Thursday 31st January (Final Day of January)
Once again the wind was strong and the forecast poor.
Wednesday 30 January 2013
Wednesday 30th January (A Short Trip in a Strong Wind)
On this mild but breezy day Mr. Kite and His Birding Campanion went on a short bird-watching tour. Plans a venturing far afield were thwarted by astrong wind that made cycling hard work. The Rea Brook was the first place where the ususal birds were present.
Then it was onto Sharpstone Quarry to watch flocks of linnet, chaffinch, goldfinch and meadow pipits fly around. In the fields nearby redwing, fieldfare and rooks fed in the field. By this time the wind was very strong and the light not too good so very little was spotted because of the conditions.
A brief visit to Springfield Mere was rewarded with mallard, coot and goosander but here again most birds seemed to be sheltering.
Lastly it was to the English Bridge to look at the flooded river where two mute swans sat in the low shelter of a willow tree and twenty four goosander drifted around before flying upstream.
On this mild but breezy day Mr. Kite and His Birding Campanion went on a short bird-watching tour. Plans a venturing far afield were thwarted by astrong wind that made cycling hard work. The Rea Brook was the first place where the ususal birds were present.
Then it was onto Sharpstone Quarry to watch flocks of linnet, chaffinch, goldfinch and meadow pipits fly around. In the fields nearby redwing, fieldfare and rooks fed in the field. By this time the wind was very strong and the light not too good so very little was spotted because of the conditions.
A brief visit to Springfield Mere was rewarded with mallard, coot and goosander but here again most birds seemed to be sheltering.
Lastly it was to the English Bridge to look at the flooded river where two mute swans sat in the low shelter of a willow tree and twenty four goosander drifted around before flying upstream.
Tuesday 29th January (Lots of Water and Water Birds)
On this mild day Mr. Kite and His Lady put some flowers on a grave and listened to robins singing and a common buzzards calling as it circled overhead. Soon another buzzard appeared from the trees on the side of the hill and they both circled on powerful wings gaining height before dropping back into the wooded hillside.
In a small tree on the edge of the graveyard another a little bird came and perched next to a blue tit for a short while before moving on. Slightly more stocky than the blue tit it looked like a willow tit with it's black head. Mr. Kite listened carefully waiting to hear a short call or song so that he could compare it with a marsh tit but the bird did not oblige.
So on the return trip Mr. Kite and His Lady stopped at V.P. to scan the water with The Superscope. The water had attracted hundreds of birds that included teal, mallard, shoveler, wigeon, tufted duck, one female pintail and two goldeneye along with canada and greylag geese.
The most entertaining birds were the wisp of snipe that were on an island. In the hint of sunlight their stripey heads and camouflaged bodies contrasted a golden yellow with a mottled brown. But today a number of these birds were not using their long bills to dip into the mud but to duel with a competitor. Keeping their distance they lunged forward aiming on the neck to give a good peck before moving the head back and gaining a more stable posture to fend off the opponent or take another lunge.
All very entertaining and a good selection of birds to watch.
On this mild day Mr. Kite and His Lady put some flowers on a grave and listened to robins singing and a common buzzards calling as it circled overhead. Soon another buzzard appeared from the trees on the side of the hill and they both circled on powerful wings gaining height before dropping back into the wooded hillside.
In a small tree on the edge of the graveyard another a little bird came and perched next to a blue tit for a short while before moving on. Slightly more stocky than the blue tit it looked like a willow tit with it's black head. Mr. Kite listened carefully waiting to hear a short call or song so that he could compare it with a marsh tit but the bird did not oblige.
So on the return trip Mr. Kite and His Lady stopped at V.P. to scan the water with The Superscope. The water had attracted hundreds of birds that included teal, mallard, shoveler, wigeon, tufted duck, one female pintail and two goldeneye along with canada and greylag geese.
The most entertaining birds were the wisp of snipe that were on an island. In the hint of sunlight their stripey heads and camouflaged bodies contrasted a golden yellow with a mottled brown. But today a number of these birds were not using their long bills to dip into the mud but to duel with a competitor. Keeping their distance they lunged forward aiming on the neck to give a good peck before moving the head back and gaining a more stable posture to fend off the opponent or take another lunge.
All very entertaining and a good selection of birds to watch.
