Pools and heathland along Red Route - habitat of a pair of Stonechat.
Flooded wood nearby - part of Stonechat hunting ground.
Walking along the Red Route on the Reserve this year, I recently noticed a pair of Stonechat taking up residence in the vicinity of the pools and flooded woodland (Wood 2) east of the hide- NY 200614.
I first observed them on 23rd April, flitting about the gorse and shrub tops, across the pools looking east. The Male frequently perched on the highest of the flooded tree trunks on the lookout for flying insects. Being insectivorous, this was an ideal location for them, liking heathland with gorse and heather nearby. There were plenty of midges and other insects about and the male was kept busy flying from its perch after them - whereby the female stayed closer to the ground and utilised the lower vantage points lining the pools as her base, making frequent forays to the water's edge and back. Their diet consists of moths, ants, flies, caterpillars etc. but they will take worms and snails.
23rd April - Male Stonechat perched on his high vantage point.
23rd April - Female Stonechat hunting from a poolside perch.
Passing this way once or twice more throughout May, it was a continued pleasure to see that they were still in residence. However, on my last visit which was on 7th June, I had not even got to the pools when there was an unexpected explosion of birds from the shrubbery adjacent to the track - there they were, with four fledglings. Once they had settled down and located to the barbed wire fence next to the track, they proceeded to travel just ahead of me along it. The juveniles were dipping down into the field on the other side of the fence - presumably feeding on insects in amongst the grass while the two adults looked on. There were plenty of flies, moths, craneflies, butterflies and even damselflies about to keep them happy.
Three possibly four fledglings along the barred-wire fence.
Male with two of them.
Three juveniles perching confidently on the barred-wire..
This one looks pretty sturdy!
With male ...
... and female keeping a careful eye on them.
The last I saw of them was as they carried on along the fence which then turned away at right angles to the track.
What a happy encounter!