Less than 3 weeks now and we,ll be seeing our first Wheatears of the year as they pass through our area on the way to their breeding sites.
Looking back at my previous years records each first has arrived from the 20th to the 27th of March apart from my earliest sighting on the 19th March but that was over at Barden Moor in 2000. Most others are recorded from Soil Hill or Cold Edge Dams. Spring time is the best time to see and photograph Wheatears as the males are sporting their bright breeding plumage whereas on their return through our area in the autumn males and females look alike in their autumn/winter plumage.
How early are your first sightings?
A dull but dry day today till late p.m. when drizzle set in with a strong W>5 blowing.
Very little reportable birds other than a few LBB gulls over early a.m. >NW.
BS