Shaking a tail feather.

An amazing display from a male Pied Wagtail on the newly ploughed fields near the house earlier this week. A group of 9 Pied Wagtails were happily feeding and this male suddenly started displaying but when his advances were rejected he flew off and left the rest still in the field.

Once again Greenland Wheatears foudn the fields to their liking and a male and female were present. This year has seen only the 2nd  -7th Wheatears I've seen in this area and the only explanation seems to be that the farmer is leaving the fields as stubble over the winter and ploughing in the spring. The Wheatears seem to like the large flat areas!

Another good local sighting in the same area was my first 'patch' Whinchat! A cracking male that didn't stay around long enough for the camera. Newly in and singing along the railway embankment was a single Lesser Whitethorat but no Common's yet. A quick check of the hidden pond near  the recycling centre in Ellesemere port was rewarded with both singing Reed & Sedge Warbler. Slowly the migrants are arriving.