarce recently so this was a shock.

So Mr. Kite prepared to return home but made one more attempt to spot a house sparrow; or even a migrant. With three hours for bird-watching Mr. Kite scoured a large garden from a second floor vantage point looking for spadgers or migrants. To cut a long story short; not one was spotted.

However Mr. Kite did learn that there are projects in London that are aiming to encourage the return of the house sparrow to London.

At eight in the evening Mr. Kite arrived home and enjoyed a tipple of Wychwood Hobgoblin. Cheers.

Sunday 8th April (More of London)

Mr. Kite looked out of The Residence window into a grey sky and a damp road. A light drizzle had made the place damp. Not one bird could be seen but Mr. Kite was prepared for another day in London whatever that might bring.

In the bare trees Mr. Kite watched great tits, blue tits and long tailed tits. Once again mr. Kite searched to spot a house sparrow. To cut a long story short he did not spot one.

Late in the afternoon Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Fullers London Pride. Cheers to those house sparrows.

Saturday 7th April (London)

Mr. Kite looked out of the London Residence into a grey sky. The road was just beginning to stir as the flower sellers put out their stall.Feral pigeons strutted around the car park and street picking at morsels.

To cut a long story short Mr. Kite was enclosed in a Hampstead dwelling watching birds out of the windows. Spring was here in Hampstead. The daffodils were in bloom, blossom was on the trees and the bud containing the new leaves were on the verge of bursting out.

Sp during the day Mr. Kite watched great tits, blue titis, blackbirds and robins. A lesser black-back gull flew over and magpie moved on the chimney stacks. But not many birds were spotted and not one migrant.

So Mr. Kite finished the day with a tipple of Greene King Abbot's Ale. Cheers.

Friday 6th April (Good Friday)

Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a cloudy sky. The buds on the lime trees were growing in the cold morning air. Today Mr. Kite and His lady were going to London.

Walking to the station over the Castle Walk Mr. Kite spotted many of the usual birds and was very pleased to see a song thrush feeding in the grass with another singing from a tree top. It seems that after many years of decline these birds are on the increase.

The Coach Trip

From the window of the coach Mr. Kite could see that spring was here. Flowers on the verges and blossom in the trees. Birds were busy and the rookeries stood out in the bare trees with rooks going about their nest building and courting in full view.

Today Mr. Kite watched many common buzzards circling over the green fields, towns and cities of England. It would appear that these birds are also on the increase.

East Acton

On arriving in Hampstead Mr. Kite looked for the ususal birds and saw feral pigeons and starling. But he still wants to spot a cockney house sparrow. In the afternoon Mr. Kite took a trip to East Acton where he sat in a house eating and talking. At about six thirty the parakeets flew across the sky in groups of around ten towards their roost. Green budgie shaped birds in East Acton I've never seen before. Mr. Kite is going to find a collective name for parakeets in Action.

What about an 'action of parakeets'.


Back to Hampstead

With darkness descending Mr. Kita and His Lady went for a tipple in Wetherspoons. A great pub in a great place serving great beer. So Mr Kite enjoyed tipples of Adnams Explorer and Sunbeam. Cheers to those parakeets.

Thursday 5th April (Migrants at the Lagoon)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a cool cloudy sky. Spring was just about here.

In the morning Mr. Kite and His Lady went to place some flowers on a grave. Walking down the drive to the churchyard Mr. Kite and His Lady stopped to look at primroses, bluebells and other flowers. Blooms and blossoms were out in colour although a chilly breeze blew.

Monkmoor Lagoon


In the afternoon Mr. Kite saddled  The Beast and cycled to Monkmoor Lagoon to watch the migrants. To cut a long story short Mr. Kite failed to spot one migrant. The log book had records of chiffchaff and sand martins. However coots, mute swans, reed buntings, teal, mallards great crested grebe and moorhens were busy with their partners.

So in the late afternoon Mr. Kite returned home and enjoyed a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers.

