Tuesday, April 10, 2012

First Wheat Et All

With it being cold and blowy again this morning I left the birding until pm. Temperatures were a little better after lunch, high enough even to make the meal worms wriggle. I located a single male Wheatear at Pilling Water, and then three minutes later the bird had a brand new shiny ring as it headed off east towards the hills. Although a bright, colourful adult male it was of only average bulk and 100 mm wing chord so was clearly of the UK variety; true Greenland types, wing >105mm are not normally due until later in the month. 

 Wheatear

Wheatear

A few bits and pieces on and around the incoming tide, including a good count of 430+ Redshanks. Others: 7 Red-breasted Merganser, 15 Oystercatcher, 2 Eider, 20 Grey Plover, 110 Golden Plover, 2 Little Egret, 45 Lapwing, 20 Curlew, 7 Cormorant, 4 Skylark, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Linnet and 4 Meadow Pipit. 

 Redshank

As I sat below the sea wall 3 Swallows came from the south and headed directly across the bay towards Heysham, my first hirundines of the year. 

Back at the car park a Willow Warbler sang out loud and clear, another new one for the year! 

 Willow Warbler

Heading back home the Buzzard was over Burned House Lane again. 

16 comments:

kirstallcreatures said...

Quick work with the wheatear & nice to see the Willow Warbler

HansHB said...

Gorgeous shots! Well done!
Happy WBW!

Martha Z said...

Wonderful images, great detail on the wheatear. I enjoy images of birds I don't see in my part of the world.

Joanne Olivieri said...

The wheatear is very different, I've never seen him. Great shots.

theconstantwalker said...

Lovely images... and a great read..

eileeninmd said...

The Wheatear is a pretty bird, the Redshanks in flight is an awesome capture and the Willow Warbler is a sweet looking bird. Great post and happy Birding!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Beautiful birds -- both wheatear and warbler and I love the redshanks skimming along the water -- great pictures, what a wonderful day of birding.

Kay L. Davies said...

The Willow Warbler photo is simply lovely, Phil.
We didn't see as many birds as we'd hoped to on this last trip, but I'll be posting some photos of Magnificent Frigate Birds and some other species soon, including one that made me think of you.
K

mick said...

Great photos of the Wheatear and a good variety of birds to see on the in-coming tide. I hope your weather warms up soon!

Brian King said...

Beautiful shots, Phil!

FjÀllripan said...

Beautiful photos! The willow warbler looks so cute! :)

NatureStop said...

Great images!!

Stuart Price said...

I saw my first hirundines of the year this week too.......

Mary Howell Cromer said...

Beautiful Wheatear and the Willow Warbler can sing you right into full blown spring weather...maybe. Have a great day Phil~

Tanya Breese said...

wow, great shots!

Springman said...

Awesome shots...
Cheers Sir!

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