'Greenland' Wheatears?

A few migrants in evidence at Staines Moor today, although no sense of any real movement going on. Most notable were a Spotted Flycatcher (along the west side, beside the Wraysbury River), 1 Cuckoo, 1 Yellow Wagtail over, 3+ Hobby, 5 Garden Warbler and 7 Northern Wheatear (4m, 3f) in the north-west corner.

Only the wheatears allowed photo opportunities so brace yourself for even more wheatear pics! Most males today were 'Greenland' types (leucorhoa) - large and bulky, long winged (7 primary tips visible on closed wing), well marked, and brightly coloured with extensive orange-buff on the underparts. I'm still not sure whether Greenland birds can be positively identified in the field though (see here)? Also, some more thoughts on Greenland Wheatear ID here.

Greenland Wheatears undertake one of the longest migrations of any passerine. Click here to find out more.

Male 'Greenland' Wheatear? This bird ticks most of the boxes, but the black tail
band looks rather narrow to me?

Male 'Greenland' Wheatear? Same bird as above. Note the bold white supercilium
and the brown ground colour to the wing feathers (compare the later with
this bird photographed on 15 April).

Male 'Greenland' Wheatear? Note the extensive orange-buff on the underparts
reaching the vent.

Female Northern Wheatear? Quite a bright supercilium on this bird, but the
pale grey upperparts suggest oenanthe. Compare with this female photographed
on 15 April.

Male Northern Wheatear taking a break

Also seen were c10 Swallow, 5 Swift, 2-3 Common Buzzard over, 2 Common Tern and 2 Little Egret along the Colne, 5 Redshank (including 1 bird on eggs), several Lapwing and 4 Shelduck over. Linnet numbers are now much reduced. A Reed Warbler heard singing from a hawthorn is also noteworthy. A couple of Banded Demoiselles Calopteryx splendens were also seen.

Stanwell Moor produced 2 more Cuckoo, 4 Garden Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler (H), 3-4 Common Tern, 1 Shelduck over, c10 House Martin and a few Swallow and Swift.