On our ramble yesterday, over the vast old Airfield site (now Ellenbrook Fields), we met a few birdspotters who pointed out four whinchats to us (see photo). These birds are not common to this part of the country, so we were pleased to see them.

From a distance, whinchats can easily be confused with stonechats - which are regular visitors to the site.

The whinchats were in the uncultivated field nearest to the old British Telecom test site (Nottcuts end).

Also seen was a solitary wheatear, passing through, several whitethroats and a red kite flying over.