More Help Please

[Goldmaxx]

More help needed please, I took these this afternoon at the Royal Cornwall Showground
The closest I can find in my book is a Wheatear

[RoyW__]

Originally Posted by Goldmaxx

The closest I can find in my book is a Wheatear

You should find that that's close enough

It is a Wheatear (or Northern Wheatear).

[Goldmaxx]

Thank you Roy

[PeterB]

Nice spot! I've only ever seen one.

[astafjevs]

Originally Posted by PeterB

Nice spot! I've only ever seen one.

I'm surprised by that, Peter. I used to get annoyed as one of my books refers to them as 'a familiar bird of open country' and I'd never seen them, but they're a bit like dunnocks in that once you've got your eye in they're actually very common (in the right areas, obviously, not in the sense that they're like dunnocks because every garden has one).

Maybe its because we're quite near the coast but I see them on most trips to the estuary, and virtually any trip up into the hills.

There's a very special wheatear hanging around locally, three days and counting, and I have everything crossed that it remains until Saturday morning.

[aquila 1]

Hi thats a lovely picture, we had a sudden influx of wheaters while we were on Cyprus they were on their way to Africa. lovely birds. best regards mac

[PeterB]

Originally Posted by astafjevs

I'm surprised by that, Peter.

Only one I saw was at Cley in Norfolk.

Here is the RSPB's distribution map, I live smack in the middle of the white area.



I know it's not gospel, but I don't see them reported locally either but I know what you are saying. Since seeing my first Rock Pipit last week I have seen one nearly every day.

[Jynx_69]

Originally Posted by PeterB

.....I don't see them reported locally either.....

Peter, there are several very reliable sites near you for seeing wheatears on passage. search through the posts on the Bedsbirds Yahoo group to find the sites near you, then wait till april/may next year and "fill yer boots" on pristine spring males

[PeterB]

Thanks Simon, I have only subscribed to Beds and Bucks BG's for about 6 months so I am currently getting to grips with the autumn migration flood and the flood of e-mails tempting me out.