A damp and wild morning along the South Drain and Maxey Cut with clouds of lapwing and golden plover wheeling to and fro over the ploughed fields south of the drain towards Helpston. With the birds moving around so fast it is difficult to estimate numbers, but there must have been a good thousand golden plover and a couple of hundred lapwing, along with a good mix of starlings.

A grey wagtail was anxiously trying to feed on the south drain itself, despite being chased for 50 yards by Henry, my dog.