Departing Wheatear

Hopping around the coast of Weybourne was this loan Wheatear. I'd not seen one for a few months, and this little chap was probably feeding up before heading further south and eventually making the long trip to Africa for the Winter. I'm already looking forward to their return in the Spring. Just need to get through the dark winter months first. 😢

Migration Time

A couple of weeks ago, I headed up into the hills and moors above Macclesfield, as I often do at this time of year, in search of some early migrant activity. As other birds seemed to be about a week ahead of schedule on previous years I took the gamble and went looking for Ring Ouzel. It was cold up there, and what seemed like a long wait and search of about 15 minutes paid dividends. A lovely male Ring Ouzel was feeding below on the rocky slopes. These birds are really special to watch and I'm so fortunate to be able to view them each year. Hopefully this one pairs up and manages to breed successfully.

Male Ring Ouzel

A supporting cast of Wheatears, and Meadow Pipits were nice to have as company and the Wheatear is such a handsome photogenic bird, as it hops along and poses nicely on mounds, rocks or fence posts. I counted at least 3, but it was hard to keep up as they were constantly moving around .

This amazing male was good enough to pose not too far away from me.

Wheatear

Wheatears and Wagtails in Norfolk

An Easter trip to Norfolk meant a very determined look for Spring migrants. There were lots I'd been looking forward to finding, and one on my list was the Wheatear. I'd looked a week or so earlier around my local area, but had not found any. We stopped in at Cley beach, as I'd often seen them in the fields here in previous years. Initially it wasn't looking promising, with only some Ruff, Meadow Pipits and a couple of Golden Plover of note. A bit more time spent scouring the ground and I noticed a female Wheatear hoping around. It was swiftly followed by a male. I was delighted to catch up with them again for the first time this year, and hope to see many more as we go through the breeding season.

Female Wheatear standing nice and proud.

The more colourful male.

Now, some birds you hope to find on your trip and others you just get very fortunate and stumble across. The Yellow Wagtail is a bird that I always hope that I come across during the year, but not one I ever go out expecting to find, unless there is some go info available on a particular bird. 

On this particular morning I was happy adding year ticks of Ringed Plover and Bar-tailed Godwit at a very quiet Salthouse, near Cley. Meadow Pipits and Linnets were keeping me company, and the odd Little Egret flew by, whilst the Oystercatchers made sure there was some sound in the air. I got back in my car very content, when I caught a glimpse of bird that I assumed was a Grey Wagtail. All I caught was some yellow as it hopped from the road to the fence line. As I focused properly I could see that it was in fact a Yellow Wagtail!! I stayed in the car and grabbed the camera. It was only a few feet away and I just let it do it's own thing while I snapped away. 

What a fabulous bird, and how lucky I was to be there at that time. The Early Birder does often catch the worm.

Yellow Wagtail

A Moorland Feast

I'm so fortunate to live close to some fantastic bird habitats. One of those habitats is upland moors. Go at the wrong time of year, and you'd wonder if you're the only one alive up here, as it can be very desolate and the weather unforgiving. The wind howls through at speed and the icy chill can be felt no matter how many layers you have on. Fast forward to Spring, and it's still not particularly warm, but signs of life come from all angles. The Curlew can be heard bubbling, the Red Grouse pop their heads up and the Meadow Pipits are like swarms of flys as they are absolutely everywhere. Throw into the mix returning Wheatears, Golden Plover and if you're very lucky the Ring Ouzel, then it's a very special place to be.

Every year I make numerous visits hoping to see the Ring Ouzel return. I saw none last year, and was beginning to wonder if disturbance by many more walkers since Covid lockdown had pushed them on to other parts. Thankfully this year I have seen them on a few occasions and in song too. I hope this means that last year was just a blip. 

The female, which is brown and the bib not so crisp white as the male.

The male, black and a clean white bib.

Distant male Wheatear

Meadow Pipit

The Hills Are Alive

Some freedom at last in terms of lockdown here in the UK. We are now aloud to venture a little further than previously and have ended the days of 'stay at home' (for now). So I went as far as I dared and made my way to the hills of the pennines in search of some of our Summer migrants. Who am I kidding? It was to see anything that wasn't a Blue Tit, Coal Tit or Blackbird. My year list needed to grow and I needed to shake off the shackles of the last 3 months.

It was cold and a bit gloomy to start the morning this Good Friday, but that also has it's benefits in stopping so many other people being out at the same time. I went to some of my usual haunts and picked up Dippers, Sparrowhawk, Chiffchaffs, Grey Wagtails and then some new ones to the year list with a pair of Stonechat. Then my first Wheatears of the year. These really are great birds to see, and they tend to make it easy to photograph them too, by perching nicely on rocks or grass tufts.

Anyway it was good to be out, and see new things. There were plenty of Grouse about and Ravens overhead, with a large flock of Curlew in the grass. I feel like the year has finally begun.

A really good looking male Wheatear.

Damn that tuft of grass. I'll see if I can get rid of it some how later.

The female

Peak District Moors

Up on the moors you can still hear the evocative call of the Curlew at the moment. It can sound a bit haunting at times, but it's a great bird to hear. Sadly it is in decline, as it's habitat is eroded by concrete jungles and changes in agriculture. Thankfully there are still quite a few in  an area close to me. A couple of weeks ago I was greeted by a pair that flew towards and over me as I got out of my car. I posed no threat, but they weren't to know that. I carried on my walk along the road only for them to come round again for a second pass. I got the camera up this time, and the light was perfect.

Yes, that is what you think it is just below the bird.

A Reed Bunting was not what I expected to see up on the moors.

Juvenile Wheatear were good to see, with a few around, and still being tended to by the parent.

Lockdown Birding

I've managed to connect with a few summer migrants recently when on my daily bike ride. Only having binoculars on my back (in a rucksack) means I've not taken any pictures, so these are from last year and a similar time.

I was delighted to find some Wheatears on my local patch. I really thought that I might miss seeing these birds this year. Over the course of a week, there were up to 3 birds present. I think some may have moved on quite quickly, to be replaced by others, but it was great to be able to stop and watch them hopping around. Some of the females looked to be of Greenland race. Quite a bit stockier and darker in colour. Great looking birds and one I always look forward to welcoming back from migration.

Male Wheatear

A bit further down the road, and I could hear a Common Whitethroat singing. It took me a while to locate, but I knew it was there. It did eventually show itself at the top of a tree, where I like to see them. Great to have them back in the country. Hopefully I'll get to see them lots more on my rides and walks.

Norfolk at Easter

I've just spent a week at my parents in Norfolk, which to most birders in the UK is birding Mecca. I saw lots of birds, added lots of year ticks, and yet I feel there was much more that I could have seen. Right time and right place was what it was all about. I missed out on a number of birds by minutes, and others by not quite being in the right place. That's birding, and tomorrow is another day. Just need to keep getting out there and see what turns up.
I can't complain really, I had some great early mornings and the weather was good too, despite a rather cold easterly wind. One bird that I really wasn't expecting to see was a Greenshank at Morston. It's a bird I usually have to make a concerted effort to see each year, so this was a real bonus.

Greenshank workings it's way through the muddy estuary.

Here with a Curlew. A good size comparison.

Never easy to locate, but this Grey Partridge popped up nicely on my walk.

A really good looking male Northern Wheatear. One of the highlights. They popped up everywhere.

RSPB South Stack

I had a lovely time at South Stack on the island of Anglesey in later Spring. There was a lot going on, as birds were busy pairing up, nest building and some were only just arriving to these shores following their migration.
The weather was perfect and it was a joy to be in amongst some lovely looking birds in all their summer finery.

Linnet

Meadow Pipit

Rock Pipit

A freshly arrived Wheatear