On a bright sunny Boxing Day afternoon, we went for a walk to a local high point in the countryside. Despite the sun, it was bitterly cold with a strong wind taking several degrees off the already low single figure temperatures.
As we got to a viewpoint we were faced with a sight of at least 16 red kites playing in the wind as it raced across the rolling fields. They soared, swooped and whirled around each other, diving towards the ground and back up to above the height of the low hills. At times they seemed to be playing with together but they also went off on their own to explore the fields before coming back into the group.
The cold wind soon drove us back into the shelter of the hedgelines and we left the kites behind, continuing to play in the wind.
Yesterday we headed over to the Cotswolds for a walk and to buy some cheese. The weather forecast looked set fair and as we drove west from Northamptonshire we could see blue sky ahead of us. Arriving at Bourton-on-the-Water there was the usual chaos at the main car park but we got parked pretty quickly. Even in late February the town is packed of visitors but we soon left them behind as we walked out of the urban area and into the surrounding countryside.
Our walk was a loop from Bourton to the Slaughters and back; only about five miles, but enough to stretch the legs after a week at work. The sun kept appearing from behind springlike fluffy clouds and we could feel a little warmth in its rays. However, there was also a keen cool wind which kept the temperatures down when we were out of the shelter of field walls and hedges.
As we wandered up a long rise we could hear skylarks above our heads and across the fields; the first time we’ve heard them this year. There was also a pair of red kites circling in the wind and hanging above the valley. Eventually, we dropped down the other side of the hill and into Upper Slaughter, the chocolate box village, lit up brightly by the sun.
In Lower Slaughter, after negotiating some muddy fields, we even managed to have lunch outside at the pub, only to then get wet as the rain came down on the last leg back into Bourton.
While the walk was the main purpose of the visit, we had to stop at Stow-on-the-Wold on the way home to visit the excellent cheese shop!
Yesterday was really the first taste of spring we’ve had but today has gone back to winter with strong winds, rain and lower temperatures. We’re still in February, so yesterday was really just a very early bit of springlike weather and I suspect we might have to wait a little longer for some more.
One late afternoon last December, when we were out looking for nacreous clouds, we came across a red kite roost.
These roosts are where red kites gather to rest for the night. They are quite social birds, especially outside of the breeding season. As evening approaches, they come together in groups, often returning to the same roosting spots year after year.
This communal roosting is pretty unique among raptors. They start forming these roosts in early autumn, and as winter sets in, more kites join the group. They might do this to find mates, follow others to food sources, or just enjoy the company of fellow kites.
We were fortunate to stumble across this roost by chance last year and retuned a few times to see the birds come in as the light faded on winter evenings.
Today, was the first time we have been to look this winter and we weren’t disappointed. The sunset was rather lovely and we counted at least 38 kites come into two separate small copses a few hundred metres apart. This was the highest number we have so far counted, so I’m keen to pop back a few times to see if numbers increase further this winter.
A few kites visible in the tree behind the telegraph pole
After seeing a large gathering of swallows on powerlines yesterday, this afternoon our garden has witnessed perhaps dozens of swallows and house martins in the sky above.
It has been a lovely summer’s afternoon spent mostly in a hammock or deckchair under our magnolia tree, listening to and watching the birds darting, chasing and circling above us. At one stage around ten swallows gathered on a TV aerial next door to noisily chatter to each other while a smaller group seemed more intent on heading southwards. The sky certainly has been busy with hirundines and perhaps some signs that summer of birds is drawing to a close.
However, we will still be left with our residents. The red kites and buzzards have been drifting over, crying out as they pass. A pair of ravens played in the breeze on their way up the valley. We also had a bullfinch drop buy, a bit of a rare site in our garden.
The weather has been much more like a good summer over the last few weeks and the next seven days look good too. So I’m hoping that the swallows and house martins stay a little longer and we can enjoy the sites and sounds of summer for a little while more.
Daft Mumblings 