Friday 9th September (Gaggles, Googles and Giggles)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window into a brightening grey sky. A gentle breeze blew the aging lime trees and occasionally one would spiral down to earth. After yesterday lazy day Mr. Kite was soon packing the saddlebags and preparing The Beast for a short trip.

In the warm autumn air Mr. Kite pedaled towards Atcham Bridge. With the river in view Mr. Kite slowed down and looked across the river that was higher than recent days. The muddy water now covered the muddy edges that had attracted the ducks and geese. Today the canadian geese and mallards sat on the grassy river banks.

Then Mr. Kite headed towards Venus Pool. Once again the water level had dropped and soon will be called Venus because of the water shortage. A few buckets of water might help but probably not. Soon Mr. Kite was scanning the muddy shoreline looking for the waders. At first Mr. Kite did not see any so he then focused upon the geese and ducks. Greylag, greylag, greylag, greylag, greylag; oh a different goose. This goose had its head resting on its body; but the head had two black bars and a bright orange-yellow beck. The body was light grey and white. If Mr. Kite was on Mount Everest he might see one flying over The Himalayas but this bar-headed goose had decided that Salop in autumn was better then Kathmandu.

Eventually the bar-headed goose stood up and waddled over to the diminishing water to clean it's bright orange legs. After a quick swim, a bit of dunking and a roll or two the clean goose walked over the muddy waters edge back to the green grass.

Mr. Kite saw one more species of goose; a very common one that has a name that makes a great anagram. So here is the anagram; do gas a canoe (6,5).

Mr. Kite then searched Venus to spot green sandpiper, common sandpiper, dunlin, ringed plover and lapwings. After a good morning bird-watching Mr. Kite cycled home for a tipple of Tetley tea. Cheers to the canada goose. Now this makes Mr. Kite think; canada goose in Salop; bar-headed goose in Salop; what next?