When I get a text message at 3am, it normally means Brian is planning another trip. This morning his plan was to head 250 miles North up the M6 to Preston. A journey that should have taken us four and a half hours actually took us six. A lorry had overturned gone through the central reservation and caught fire completely closing junction 12 to 13 in both directions. After some lengthy detours, we finally arrived at Fluke Hall lane at 10am and were pleased/relieved to find the Wheatear sitting on the rocks entertaining a small group of birders.
This bird has enjoyed much debate as to its identity, firstly put out as "possible adult female Eastern Black-eared Wheatear (or Pied Wheatear)" on the morning it was found, then being reversed that evening to "Adult female Pied Wheatear (or possibly Eastern Black-eared Wheatear)". A DNA sample had been collected and sent off for analysis to see if that could aid the ID process. This morning, while on-site, news came through that RBA is now reporting the Wheatear as an Eastern Black-eared Wheatear after studying the many photographs taken of the bird! You can find the reasoning behind this decision Here
No doubt the debate will continue until the BBRC sit and make a ruling on it, but for now, it's going down as an Eastern Black-eared Wheatear (pending) until such time as it is deemed otherwise.
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| View from Pilling Embankment |
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