*710 Bird Watching Poem by John Knight

When God made birds He made them very special
Their domain like His - the bright blue sky
Gliding very smoothly on their thermals
Envy of men - until we learned to fly.

Sweet Avocet the Princess of our birds
Its very name evoking charm and grace
Pristine in black and white - such elegance
In Stately Homes would not be out of place.

The Nightingales sing sweet on Summer days
The Linnets twittering chorus can be heard
The Kestrel's kee kee kee protects its nest
Distinctive sound and call for every bird.

The Fingringhoe Wick Nature Reserve - is quite......
Near my home - Two hundred species there of bird.
Wading Birds by day - Bats and Owls at night
Squeeks of coots and ghostly hoots are heard.

Each day I'm sitting patient in my 'hide'
The Redshanks - Curlews - Brent Geese flying by
All catalogued inside my Twitters Guide
A flock of screeching Seagulls fills the sky.

We can learn so much from every type of bird
Their plumage is so vibrant and alive
They really love their fledglings whom they teach
To fly and feed and fight and to survive.

They build their nests out of the reach of man
Even deep inside a prickly bramble bush
To keep out pests - they disinfect their nests
The Swallow and the Sparrow and the Trush.

If you feel stressed out with modern life
Pick up your binoculars - go down to the park
Go on your own - don't take your husband or you wife
Just glory in the freedom of the Lark! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

(John Knight - Wet & Windy Colchester - Pancake Tuesday)