Wheatear

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 I went for a circular walk from the house today - only about 6km but over some varied habitats. I was delighted to see the first of our summer migrant birds. This image of a male wheatear is from my archive.

Wheatears winter in central Africa. These birds breed here and nest on the ground usually on the moors and mountains. In flight the white rump is visible and explains the old name for this bird as "white arse". There is a story that the new name was invented by a gamekeeper of whom Queen Victoria asked "what's  that bird" to avoid offending the royal ears with the word arse!
Other birders on the coast near us have been seeing migrants for the last 10 days or so but they are slower to arrive with us as we are about 200m above sea level.
I also spotted a redshank in the wet mire next to Kirkby Stephen, a roe deer in out top field, and the sparrowhawk is lurking in the garden again.
Bitterly cold in a strong Northerly wind. Day time temps not getting above 5C.


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