Like other migrants the Wheatears have been thin on the ground so far this year, and before today the most I’d seen together was a trio just a couple of weeks ago, before the northerly winds set in. I doubled that count today when I found 6 along the sea wall at Pilling.
Wheatear
The Wheatears gave me the run around for a while but eventually two of them succumbed to the temptation of meal worms.
Wheatear
Wheatear
Wheatear
Both birds were probably Oenanthe oenanthe leucorhoa, one a rather chunky bird with a wing length of 106mm, the smaller bird a wing of 102mm, the latter a little in the overlap range. Both birds were quite bright with underparts a fairly extensive buff cinnamon, bearing in mind that oenanthe is very variable with the darkest birds similar to a pale leucorhoa.
As I waited for the Wheatears to surrender the birding yielded 4 Swallow, 1 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard, 300 Pink-footed Geese, 3 Willow Warbler, 1 Chifchaff, 1 Reed Bunting, 6 Teal, 90 Golden Plover, 1 Greenfinch, 4 Linnet.
Swallow
The forecast for the week ahead is a mixed bag of everything that a UK April brings - showers, rain, sun and wind. Just the stuff to drop some migrants from up high – here’s hoping.
The wheatears are so cute, and your swallow is just lovely.
ReplyDeleteI might post pelican pictures today, we have quite a few of them, but very few other birds.
K
I'd forgotten what a great looking bird a Wheatear is, only ever seen one over here and that was a tatty exhausted female vagrant.......
ReplyDeleteThe male wheatear looks really smart! Looking much better than the plain Isabelline Wheatear I saw in India.
ReplyDeleteVery attractive little bird, Phil, and wonderful portraits. Some birds are thin around here too this year and I don't know if it's just a late spring.
ReplyDeleteLovely little bird. Let's hope the weather people are correct and that you have a great birding week.
ReplyDeleteThe wheatears are really good looking birds.Your gotsome neat shots!!
ReplyDeleteShantana
Great shots of this bird. I like your close-up!
ReplyDeletehappy WBW to you!
They are just so cute and your pictures are wonderful. Wonderful birding list too (any of the ones you list would make my day if I would ever be lucky enough to see them)
ReplyDelete! Thanks for sharing.
Good capture, great post.
ReplyDeleteA very smart looking species. Super pics Phil.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous shots, Phil!
ReplyDeleteReal cuties!
ReplyDeleteGee Phil, I have not been able to visit your blog for a while; some tech problem. Great post Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeleteCute little birds.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are so wonderful! This is a very cute bird, I did not know it so far.
ReplyDeleteLovely birds to see.. your images are fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI'm eager to see them back over here but no sign of them yet. You got sumptuous pictures! Well done.
ReplyDeleteYour header photographs is incredible; so crisp!
ReplyDeletePhil, they are pretty birds and great closeups.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos. The Wheatears are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteLove the Swallow, beautiful shots.
ReplyDeleteSo when they 'succumbed to the temptation of meal worms' does that mean you trapped them - or mist netted?
ReplyDeleteI can remember very busy days around fixed nut feeder stations in the NE or England.
Cheers - Stewart M
Such pretty birds!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments everyone. Stewart M - yes spring traps work most times.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures you show of a wheatear.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a good day.
Hanne Bente / hbt.finus.dk
Such a beautiful bird! And great captures of him aswell :)
ReplyDeleteLove these images, the sparkle in those beautiful eyes, sweetness like no other! The Swallow image...love those Swallows!
ReplyDeleteBellisimas todas!!!
ReplyDeleteSaludos
A wonderful looking little bird is the Wheater, such subtle coloring! Here's hoping for some great sightings this week!
ReplyDelete