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.