Tuesday, 12 October 2010

Double wheatear combo

Most birders are no strangers to seeing the phrase "Black-eared or Pied Wheatear at..", for a bird that hasn't yet been identified from this difficult to ID species pair, but it's not often (ever?) that you actually get to see both Black-eared Wheatear and Pied Wheatear in the same place! This was the case on St. Mary's today when a Pied Wheatear was (finally!) identified on the golf course to join the Western Black-eared Wheatear that has been present on the island for the past 4 days.
Mark and I saw a few nice birds on the island today on our walkabout. A Jack Snipe and an obliging Common Snipe on Lower Moors, a few Ring Ouzel dotted around the island, 2 Common Crossbills flying over the island and a rather grey Willow Warbler by the Rat Pond.
Pity the England football team couldn't make my evening as enjoyable as my afternoon.


Jack Snipe, Lower Moors

Common Snipe, Lower Moores

Common Snipe, Lower Moores


'Eastern' Willow Warlber, Rat Pond



Pied Wheatear, 1st winter male, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly (HD video below)

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