Wednesday 4th April (Spring turns to Winter)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window to see a thin layer of snow on the house roofs opposite. Spring had turned to winter. A cold wind blew and a blackbird sat huddled in a low bush to keep warm.

Mr. Kite's plans were scuppered. However Mr. Kite was solving a problem when he came across the word tirma. This words means oystercatcher. Now is the time to find out more about the word.

Tuesday 3rd April (Migrants)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a grey cloudy sky. The weather forecast was not like spring; snow could be possible. The leaves on the lime trees in the road were now on show but not fully open. They were waiting for some warm sunshine and were now on standby.

Following a morning of minor chores Mr. Kite saddled The Beast and took to the roads in search of those migrants. Within minutes a cable broke and The Beast became slow and stuck in a low gear. So mr. Kite returned home without really watching any birds.

With cold showers approaching Mr. Kite put his feet up and enjoyed a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers.

Monday 2nd April (Spring is Cooling)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window. The sky was a cloudy grey and white and the air was cool. last week was warm but this week was forecast to be cooler. However Mr. Kite knew that the migrants would continue to arrive and not return until the summer. Mr. Kite had a plan and he wanted to see the new arrivals.

However the chores got in the way and Mr. Kite ended up in the town. But on the way over the river he had time to watch a goosander slumbering on a mudbank.

In the late afternoon Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers.

Sunday 1st April (The Start of Another Month)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a sky where the sun shone through a hazy layer of thin cloud. A blackbird sang tunefully from a tree and wood pigeons cooed. Today Mr. Kite felt better and had a plan.

Polemere


Mr. Kite cycled to Polemere in the sunshine. On arrival he opened the hide window and looked out over the water where the birds were preparing for the nesting season. pairs of ducks and geese courted with each other and preened their feathers.

On this sunny day Mr. Kite sat in the warm air looking out over the pool where very little changed; only the arrival of a group of lapwings.

Venus Pool and Atcham


before Mr. Kite home this morning he listened to the song of a willow warbler because his aim was to locate one. So once he arrived at Venus Pool he walked along the hedgerows listening for on. To cut a long story short he did not find one willow warbler.

But Mr. Kite had an enjoyable day and went home for a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers.

Saturday 31st March (To Ill to Watch Birds)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a cloudy sky.

Friday 30th March (A Farewell Fly Past)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a blue sky where a thin layer of cloud was visible. Today was time to go home. So Mr. Kite and His Lady packed up the encampment, set The Sat Nav and started the engine.

Looking at the brook Mr. Kite watched as a blue flash flew past the back of The Joint; a farewell fly past by a kingfisher. So at ten Mr. Kite and the contents of The Joint were heading for Floreat Salopia arriving at one.

Mr. Kite then unpacked The Joint and enjoyed a tipple of Becks. Cheers for a great few days in Bath.

Thursday 29th March (A Raven, A Pie and A Pint or Two)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a blue sky and a frosty ground. Two jays flew between the trees and magpies cackled away to each other.

Following a simple breakfast Mr. Kite and His Lady caught the bus into Bath and strolled along the paths near the River Avon. Lesser black-back gulls, herring gulls, moorhens, canada geese and a greylag were spotted.

On this warm and sunny morning lots of birds and people enjoyed the river. Sitting by the water watching the birds became thirty work so Mr. Kite and His Lady decided that it was time for The Raven. Now this raven is not a black bird or a plunderer or a prowl for prey. No this raven is a great pub in Bath.

Finding a cosy corner in the upstairs bar Mr. Kite ordered a pint of Raven and a gin and tonic, two pies and lashing of chips. Mr. Kite and His Lady then sat for two hours inside The Raven eating and drinking  wonderful food and drink. Eventually Mr. Kite and His Lady had to stop eating and drinking and return to The Joint.

Enjoying a tipple of Becks Mr. Kite and His Lady sat by the babbling brook as a wren came to join them. Cheers to The Raven, the beer, the food and the varied birds of Bath. Cheers.
 

Wednesday 28th March (Audubons Fur and Feathers)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a blue sky. The air was cold and the ground frosty.

