Wheatear
I’m flushing Wheaters with every walk and drive on Westray. There isn’t a path or a road which doesn’t have a wary bird on it, ready to fly just far enough away so that it will have to repeat the whole rigmarole again in a few seconds time.
They are so tricky to get close to:
I’ve had fun watching an adult feeding its chick in a nest in a 5,000 year old house here. I didn’t want to get close to it though. Hungry chicks shouldn’t have their dinner delayed.
I tried getting close to one last year, and almost succeeded with a fluffy juvenile:
And a little bit closer:
And closer still:
This year? Still as far away as ever.
Maybe next year?
More Wheatears
A curious Wheatear I sometimes wonder why Wheatears are so difficult to get close to. Then I remember that we have killed and… read more
Wheatears full of character Wheatear know how to strike a pose. Northern Wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe, are small yet very powerful birds. They have been… read more
The Flower of the Vine returns Wheatears are back on Westray. They've made their way from Africa to Westray to raise their families in hollows, rabbit… read more
Oenanthe oenanthe The Northern Wheatear's scientific name is Oenanthe oenanthe. It means 'Flower of the Vine' in Ancient Greek. Its binomial name… read more
Lookout Northern Wheatear are powerful birds and migrate to Africa for our winter. It's astonishing that so soon after being an… read more
A Wheatear explosion I've never been able to get close to Wheatears before. They are very wary birds. There are a few families… read more
Golden light The light is incredible on the west coast of Westray. It's golden, and reflects beautifully off the Atlantic onto the… read more
Westside Wheatears I've taken to walking the Westside of Westray. Yes, I've been taking a Walk on the Westside. The glorious weather… read more