Wagtails, Whitethroats and Wheatears

As it was still April I thought that a trip to Abberton would be in order for some early migrants. The hotspot at this time of the year is the Layer Breton causeway which attracts good numbers of pipits and wagtails and possibly the odd Wheatear, but today I headed straight for the flooded field opposite Billets Farm where a pair of Garganey had been seen the day before. Unfortunately there were no Garganey to be seen, but there was a Greenshank feeding out on the pools, albeit a bit distant.

Along the road was a singing Whitethroat, the first I have heard this year, and I leaned over the hedge to try and get a glimpse. The bird did eventually appear for a brief moment against the backcloth of a fencepost, hardly natural surroundings, but that was the end of the show.

However, on the other side of the road a Wheatear was feeding along the top of the bank and offered some reasonable photographic opportunities.

Back at the causeway there were signs of activity with both Pied and Yellow Wagtails present and it is always noticeable that Pieds are far more used to people than the Yellows, which are far less approachable.

Eventually, after a lot of walking up and down, stalking and waiting for the sun to come out I did manage to get some shots of what must be one of my favourite birds.