Today Mr. Kite and His lady went to look at an exhibition of fur and feathers painted by John James Audubon on elephant sized paper hanging in The American Museum Bath.

Audubon (1785-1851) was an American naturalist and artist who painted the birds of North America during his travels across the country. Using elephant sized paper Audubon painted the larger birds folded in awkward position whilst the smaller birds are painted in numbers on a tree or branch.

This was the first time Mr. Kite and His Lady had studied an original painting from this fantastic artist and it was spectacular. To look at the detail of fur and feather was astonishing; magnificent paintings.

The museum also had another exhibition labelled The Compassionate Eye Birds and Beasts from the American Museum's Print Collection. Once again it was a superb display of lithographs, wood carving and engravings of birds and beasts of America.

Mr. Kite would urge any bird-watcher, beast-watcher or anyone to visit Claverton House to enjoy the exhibition and the fabulous grounds and views. Within the site are paintings, sculptures and real birds and beast.

After a memorable day Mr. Kite and His Lady sat by a babbling brook and had a tipple of Becks. Cheers to all those whose artwork lined the walls of Claverton House.

Tuesday 27th March (Sunshine)


Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window onto frost covered grass and a clear blue sky. The dawn chorus had just finished but  two greater spotted woodpeckers clung to the trunk of a bare silver birch tree. Wood pigeons perched on the branches of trees as they warmed up in the sunshine.

Later in the morning Mr. Kite sat by the brook looking into they alder trees. A tiny goldcrest appeared and flitted around whilst a grey squirrel jumped from branch to branch. A noisy group of jackdaws flew overhead. Then a bobbing grey wagtail followed the course of the brook. This slate coloured bird with a yellow underneath then disappeared around a bend.

Following a lazy day Mr. Kite had a short trip along the cycle track where many other cyclists were enjoying the sunshine. In a marshy patch Mr. Kite stopped to watch two grey heron snack on frogs that allowed them to let down their guard in the late afternoon warmth. So Mr. Kite had another good day and had a tipple of Becks on the banks of a babbling brook. Cheers to another fabulous day.

Monday 26th March (Spring at Newton Mill)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a sunny morning. Soon Mr. Kite and His lady were traveling towards Newton Mill. At 1100 Mr. Kite parked The Joint on the hardstanding and prepared for a few days bird-watching and cycling.

The weather was warm and sunny. Just behind The Joint a small brook babbled. On the banks primroses, daisies and ramson grew. Lots of fresh shoots pierced the warming soil. In the woods green woodpeckers called to each other.

Soon Mr. Kite spotted blackbirds, magpies. robins carrion crows, common buzzards, wood pigeons, blue tits, great tits and long-tailed tits. On the grass a pair of mallards sat in the warm sunshine. Over some fir trees a sparrowhawk circled and turned sharply as it looked for a victim.

In the late afternoon Mr. Kite cycled along a short section of the bath and Bristol Cycle Route where he stopped to look at lesser black-backed gulls and mute swans. From the top of a tree a song thrush sang and overhead a raven called.

The borders of the cycle route were fresh and green where the first blue bells of the year dangled. In the spring warmth butterflies and bees took to the air.

Following a pleasant day Mr. Kite sat outside The Joint and had a tipple of Wychwood Hobgoblin. Cheers to the bird, bees and plants of Newton Mill.

Sunday 25th March (British Summer Time)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a clear morning; the first one of British Summer Time.

To cut a long story short Mr. Kite had a busy morning but in the late afternoon went for a short bird-watching trip. On a warm and pleasant afternoon Mr. Kite cycled to Venus Pool where the usual birds were on display. Following on from there mr. Kite went to Atcham and scoured the river where canada geese and goosander fed.

On reaching home Mr. Kite had a tipple of Wychwood Brewery Hobgoblin. Cheers.

Saturday 24th March (A Foggy Start)

Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a foggy road. The forecast was promising. Today Mr. Kite had a plan. However the plan did not go as expected.

