A vibrant, rusty orange chest leads up to a chocolate brown head, colours that match the falling leaves that slowly drift to the ground from the autumn trees, the only separation between the two contrasting colours, is a thin white line like that of a vicars collar. Perching on the thin wire fence, the sound of two stones knocking together followed by a soft peep accompanies the tail flicking of this tiny, stunning bird, a bird that I fully admit to have a slight obsession with. Here in front of me sits one of the UK's most beautiful birds a Stonechat.
Stonechat Obsession Continues
Last winter I became obsessed with a pair of Stonechat that took residence for the winter, I mentioned it last week in Soundscapes and Memories, well it seems a pair have arrived this year and are favouring the area just behind the Farm Hide, their evocative calls can be heard as they hop around the fences or are chased by a rather pugnacious Robin, who is not happy to have any competition in his territory.
Stonechat Obsession Continues
Pin Me.
The stunning colours, those most reminiscent of autumn that you could hope to find on a bird, stand out from the green fields or the white of the passing sheep. The male is very confiding, happy to allow quite a close approach, and unusual habit, but one I am very grateful for.
Male Stonechat
Stonechat on a Post
Stunning Male Stonechat
A Maze of Posts
Getting Closer
Who You Looking at?
Male Stonechat
Another of the Stonechats
Such a Stunner
Other Wildlife
Beyond the stunning stonechats the majority of the patch was pretty quiet, typically although I was here Tuesday and am back today yesterday a stunning Knot appeared, along with 3 Dunlin, sadly one day birds, and as with all one day birds they appear on days I am working.
A couple of Green Sandpiper, the usual , ducks and geese, good numbers of Meadow Pipit, Goldfinch, a few Linnet, Redwing and Fieldfare flocks, but nothing much to shout about.
Green Sandpiper
Black-headed Gull
Goldfinch
Goldfinch Feeding
Reed Bunting
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