Species - Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)
Location - Red Tarn, Lake District National Park
Grid Ref - NY 34799 15514
The Wheatear has got to be one of my favourite birds, probably because it’s the bird I see the most on long summer mountain days, and therefore reminds me of the mountains. It was previously known as ‘White Arse’, due to the fact that it turns it’s back on you to expose its white tail feathers (see middle photo below). However White Arse was too vulgar for the Victorians who changed its name to Wheatear. It spends its winters in Africa and migrates North landing in the UK from March onwards.
On a walk up Catstye Cam from Glenridding, I came across the one below at the Hole in the Wall. It flew off up the path in front of me, bared its arse and flew on a bit more. It kept doing this all the way up to Swirral Edge where it turned tail and flew off back down towards Red Tarn.