Monkmoor Lagoon


In the afternoon Mr. Kite saddled The Beast and went to Monkmoor Lagoon where spring was in full flow with courting great crested-grebes. A pair of mute swan were putting the finishing touches to their nest and nearby a canadian goose sat proudly on a nest.

Mallards courted and coots called to their mates. On a warm spring afternoon the butterflies put in an appearance.

Mr. Kite returned home for a tipple of Leffe 9%. Cheers.

Friday 23rd March (A Man, A Plan, and a Bike)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a cloudy sky. The forecast was good. Spring was here and the migrants were arriving. Mr. Kite wanted to see some of these summer visitors. So at eleven o'clock Mr. Kite and his birding companion were in competition watching birds.

Bayston Hill


The Incapacitants headed towards Bayston Hill stopping at the Rea Brook to watch many birds including a pair of treecreepers. In the bright sunshine the white underneath of this pair seemed to shine. Both birds came close and walked up a dead tree pecking into the crevices with their short curved beak.

A mistle thrush came to bathe in to running water whilst its partner sat on top of a tree watching to make sure ' the other half' was clean, tidy and in good condition.

Soon The Incapacitants were in Bayston Hill with binoculars focused on a bird perched in a small bare tree. This bird was not a common sight in Floreat Salopia. Bigger than a sparrow and smaller than a blackbird this bird had quite a long tail. With a green body and yellow head and some black spots. Fortunately this definitely was a migrant all the way from Australia; a budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatas). Joey was a pretty sight and counted in the birding competition.

Sharpstone Quarry


In the sunshine Sharpstone Quarry was warm and pleasant and a good place to look for birds. In the hedgerows a group of yellowhammers courted. Then a much less common bird appeared. This bird is becoming much less common. With a brown cap and a black spot on a white neck this uncommon tree sparrow was a pleasing sight.

Further along the quarry flock of linnets and meadow pipits moved around with ravens and common buzzards overhead.

Atcham


On the banks of the River Severn a flock of canadian geese sat. The Incapacitants stopped to scan the flock and search the shingle beaches for other birds. Only the geese were spotted. Then a buzzards sized bird appeared and circled. Lighter underneath with black parts on the wings with black and white on the head this was another summer visitor; an Osprey. This time the osprey was not using the fish for fishing but as a navigation aid as it casually circled and then headed upstream gaining height and then disappeared.

Following that two sand martins flitted past The Incapacitants. The summer visitors were on view and sand martins at last; one week later than expected.

Venus Pool


Finally it was Venus Pool for one hour. On view were the usual and this included a green sandpiper.

Thursday 222nd March (Springtime Promises and a New Bicycle)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a cloudy sky. In the east the sun was rising and the wood pigeons were softly 'twooooing'.

Today Mr. Kite is the proud owner of a new Dawes Horizon. This machine will take Mr. Kite on many nature watching adventures. Now that spring is here Mr. Kite is fully equipped to make the most of his time bird-watching and enjoying the sights and sounds of the natural world.

With graves to attend and some visiting Mr. Kite did not have too much time to watch birds. But in the graveyard at Morville Church Mr. Kite listening to chaffinch, robins and great tits.

Late in the afternoon The Beast was taken for a gentle trip to Monkmoor Lagoon and the River Severn looking for sand martins. Now Mr. Kite should have seen these migrants last week but although he searched and searched he did not spot one little blighter.

So would Mr. Kite watch one of these fly over Monkmoor Lagoon or the River Severn? Firstly Mr. Kite sat in a hide and scanned the lagoon; not one sand martin. Then onto the River Severn for a thirty minute watch over the river banks; still not one sand martin. Lastly back to the hide. Would Mr. Kite see a sand martin?

The answer is no. So Mr. Kite returned home for a tipple of Guiness. Cheers; where are the sand martins?

Wednesday 21st March (The Beast is Retiring and Spring Brings a New Horizon)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a cloudy sky. The dawn chorus was just finishing. Today Mr. Kite did not watch birds but decided that The Beast must be replaced. So Mr. Kite spent the day looking around to find a replacement for the loyal Beast.

