EASTERN BLACK EARED WHEATEAR OR PIED WHEATEAR--KNOTT-END-ON-SEA-LANCASHIRE

On Sunday, news emerged from Knott End-on-Sea in Lancashire that an Eastern Black Wheatear had been found. I needed to see this bird after several missed opportunities, but I was stuck at work for a 12-hour shift. As the afternoon went on and more birders visited, photographs began to surface on social media. It started to look like the bird was being increasingly considered a better candidate for a Pied Wheatear.

 

After finishing my shift that night, I made arrangements to pick up Malc Curtin in the morning to go see the bird, just in case it turned out to be a Pied Wheatear. 

 

I woke up early on Monday morning, and the news indicated that the bird was still present. I picked up Malc, and we headed north. We soon arrived at the site and spotted the bird right away on the sea wall, alongside four Northern Wheatears.

A DNA sample was apparently collected on-site yesterday, so let’s wait for the results. Either way, it’s unusually early in the autumn for a rare wheatear, and this species has stirred up quite a debate on social media, with field observations and photos leading to differing opinions on its identity. Regardless, it’s a very educational bird, whatever it may be!