And the first ‘S’ is ‘Success!‘ On my Attenborough amble this morning (08/11) I spotted my first Stonechat of the season in the Erewash Fields and a trio of Snipe in the Church Pond by the railway level crossing.

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Just four of the many shots I took of this female stonechat. The light direction makes the lower images look more colourful but they are all of the same bird. I hoped to see her mate, maybe next time. Stonechats obligingly perch in the open, often on top of a stalk. I was particularly pleased to photograph her perched on a teasel.

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On the way back to the car park (free for members of the Wildlife Trust!) I looked for snipe in the usual place and saw just two with their long bills tucked under their wings. Eventually a third emerged from the reedbed and stirred the other two into action. Birdwatching can be a bit of a waiting game but this time it was wroth it.

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A final ‘S’ from the garden at the weekend. A couple of starlings dropped in to try out the new, improved feeding facility. They will be back with the rest of the gang I expect.