Monday, August 18, 2014

August Wheat

The weekend was very windy with almost northerly gales at times and frequent bouts of rain. So I waited until Monday lunch time before a spot of birding along the sea wall at Pilling, perhaps not the best choice as the tide was out and it was still windy. There are very few birds to report except that I did catch my first two Wheatears of this autumn. 

Buzzards were at Fluke Hall again, two feeding in the potato field where they pick through the recently harvested earth and the remaining crop for earthworms and such like. I’d hardly set foot along the sea wall before the Buzzards saw me coming and headed off out of sight. Later there was another Buzzard at Pilling Water which flew towards Fluke Hall, so possibly number three. 

The Buzzards gave way to a Kestrel which hovered above the sea wall for a while until it too flew to the south of the woodland, and later a definite second Kestrel, this one flying back towards Damside. 

Kestrel

Along Pilling Water, 2 Grey Heron, and out on the marsh 3 Little Egret. Passerines were few and far in the still strong wind with a smattering of Linnets maybe 20 in total, 7 Goldfinch, 1 Pied Wagtail, and 20+ Tree Sparrows at Fluke Hall. 

At Piling Water were 3 Wheatears, an adult and 2 juveniles, the juveniles sticking together but the adult some way off. Of two birds caught one was an adult female still in post-breeding moult, the other was one of the two juveniles. The adult had a wing length of 93mm and a weight of 24.1 grams so a nominate Oenanthe oenanthe. The noticeable bulkier juvenile weighed 28.9 grams with a wing chord of 99mm, and therefore a possible leucorhoa “Greenland“ type. 

Wheatear

Wheatear - adult post-breeding moult

Wheatear - adult female

Wheatear - juvenile

Wheatear - juvenile

Wheatear - juvenile

 There more of August very soon with Another Bird Blog. In the meantime I'm linging to Stewart's World Bird Wednesday.

20 comments:

Rohrerbot said...

Thanks for showing the wing details on your birds. It is very helpful. That Kestrel is sweet! Slightly different from our own. They are such cool little falcons:) Hope you're having a good week. Chris

carol l mckenna said...

Kestrel shot if magnificent and glad you waited till Monday as all your shots are gorgeous for OWT ~

artmusedog and carol (A Creative Harbor)

Sylvia K said...

You do always have the loveliest birds and such a variety as well! Thank you for sharing them with us! Have a great week, Phil!

eileeninmd said...

Phil, it is nice seeing the details of the wings up close. It is a beautiful bird. Great shot of the Kestrel.. Happy Birding!

Carole M. said...

regardless of the weather you've managed another great post Phil. Not like you to slacken off when the sun disappears... The kestrel flight photo is 'in my dreams' and your wheatears are very photogenic

Valerie said...

A pretty bird - lovely markings. Thanks for sharing.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Great pictures of the remiges. Are you taking the pictures or are you holding the bird?

Russell Jenkins said...

I'd be happy with those raptor sightings Phil, and I really like the kestrel picture. The wheatears look delicate with subtle markings and your pictures have captured their details perfectly. Looks like a good outing. Interesting about the possible Greenland specimen.

Germán Ibarra Zorrilla said...

Que bonita la Collalba, buena entrada Phil. Saludos desde España.

chai-and-chardonnay.blogspot.com said...

Love the details of the wings! A beautiful post and I am learning every time I visit your blog.

Unknown said...

Beautiful close ups! I've seen them here too, but I've never managed to get very close to them.

Hootin Anni said...

Love the profile close-up!!!

Adam Jones said...

Super post and very interesting stats on the Wheatear. Nice Kestrel too.

Susan said...

Beautiful captures. I've never seen a Wheatear before, love their plumage.

Karen said...

Awesome, I would love to hold a bird!

Stuart Price said...

Have to say the wheatears look pretty relaxed.........

A Colorful World said...

What an awesome kestrel. And the wheatear is so sweet. Lovely close-ups of him.

Mary Howell Cromer said...

Thank you for always giving such good information, along with your beautiful images, always find it interesting. Have to ask a question, though it may be silly...the images of a bird being held, are you taking those photos, or is someone birding with you? I have thought to ask before and forgot to. Have a great day~

Arija said...

Love the flight shot of the Kestrel and the variance in plumage of the Wheatears.

Its Time to Live said...

Today I took a vacation through your blog and enjoyed the trip. Thanks, great images!

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