Saturday 24th September (The Five O'Clock at Fakenham)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window onto a pied wagtail; one of the many that live on Fakenham Racecourse. Mr. Kite had a lazy day sitting in the warm autumn sunshine reading the paper and napping to retain his energy for the five o'clock at Fakenham.

So at five Mr. Kite was on the starting line for the one circuit bird-watching handicap around the course. Mr. Kite had cleaned his binoculars and checked his notebook and pen. On the stroke of five when the church bell in Fakenham struck Mr. Kite was off looking and noting species of birds. Just after the start it was pied wagtail, stock dove, carrion crow and linnet. Passing the one furlong marker it was house sparrow and a running hare. It was a quiet period for the next period with collared dove and rook. The three furlong marker was passed where lesser black-backed gull flew over. Four furlong out revealed black-headed and common gull. After the five furlong marker a jackdaw was feeding amongst a flock of sheep. Six furlongs out a few quacks were heard and then Mr. Kite noticed a pond on the golf course where two mallards bobbed about. At the seven furlong marker a greater spotted woodpecker was heard but not seen and then the final furlong. Scouring the trees, bushes, buildings and the sky Mr. Kite ticked off goldfinch, chaffinch and mistle thrush and a wedding party before crossing the finishing line. So the result of the five o'clock at Fakenham was fifteen birds, one hare, plenty of sheep and drunken revelers at a wedding.

As a reward Mr. Kite returned to The Joint; put his equipment away and had a tipple of Holts Humdinger. Cheers from the course winner at Fakenham.