Record Shot

I had a choice today between this rather poor shot of a Fieldfare, and a rather nice shot of a Blackbird in the garden. I went for the Fieldfare because it's more likely to remind me of what was, by recent standards, a rather good afternoon. I had to go across the valley and up the other side to collect a prescription, and by the time I'd finished, I was on course to hit the school run. I decided to take evasive action by returning via a scenic route. In one of the fields, I saw a flock of Starlings feeding, but on looking more closely, I realised there were quite a few Fieldfare in amongst them. This was the only photo I managed before another car roared by and sent them all up and they disappeared. Soon after, I saw a flock of Golden Plover withe a scattering of Lapwing  swirling through the sky. I drove on and parked at a favourite spot. I saw some movement it the field and soon spotted a Stoat hunting along the field edge before dashing across the road. At the same time something caught my eye above and as I looked up it was the unmistakeable shape of a Red Kite. I drove on homeward and was delighted to see a large flock of Fieldfares in a field only a short distance from home. Sadly the light was behind them, so no photos, but it might be worth a little sortie tomorrow morning, weather permitting, to see if they are still in the area. The best wildlife watching I've had for some time - and I did't even have my binoculars with me.