Wheatear Sighting

Thursday 19th September 2013

We walked along the cliff path above Thorncross near Brighstone this morning and spent some time watching a small flock of birds in a stubble field that at first we thought were skylarks at a distance. We took some photos and looked up what they were when we got home and worked out they were a first for me and were wheatears.

They are summer visitors and stay for a short time along the coast as they migrate to their wintering grounds in Africa. They had spent the breeding season in the upland areas of Northern Britain. Pretty birds with a flush of orange on their breast and black cheeks.

RSPB website gives more details.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/w/wheatear/index.aspx