Knot
Now is a good time to spot Knot
Wearing summer breeding plumage
their little fat bellies are the colour of Accrington Brick*
The pales ones are juveniles
(*incidentally, Accrington bricks,
renowned for being strong,
form the foundations of Blackpool Tower)
Knot flock in vast numbers
On the beach they shuffle and jostle
for the same space
then they’re up and away
Thousands of tiny beating wings
whoosh overhead
Twisting and turning
they perform a dramatic aerial display
as if a giant magnet
is pulling little iron filings
across the sky
They land and shuffle into a huddle
Until they do it all over again
After moult, Knot don their winter gear
Their plumage changes
to a streaky ghostly grey
and we won’t see
that lovely Accrington Brick colour
until next year’s breeding season
mybpool 