Wandering Wheatear.

I have received a report of  a Wheatear which has appeared in a Cowlease garden for several days now. It is unusual behavior as we usually only see these birds as they pass through Dorset on their way to their northern breeding grounds. A walk along the Ridgeway at this time of year will often reveal several birds flitting along the wall tops.

Northern Wheatear.                 Photo:  Mark Pemberton. Click to enlarge.

  Considering that this bird has flown over 2,000 miles, probably non-stop, from Central Africa, it deserves a rest and feed-up for a few days in Martinstown.  It is then likely to continue its journey to north country moorlands to breed.  They do sometimes stay to breed in Dorset, but in very low numbers, maybe two or three pairs every year in the Purbecks..

Things were different in the late 1700s, with thousands of  Wheatears being caught and sold as a delicacy in Weymouth market. In 1794 one man is credited with catching 7,880!