Monday 28 January 2013
Friday 25 January 2013
Wednesday 23 January 2013
Tuesday 22 January 2013
Tuesday 22nd January (A Blast of Siberia)
This was a cold morning. The sun was peering through a thin layer of cloud and icicles hung from the gutters but wood pigeons cooed in the cold Siberian blast. Mr. Kite had plans of a trip around later in the morning.
At about two in the afternoon Mr. Kite went for a trip to Monkmoor Lagoon. The fields and hedrerows had redwing, blackbirds, robins and dunnocks. The lagoon was frozen and not one bird was to be seen.
Eventually a common buzzards flew over and stock doves landded in a tree. But Mr. Kite soon went home to a warm fire.
This was a cold morning. The sun was peering through a thin layer of cloud and icicles hung from the gutters but wood pigeons cooed in the cold Siberian blast. Mr. Kite had plans of a trip around later in the morning.
At about two in the afternoon Mr. Kite went for a trip to Monkmoor Lagoon. The fields and hedrerows had redwing, blackbirds, robins and dunnocks. The lagoon was frozen and not one bird was to be seen.
Eventually a common buzzards flew over and stock doves landded in a tree. But Mr. Kite soon went home to a warm fire.
Monday 21 January 2013
Saturday 19 January 2013
Friday 18 January 2013
Friday 18th January (Snow)
Plans of a trip into the bare woodland searching for woodpeckers was called off as the snow came down and the icy wind blew. However Mr. Kite did watch feral pigeons cooing gently in the icy blast with their feathers ruffled.
So not too much achieved today on another winters day.
Plans of a trip into the bare woodland searching for woodpeckers was called off as the snow came down and the icy wind blew. However Mr. Kite did watch feral pigeons cooing gently in the icy blast with their feathers ruffled.
So not too much achieved today on another winters day.
Thursday 17 January 2013
Thursday 17th January (A Frozen Lagoon)
Mr. Kite nipped into town today noticing a group of goosander swimming up the river.
Later Mr. Kite went to the lagoon where the water was frozen and birdless. With the daylight fading Mr. Kite did notice blue tits and great tits in the hedge while the snow cloud built-up.
Soon it was time to return to the warm house.
Mr. Kite nipped into town today noticing a group of goosander swimming up the river.
Later Mr. Kite went to the lagoon where the water was frozen and birdless. With the daylight fading Mr. Kite did notice blue tits and great tits in the hedge while the snow cloud built-up.
Soon it was time to return to the warm house.
Tuesday 15 January 2013
Wednesday 16th January (A Cold Frosty Winter)
Mr. Kite woke up on a silent cold frosty morning; it was too cold for the birds to sing. So for an hour Mr. Kite sat in the house and drank tea until late morning when he went for a trip to V.P.
Cycling along the country lanes Mr. Kite looked for partridges and other birds of the fields. Flock of redwing and fieldfare were busy feeding on the wet ground. On arrival at V.P. Mr. Kite looked at hundreds of ducks and geese with a few lapwings and a mute swan.
Today was one to watch the familiar species doing what they do: fly, squabble and court. Once again the duck were leading the way with the males pursuing the females. A lively common buzzard disturbed the birds often but did not seem likey to take one.
So after an hour Mr. Kite cycled home to warm up.
Mr. Kite woke up on a silent cold frosty morning; it was too cold for the birds to sing. So for an hour Mr. Kite sat in the house and drank tea until late morning when he went for a trip to V.P.
Cycling along the country lanes Mr. Kite looked for partridges and other birds of the fields. Flock of redwing and fieldfare were busy feeding on the wet ground. On arrival at V.P. Mr. Kite looked at hundreds of ducks and geese with a few lapwings and a mute swan.
Today was one to watch the familiar species doing what they do: fly, squabble and court. Once again the duck were leading the way with the males pursuing the females. A lively common buzzard disturbed the birds often but did not seem likey to take one.
So after an hour Mr. Kite cycled home to warm up.
Tuesday 15th January (Bird-watching in the Dining Room)
On this cold frosty winters morning Mr. Kite walked into town listening to robins, blackbirds and wood pigeons. On the trees the buds were preparing for the spring and new green shoots were peering out the ground.