Having chosen a new cycle Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Thwaites Lancaster Bomber Bitter. Cheers to the new bicycles and the journeys it will have.

Tuesday 20th March (Spring is Here)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window two hours after the Spring Equinox. Spring was here. So Mr. Kite had a plan and at 0930 he met his birding companion and The Incapacitants went bird-watching in Spring.

Towards Ratlinghope


On a sunny morning The Incapacitants were in competition and heading towards Ratlinghope stopping to watch birds and identify them. many of the usual species were soon spotted. Cycling towards Picklescott after many stops to listen to chaffinch, blue tits and robins they stopped and listened to a 'chiff chaff'. Now this little bird took some finding as it flitted between bushes and trees marking its territory and attracting a female to make its trip from Africa worthwhile. Standing on a grass verge, amongst some fresh fabulous primroses, The Incapacitants scanned the local area and seemed to have glimpses of it. Then it disappeared and then appeared about five metres away and sat on top of the hedge in full view. The little bird on the hedge was not a willow warbler because it called 'chiff chaff'.

With blossom, blooms and bird song this was definitely a Spring day. Near The Bridges The Incapacitants parked the cycles and walked along Darnford Brook and up a little. Ravens, jackdaws, common buzzards and wood pigeons flew busily around and a flock of fieldfare fed enjoying a rest before their flight back to Scandanavia.

Towards the top of a hill a flock of chaffinch fed on the grass. Looking carefully Mr. Kite noticed a chaffinch sized bird with an orangy plumage and neat black lines on its head; this was a brambling. A colourful and neat sight. Nearby lapwings, starling and redwings moved over a freshly ploughed field.

With a chilly breeze blowing up the valley The Incapacitants then rode to Ratlinghope.

From Ratlinghope towards Home


The wind was now favourable to The Incapacitants as they headed towards home via Habberley for the return leg. Soon a bubbling double-note call was heard. An onomatopoeic haunting shrill that developed into a liquid trill. 'Cuh'rrleel' or 'cour-li' was the call and curlew was the bird. Stopping to look The Incapacitants soon noticed a solitary curlew standing in a luscious green meadow below a moor. The brown bird will a long droopy bill stood around and soon more liquid calls were heard and four more curlews flew over. This seemed to be the sign for the individual in the meadow to take to the air and join the others for a shrilling tour of the area. Rather like an formation flying display the birds met up before doing individual solos showing their white 'v' on their rump.

As the afternoon progressed The Incapacitants stopped for a walk in New Meadow where yellow daffodils and primroses add colour to the fresh green grass. Overhead a red kite, a common buzzards and corvids harried each other.

With the day out coming to an end the birding competition was being lead by Mr. Kite. But a skylark and a pair of mistle thrushes put Mr. Kite in a losing position. So journey back slowed down as mr. Kite looked for three more birds to make it a draw. Looking for a long- tailed tit The Incapacitants spotted a sparrowhawk; then a dunnock and then a wren. The competition was a draw.

Following a good day bird-watching mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers to all those curlews.

Monday 19th March (Will Mr. Kite Succeed)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a sunny sky.

Monday 18th March (More Searching)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a cloudy sky. The dawn chorus had just stopped and Mr. Kite had a plan.

Saturday 17th March (Did Mr. Kite find the Sand Martin)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a sunny sky. Spring was progressing and today Mr. Kite had a plan.


At ten o'clock Mr. Kite saddled The Beast and headed towards Venus Pool with the intention of spotting a sand martin. Now for the past amny year Mr. Kite has spotted a sand martin on March 16th. Today is March 17th and the question is: 'Would Mr. Kite spot a sand martin?'


Looking out over the water mr. Kite scoured the sky and searched the surrounding. Every small bird was a hopeful sign. To cut a long story short Mr. Kite did not find a sand martin but he did enjoy a tipple of Greene King Abbots Ale. Cheers.