With several local reports of Wheatears, now is the time to check those dry stone wall tops for birds slowly moving south. Several of the birds seen will be juvs whilst the adult birds will all be in autumn plumage making it near impossible to distinguish between male and female.
Returning birds are much more confining and can stay in the area 2 to 3 months , DJS even reported a November bird a couple of years back at Withens Gap. Birds have even been reported to over winter but way down south.
If you see a large butch looking long legged Wheatear with a brighter plumage chances are its a Greenland species which are much more common during the autumn than the spring but beware of Wheatear with their feathers puffed up in poor weather making them look much larger. A lot of Greenland Wheatear reports turn out to be just the common Northern species and the only way to be certain of a positive i.d. is careful checking of plumage details if you want to get so involved.
BS