Walking back over the river Mr. Kite stopped to watch cormorants and black-headed gulls. Mr. Kite opened the front door and went into the dining room where a feral pigeon was sitting on the taable waiting to be fed. This plucky little bird had come down the chimney rather like Father Christmas should.
This bird was not making too much noise but did flutter a little and did not move as he expected to be fed. Mrs. Kite decided that the bird could not stay for tea so he had to be caught and put out to fend for himself. Feral pigeons are not fed inside this house. So the door was closed and the pigeon then had a little fly around onto the book shelves, the piano and the mantel-piece.
Mr. Kite tried to catch the bird but it was not playing that game but would rather be pursued. So from the piano to the mantel-piece and to the book shelves the bird went from one to the other just in front of the ageing Mr. Kite. Eventually the feral pigeon was caught and released into the garden where it flew up and then landed on the house roof.
So the dining room list for the year so far is one: a feral pigeon.
On this cold frosty winters morning Mr. Kite walked into town listening to robins, blackbirds and wood pigeons. On the trees the buds were preparing for the spring and new green shoots were peering out the ground.
Walking back over the river Mr. Kite stopped to watch cormorants and black-headed gulls. Mr. Kite opened the front door and went into the dining room where a feral pigeon was sitting on the taable waiting to be fed. This plucky little bird had come down the chimney rather like Father Christmas should.
This bird was not making too much noise but did flutter a little and did not move as he expected to be fed. Mrs. Kite decided that the bird could not stay for tea so he had to be caught and put out to fend for himself. Feral pigeons are not fed inside this house. So the door was closed and the pigeon then had a little fly around onto the book shelves, the piano and the mantel-piece.
Mr. Kite tried to catch the bird but it was not playing that game but would rather be pursued. So from the piano to the mantel-piece and to the book shelves the bird went from one to the other just in front of the ageing Mr. Kite. Eventually the feral pigeon was caught and released into the garden where it flew up and then landed on the house roof.
So the dining room list for the year so far is one: a feral pigeon.
Monday 14 January 2013
Monday 14th January (Sounds)
This was a cold wet winters day full of gloom. The snow was turning to rain and the cold wind sent a chill through the air so Mr. Kite played with his phone, wrote a few words and listened to feral pigeons cooing with a course tone.
Plans of a late afternoon trip were abandoned when the rain pattered on the windows and the wind howled down the chimney pot. This was a time to sit, read and write. But as the day turned into a dark evening Mr. Kite heard a familiar bird call. From the sky came a deep penetrating honk that was repeated many times a second. For about ten seconds Mr. Kite listened as the call faded away. Mr. Kite did not have to look out of the window and look up into the sky to know that a small flock of canade geese had flown over.
So another January day passes before another dawn and another day.
This was a cold wet winters day full of gloom. The snow was turning to rain and the cold wind sent a chill through the air so Mr. Kite played with his phone, wrote a few words and listened to feral pigeons cooing with a course tone.
Plans of a late afternoon trip were abandoned when the rain pattered on the windows and the wind howled down the chimney pot. This was a time to sit, read and write. But as the day turned into a dark evening Mr. Kite heard a familiar bird call. From the sky came a deep penetrating honk that was repeated many times a second. For about ten seconds Mr. Kite listened as the call faded away. Mr. Kite did not have to look out of the window and look up into the sky to know that a small flock of canade geese had flown over.
So another January day passes before another dawn and another day.
Sunday 13 January 2013
Sunday 13th January (A Gentle Cycle)
Mr. Kite's new smart phone is smarter than he is but Mr. Kite is making progress and making some use of the device. Today he had planned to use the machine to map a route, record a bird song and take a picture. However the plan failed at the first obstacle but Mr. Kite did enjoy a short cycle ride and a little bit of bird-watching.
Just before noon Mr. Kite set off towards Venus Pool along the frosty lanes and close to the frozen fields. On this slow excursion Mr. Kite noticed the usual birds and heard the usual songs. The sun shone and the air was cold but those little birds did their job and kept him amused until he reached V.P.
At V.P. there were hundred of birds and a number of bird-watchers. So the first task was to observe the use of technology and ask about its' use and helpful people gave Mr. Kite some practical information.
