TOP SECRET... AN AIR SHOW'S RAREST FLYER

A female redstart found in Farnborough

A HUSH-HUSH operation has successfully kept the biggest stars of this year’s Farnborough International Airshow quietly under wraps.

Only those in the know caught a glimpse of their top secret aerobatics.

Few of the 227,000 visitors who marvelled at the Hawks, Albatrosses and Ospreys on display were aware of a
pair of nesting black redstarts.

The sparrow-sized birds, one of the rarest in Britain, performed their sorties to catch insects for a hungry brood of
fledglings they are raising.

Long after the last visitor had walked away from the show that earned sales of £47billion last week organisers were
keeping guard on their nest built inside a hospitality chalet.

Contractors have agreed not to dismantle it for two weeks to give the birds time to raise their chicks.


Show spokeswoman Philippa Ewart said: “The birds seemed totally unfazed by all the noise of the aircraft.”

Watched the Blue Angels do their thing at Pensacola Beach 1 1/2 weeks ago very impressive 18 inches apart at times

Airfields are a haven for wildlife. I hope they all grew up safe and well.