Stonechats

 A reasonably bright start that eventually gave way to a rather grey and cold day. Having missed my usual Sunday appointment at Deene I decided that it was better to be late than never and so headed off in that direction.

Stonechats (male top)

It was very quiet to begin with and I saw nothing of note at either Willowbrook Industrial Estate or along the first stretch of Kirby Lane. As I got nearer to Deene a check of a likely looking fence line produced the hoped for Stonechat, a male that showed well if a little distantly. The farm ponds held a small selection of ducks and the usual Mute Swans and Dabchicks but not much of interest. Things perked up a little at the lake where a female Stonechat was feeding between the dam and the road. Also seen was a Kingfisher which again flew off as soon as I appeared and landed some distance away. No change amongst the wildfowl with everything including the Shelducks pretty much as it was on my last visit. Once again a single Snipe was found at the inflow but that was it as far as interesting stuff went.

Distant Kingfisher and closer Little Egret

Deenethorpe airfield was rather dull with just a few Skylarks and Meadow Pipits on site as well as the usual Red Kites. After crossing the A427 I began a muddy slog across the fields noting a flock of twenty four Golden Plovers as I trudged. Very little else to report though it was good to see three Kestrels within a short space of time and also a Sparrowhawk whose presence caused no small amount of alarm amongst the nearby passerines.

Cormorant and Buzzard