Returning to the birds Mr. Kite was impressed by bathing greylag geese rotating in the icy water, noisy canade geese showing who was boss, squabbling coots competing for the females and a shelduck just to add to the year list. The bigger and noisier birds made their presence known but the common snipe were conspicuous because the sunlight illuminated their camouflaged plumage and they flitted between places silently before prodding their long bills into the soft mud.
Mr. Kite returned along the river through Atcham where very little was on show but at least ten goosander were on the rivers edge. Lastly Mr. Kite dropped into Monkmoor Lagoon where stock doves sat on the 'osprey pole' and a pair of mallards courted. However a spring of teal were a welcome sight on the still water as they just swam around.
With the snow approaching it was time for the short trip home as the light faded before a cold frosty winters night.
Mr. Kite's new smart phone is smarter than he is but Mr. Kite is making progress and making some use of the device. Today he had planned to use the machine to map a route, record a bird song and take a picture. However the plan failed at the first obstacle but Mr. Kite did enjoy a short cycle ride and a little bit of bird-watching.
Just before noon Mr. Kite set off towards Venus Pool along the frosty lanes and close to the frozen fields. On this slow excursion Mr. Kite noticed the usual birds and heard the usual songs. The sun shone and the air was cold but those little birds did their job and kept him amused until he reached V.P.
At V.P. there were hundred of birds and a number of bird-watchers. So the first task was to observe the use of technology and ask about its' use and helpful people gave Mr. Kite some practical information.
Returning to the birds Mr. Kite was impressed by bathing greylag geese rotating in the icy water, noisy canade geese showing who was boss, squabbling coots competing for the females and a shelduck just to add to the year list. The bigger and noisier birds made their presence known but the common snipe were conspicuous because the sunlight illuminated their camouflaged plumage and they flitted between places silently before prodding their long bills into the soft mud.
Mr. Kite returned along the river through Atcham where very little was on show but at least ten goosander were on the rivers edge. Lastly Mr. Kite dropped into Monkmoor Lagoon where stock doves sat on the 'osprey pole' and a pair of mallards courted. However a spring of teal were a welcome sight on the still water as they just swam around.
With the snow approaching it was time for the short trip home as the light faded before a cold frosty winters night.
Saturday 12th January (The Year So Far)
The story so far is one of frustration with a new smart phone and a use of technology that has failed, through the result of the user, rather than the systems themselves.
In short Mr. Kite has visited the usual place in and around Shrewsbury including Venus Pool, Polemere and Monkmoor Lagoon looking at the birds. Lots of birds were on view and some of these were starting to show signs of courtship, amourness and plain reproductive behaviour. Certainly the most frisky were the ducks.
With snowdrops popping through the brown wet soil and catkins dangling from the branches Mr. Kite watched the year progress whilst adding carrion crow, black-headed gull, grey heron, whooper swan, northern shoveler, coal tit, little grebe, cormorant, bullfinch, raven, reed bunting and meadow pipit.
On this Saturday Mr. Kite sat in the garden for a short time listening to the bird songs of early January. Wood pigeons, feral pigeons, robins and blackbirds could be heard.
The story so far is one of frustration with a new smart phone and a use of technology that has failed, through the result of the user, rather than the systems themselves.
In short Mr. Kite has visited the usual place in and around Shrewsbury including Venus Pool, Polemere and Monkmoor Lagoon looking at the birds. Lots of birds were on view and some of these were starting to show signs of courtship, amourness and plain reproductive behaviour. Certainly the most frisky were the ducks.
With snowdrops popping through the brown wet soil and catkins dangling from the branches Mr. Kite watched the year progress whilst adding carrion crow, black-headed gull, grey heron, whooper swan, northern shoveler, coal tit, little grebe, cormorant, bullfinch, raven, reed bunting and meadow pipit.
On this Saturday Mr. Kite sat in the garden for a short time listening to the bird songs of early January. Wood pigeons, feral pigeons, robins and blackbirds could be heard.
Thursday 3 January 2013
Thursday 3rd January (A Gentle Cycle on a Pleasant Day)
After completing a few chores Mr. Kite saddled The Bike and set off towards Polemere cycling through a wet Quarry along a flooded river and down roads with ditches each side full of flowing water. There would not be a water shortage this year and judging by the volume of the liquid around; the water companies will be paying us to take it away.
Soon Mr. Kite was once again at Polemere fo find an obliging green-winged teal sitting on the side of the mere showing two vertical white bars. There is nothing like stripes to show status. Having located the 'special one' Mr. Kite looked at the moorhens in fine winter plumage.
