Bird ID

[Steve Le maitre]

Seen a few of these about today, not the best picture and I don’t know what they are, slightly smaller than a Starling.
?

22E1A7C8-E0CA-4DE6-B7E0-956F6AD261DB.jpeg

[davelumb]

Looks like a male Wheatear or White a**e in the olden days! Right size for one.

They're migrating north at this time of year.

[Bob Barker]

Lesser Gray Shrike ???
(Lanius minor)
Bob.

[Steve Le maitre]

Many thanks, I’ve googled images of both birds and it’s impossible for me to say which it is with any certainly.
Never seen one before it was certainly a striking bird, the shot was through the windscreen of the tractor and was as good as I could get.
It was the white on the body part of the tail that struck me.
Cheers

[davelumb]

It was the white on the body part of the tail that struck me.

Very noticeable when flying away.

If you've seen a few more likely Wheatears than Shrikes IMO.
Female Wheatears are browner.

[Steve Le maitre]

It was the white on the body part of the tail that struck me.

Very noticeable when flying away.

If you've seen a few more likely Wheatears than Shrikes IMO.
Female Wheatears are browner.

I’ll see if they are still about tomorrow, they were just hanging about in a bit of blackthorn covered in bramble. Just the two of them.

[davelumb]

It was the white on the body part of the tail that struck me.

Very noticeable when flying away.

If you've seen a few more likely Wheatears than Shrikes IMO.
Female Wheatears are browner.

I’ll see if they are still about tomorrow, they were just hanging about in a bit of blackthorn covered in bramble. Just the two of them.

Wheatears usually favour the ground, but will perch as on that post. Could be shrikes if they're in scrub but Shrikes are less common.

[Steve Le maitre]

It was the white on the body part of the tail that struck me.

Very noticeable when flying away.

If you've seen a few more likely Wheatears than Shrikes IMO.
Female Wheatears are browner.

I’ll see if they are still about tomorrow, they were just hanging about in a bit of blackthorn covered in bramble. Just the two of them.

Wheatears usually favour the ground, but will perch as on that post. Could be shrikes if they're in scrub but Shrikes are less common.

It was between big open fields with just the fence line and a bit of sparse hedge line between two 30+ acres fields so could be Wheatears then

[davelumb]

It was the white on the body part of the tail that struck me.

Very noticeable when flying away.

If you've seen a few more likely Wheatears than Shrikes IMO.
Female Wheatears are browner.

I’ll see if they are still about tomorrow, they were just hanging about in a bit of blackthorn covered in bramble. Just the two of them.

Wheatears usually favour the ground, but will perch as on that post. Could be shrikes if they're in scrub but Shrikes are less common.

It was between big open fields with just the fence line and a bit of sparse hedge line between two 30+ acres fields so could be Wheatears then

Hope you see them again and get a better view now you have an idea what to look out for.

[Mike J]

Jizz ID.
Shrikes are bold confident birds that prefer to sit higher off the ground as they watch for a prey item to be disturbed/move, on a phone or power wire or an outer twig on a tree and they will sit scanning the ground below for long periods. When the drop onto the ground its only to pickup the food item before rapidly ascending to their chosen perch. To the eye they appear heavily built.

Wheatears appear nervous and always very alert, flitting and skimming low to the ground within the first foot or so, stopping only for a few moments before flitting off again, their feeding habit is fast can easily go unnoticed. They appear a lightweight bird of similar build to a wagtail.

As DL has said the flash of the white rump, low flying with regular stops.

.

[Steve Le maitre]

They were there again today, wet and windy so couldn’t of got a better picture. Yes seem to spend time on the ground for no apparent reason and are quite vocal !

[andrew_nagel]

c*ck Wheatear as Dave has said.

[Steve Le maitre]

c*ck Wheatear as Dave has said.

Couldn’t get close enough to see a c*ck

[andrew_nagel]

c*ck Wheatear as Dave has said.

Couldn’t get close enough to see a c*ck

Still chilly out your way?

[davelumb]

Spent about five minutes watching maybe half a dozen distant Wheatears this afternoon. Same field I saw them in last year.

I borrowed MikeJ's camera for a snap of this male!

_7810906.jpg

[Steve Le maitre]

That’s the one I saw, you said they were moving north

[davelumb]

That’s the one I saw, you said they were moving north

I thought I recognised it.