21/11/2016 Lytham St Annes

Desert Wheatear: Another grey day with more wet and windy conditions and I'm out again on the coast for another rarely-seen bird.

Thought to have come all the way from Sahara and the northern Arabian peninsula were the western race breeds.
If the weather dramatically improved and was hotter and dryer the long golden sandy beaches wouldn't be that far from its natural home.

Unfortunately the weather was typical for a dull November day on the Fylde.


The bird was like a wind up toy, scuttling across the windswept sand and was happily feeding within a cordoned off part of the beach and was away from the many dog walkers and other visitors to the beach.
Despite the prevailing winds and increasing rain I was really happy following the bird as it tried to outwit us birders and our cameras.  
This is my 2nd British Desert Wheatear in as many years and both were on the North West coastline but I think despite it's bedraggled windswept look the bird is a first calendar year male with its remiges and retrices very worn and the greater coverts showed broad buff all pointing towards



It was also great to catch up with Pete Kinsella who was out braving the November weather.