With the hide beginning to bulge with twitchers Mr. Kite made a move and cycled towards the town searching the fields for ground-feeding birds. Large flocks of fieldfare and redwings moved across the wet ground feeding voraciusly. In the hedgerow a pair of mistle thushes watched. The wet sodden fields must have produced a bumper crop of slugs and worms for this years ground-feeding birds.
After stopping near a flooded brook at Condover to watch a greater-spotted woodpecker Mr. Kite moved onto Venus Pool to see pochard, a pink-footed goose and a sparrowhawk.
So another mild January day finished with the list slowly creeping along.
After completing a few chores Mr. Kite saddled The Bike and set off towards Polemere cycling through a wet Quarry along a flooded river and down roads with ditches each side full of flowing water. There would not be a water shortage this year and judging by the volume of the liquid around; the water companies will be paying us to take it away.
Soon Mr. Kite was once again at Polemere fo find an obliging green-winged teal sitting on the side of the mere showing two vertical white bars. There is nothing like stripes to show status. Having located the 'special one' Mr. Kite looked at the moorhens in fine winter plumage.
With the hide beginning to bulge with twitchers Mr. Kite made a move and cycled towards the town searching the fields for ground-feeding birds. Large flocks of fieldfare and redwings moved across the wet ground feeding voraciusly. In the hedgerow a pair of mistle thushes watched. The wet sodden fields must have produced a bumper crop of slugs and worms for this years ground-feeding birds.
After stopping near a flooded brook at Condover to watch a greater-spotted woodpecker Mr. Kite moved onto Venus Pool to see pochard, a pink-footed goose and a sparrowhawk.
So another mild January day finished with the list slowly creeping along.
Wednesday 2 January 2013
Wednesday 2nd January (A Tick in the Book)
This morning Mr. Kite had some things to do before he could enjoy a cycle ride and a spot of bird-watching. In fact Mr. Kite had to find the number on an alarm module to shut the thing up. The magic number is 41133.
Anyway with the magic number safely stored Mr. Kite set out to Polemere to find a red-crested pochard. Now this was not a little bit of twitching but a destination that Mr. Kite often reaches for the peace and tranquility of a pleasant little hide.
So in the early afternoon Mr. Kite arrived at Polemere where a few bird-watchers were watching birds. Expecting to be told where the red-crested pochard was Mr. Kite was informed that it had been replaced with a green-winged teal; what a green-winged teal.
Some people are very kind and a kind person called Geoff focused his scope on the duck in question and said, "Have a ganders at that." Mr. Kite looked into the scope to see a fabulous teal with a vertical white stripe on its front; a green-winged teal. Some ticks in the book are as easy as that.
Now in this age of modern technology it was not long before all the birders from all over the place started to arrive. Soon the place was filled with twitchers sitting there 'like ducks to water'. At this point Mr. Kite headed home via the country lanes looking for more birds. Lots of jackdaws, rooks and wood pigeons were spotted.
Another good day in Shropshire.
This morning Mr. Kite had some things to do before he could enjoy a cycle ride and a spot of bird-watching. In fact Mr. Kite had to find the number on an alarm module to shut the thing up. The magic number is 41133.
Anyway with the magic number safely stored Mr. Kite set out to Polemere to find a red-crested pochard. Now this was not a little bit of twitching but a destination that Mr. Kite often reaches for the peace and tranquility of a pleasant little hide.
So in the early afternoon Mr. Kite arrived at Polemere where a few bird-watchers were watching birds. Expecting to be told where the red-crested pochard was Mr. Kite was informed that it had been replaced with a green-winged teal; what a green-winged teal.
Some people are very kind and a kind person called Geoff focused his scope on the duck in question and said, "Have a ganders at that." Mr. Kite looked into the scope to see a fabulous teal with a vertical white stripe on its front; a green-winged teal. Some ticks in the book are as easy as that.
Now in this age of modern technology it was not long before all the birders from all over the place started to arrive. Soon the place was filled with twitchers sitting there 'like ducks to water'. At this point Mr. Kite headed home via the country lanes looking for more birds. Lots of jackdaws, rooks and wood pigeons were spotted.
Another good day in Shropshire.
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