It's March - it must mean Wheatears!

Birder's up and down the country are celebrating the arrival of March and with it the imminent arrival of their favourite species - Wheatear (Oenanthe whitearseii). This emblem of all things Spring should be landing along our coastal watchpoints within hours - if some haven't sneaked through already.

Essex banker and Wheatear apologist Jono Lethbridge (27) said "These are my favourite birds by far. Even better than shrikes, and I bloody love shrikes, me". The 35-year old continued, "I can't wait to train my big lens onto one. I even lived in North Africa this winter to get my Wheatear fix. In all of the 44 years I've been birding I don't think I've ever been so excited!"

Down in Kent, two Dungeness regulars are preparing themselves for civil war of a Wheatear kind. Paul Trodd (63) and 17-year old Martin Casemore (The Plodding Birder) have cornered the market in Wheatear photography. Last year Martin's blog showcased 578 photographs of the bird, with Paul's blog only managing 456. This year however, Paul has a plan in place to become the shingle's 'Top Wheatear Dog'. "I've noticed that Plod has become obsessed with gulls over the winter - he's on the beach even more than Dave Walker! So between now and the end of May I'm going to keep on mentioning a funny gull that I've seen, suggesting that it might just be a Thayer's. That'll keep him away from the white-arsed beauties and I can fill my boots!"

Last years winner of the North Downs and beyond Wheatear trophy, Gavin Haig, has since retired from competitive Wheatearing, but sent this message to all aspiring stalkers. "Don't let it take over your life. I was a sensible birder up until March 12th 2013 when my first Wheatear of the year popped up in front of me on the beach at Seaton. Then I couldn't stop - I had to keep clicking away, posting images with a feverish, obsessional need to do so. March 28th was the worst - 345 photographs on my blog, plus a folder of the other 402 on Flickr. By the autumn I was all spent. This year I will be looking the other way".

Comments

Stewart said…
Yes I am indeed hoping to give the bandit-masked chaps some hokey myself in June when spring finally reaches Northumberland...I'll email you regular updates.
1 March 2014 at 15:08
Paul Trodd said…
"Me and my man are desperate to beat that Plodding Birder to the first Wheatear this spring and I reckon we have good chance now he`s gone gull gaga. We flogged the shingle to death last week while he was in Iceland, but I must tell you Steve, my master has been resorting to dirty tricksys by training me during the close season to cock a leg up a replica of PB`s big fat lens, disgraceful really...but I`ll keep you posted". Woof-woof, Barney.
1 March 2014 at 17:34
Steve Gale said…
I bet you cannot wait to use that new photographic set-up of yours Stewart to 'capture' them...
2 March 2014 at 12:48
Steve Gale said…
Dear Barney, good to hear from you. I have realised for a long time that you are the brains of the partnership. Does the master actually find anything for himself or is it all down to your flushing skills? Be sure to find him an early Wheatear - it's never nice to see grown men cry...
2 March 2014 at 12:50
Ploddingbirder said…
You might as well give the trophy to me now Steve! I've paid the The Joker to give Barney extra gardening duties, keeping his pesky moggies off his borders. Without Barney his master flounders on the shingle looking at lifeboats. Ooh is that another white winger!
3 March 2014 at 20:02
Steve Gale said…
I can feel a titanic battle about to commence... good luck!
3 March 2014 at 20:18
Stewart said…
Too right bud! And guess who will get the first image to preview...
4 March 2014 at 19:26
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