Stonechatting
I’ve seen Stonechats before, most recently on Trendlebere Down in South Devon. They are very handsome birds, and their insistent habit of sounding like two stones being knocked together means even I can tell them from the sound they make:
Today I’m at Bowling Green Marsh near Exeter and there’s one in the bushes:
It’s spotted me:
What a beautiful bird:
As with many supposedly dull brown birds, they get more and more beautiful the closer you get to them:
Its orange shades with these pale pinkish spring buds make a lovely contrast:
As do these black legs on purple thorns:
