Whinchat on the Patch

I had one of those days that you dream about when walking around your local patch last week. I always walk around in hope of finding something good, and usually go away satisfied that I've seen much the same as the previous day, and if the sun was out too, then that's a real bonus. But this day I turned up and straight away I heard a Lesser Whitethroat singing in the hedgerow. A great little bird, that's not often that easy to see, and very rare on my patch.

Then I continued my walk, with all the usual suspects singing or in position, until I spotted a bird jumping around the top of the hedge. I thought it might be a Stonechat, but then I saw the stripe over it's eye, and knew instantly that this was a Whinchat. A much prized bird for me, and I was absolutely delighted. So much so that I went back again that afternoon to see it again, and this time it was even closer and the right side of the sun. Superb!! It was still there the next day, but much further away and a scope was required. 

You can see my latest wanderings here:

Lesser Whitethroat

Stonechat

Whinchat

A Bumper Day on the Patch

Birding on a particular patch can be quite disheartening at times, especially when you see lots of good birds appearing all round the country. You're just hoping that one drops in when you are there and that will make you happy. Birding where I do at Woodford, straddling the Cheshire and Greater Manchester border, seeing a Linnet can be a good day, whilst on others it seems completely devoid of all life. I've had some very good birds here, and most have appeared at this time of year. Trusting my notes from previous years, I made a special effort last week to visit during my lunch breaks and after work. I was rewarded beyond belief.

In just one day I had found a male Redstart at lunchtime, followed by a female after work. Added to that followed a Yellow Wagtail and two male Whinchats. Also thrown into the mix were Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plovers, Ringed Plovers, Stonechat and Barn Owl. I'd have been happy with this list if it was spread over 5 years, but to get them all in one day was really quite special. What's more the sun was out, and I was able to get some good record shots of them too.

I do hope this isn't all my luck used up, and that I can have more days like this on the patch in the weeks and years ahead.

Female Redstart (centre picture)

Male Redstart hugging the hedge

Male Whinchat with his back to us

Now facing us

This Yellow Wagtail was on the golf course, while I had myself behind some trees for cover

 Record shot of a Ringed Plover (left) and Common Sandpiper (right)

Whinchat

I made many trips and travelled many miles in search of a Whinchat in the Spring of this year, and all to no avail. I didn't find any on passage or at a trusted site for breeding. I had all but given up seeing one this year. Until that is I saw reports of them on the move again, and they were starting to move down off the hills. I had somewhere that usually gets the odd Redstart and Stonechat passing through at this time of year, and so I thought I'd go and take a walk and see if there was any sign. I checked the usual fence lines and bushes, but no sign of any Whinchats. In fact there was very little of interest about. 

I hopped over a style and carried on my walk towards the River Dean. Plenty of Swallows were around and the juveniles were resting on the fence wires. I took a cursory look through the binoculars across a wheat field, when I caught sight of a bird zipping over the top. I got a good look at it, and long enough to rule out Reed Bunting and Meadow Pipit that can be in the area. I thought it might be a Stonechat, but then it popped up on top of the crop. This was a Whinchat!! I'd actually forgotten to look for one by this stage, so it was real delight to see one. Only issue was that I didn't had ;eft my camera in the car.

I walked all the way back to get it and returned. Thankfully, it was still there and I was able to get a few pictures. Another good year tick.

Happy Place

When you're feeling a bit down I've always found it a big help to go to a place where you feel happy. I'm lucky to have that place not too far away and it's somewhere I can escape the hustle and bustle of city life. I've been social distancing here for many years now. It's a real joy to go early, when you almost own the landscape and the nature within it. Peace and quiet and a sense that many have been here before me and not much has changed. The birds are still around and there was a nice surprise for me too in the form of a Whinchat. This bird must have been on his way to his winter home. It was great to watch it though as it foraged for food, but sad to think that our summer migrants will soon be gone for another year. 

Along the river there were a couple of Grey Wagtails looking very good once again after the busy breeding period.

A pair of Nuthatches were picking at the bark looking for food.

Here's the Whinchat that typically kept it's distance. Hope to see you again next year.

Whinchat

I don't see many of these birds, and probably only one or two annually. So I was pleased to hear that there were a pair fairly local to me. This particular bird was busying itself among the heather and bracken, but like the similar Stonechat, it does like to perch at the top of a bush to have a good nosey around. It also helps me to pick it out and focus on it.

Lovely little birds and always a pleasure to see.

Not to be confused with the Whinchat is the Stonechat. A Male here.

Whinchat - RSPB Geltsdale

I stopped at RSPB Geltsdale on my way to the Farnes. It's somewhere I had been to before and I enjoyed my early morning walk here once again. A bird on my list to see this weekend was the Whinchat. They breed here, and in good numbers but I missed them last time, so I was determined have a proper look round this time.
I was enjoying myself so much, with lots going on that I'd forgotten about looking for these. So I was quite surprised when one popped up in front of me. The distinctive supercilium over the eye gave away Whinchat to me.
I think I spent a goof half an hour watching a pair here. They were busy collecting insects for some young not too far away. A great start to the day.

Female Whinchat

The male

These were both ringed. I contacted RSPB Geltsdale and they confirmed that they have an active ringing program on site. Hopefully they will be able to give me a little more information on these birds soon.

The Wirral

The Wirral is an amazing place for bird watchers, as I think I have said many times before. It offers something every month of the year. Spring brings the usual migrant species, but it is also a great place for almost guaranteeing certain species that are not easy to find once they disperse throughout the country. Whinchat is one of those and I love being able to find one and even better if you can get a few shots of it.

Reed Warbler

A male Stonechat with a small caterpillar in it's bill.

A distant but very welcome Whinchat.

Whinchat - Leasowe

Migration is in full swing and the birds are getting better, and still coming. An early morning start on the Wirral turned up a few surprises with a Sedge Warbler calling. A Willow Warbler was the first of the year, as were half a dozen Swallows.
Pick of the bunch though was a stunning male Whinchat. Around the perimeter of a horse paddock, doing what they do best, waiting on fence posts before dropping down for some food and back again.
Only the second time I've seen one. I'm hoping I can see a few more this year. For now though, I'm happy with this one.

Whinchat

For a few years now I've been chasing this bird around the North West with no joy at all. I've researched where they may be at what time of year. I have read other peoples accounts of where they saw them, with happiness for them but green with envy for me. Due to a combination of time constraints, bad weather and bad planning by me, I've always missed out. Until the 28th August 2012. The day I saw my first Whinchat. Two in fact. My pictures are not great at all, but they are OK record shots of a bird that I have found ridiculously hard to find.