Good Chats down at The Scrubs

This morning's autumnal check resulted in a lingering Whinchat and four lovely Stonechats.

 Whinchat

 Male Stonechat

Couple of females/1st winter birds

Stonechats, although biannual, are rarely seen in groups of more than three at The Scrubs these days. Prior to the severe winter of 2009/10 we used to get up to 10 birds in the grassland that would stick around for a few days before disappearing. Thereafter, three to four would winter until March when a fresh influx would swell their numbers.

I would love to know where these birds emanated from and where they where heading. Regardless, I hope that these birds are the advance guard for a new wintering population.