Isabelline Wheatear sightings....

[RickyN]

Seen and photographed at Berry Head, South Devon on 27th October. Clearly a Wheatear however 'Collins Guide' shows the Sabelline as often adopting the very erect stance that my photo shows (albeit rather poorly). Have there been any other sightings of this bird nationally?
RickyN

[Dogghound]

Can you post your photo on here?

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by RickyN

Clearly a Wheatear however 'Collins Guide' shows the Sabelline as often adopting the very erect stance that my photo shows (albeit rather poorly). Have there been any other sightings of this bird nationally?

Isabelline Wheatear is a very rare bird in the UK (less than annual). There has been one this year, in Suffolk on October 10th (and possibly 11th).

Northern Wheatears, the common species in the UK do regularly adopt an upright posture, with individuals of the Greenland race often said to appear more upright than those that breed in Britain. Greenland race Northern Wheatears are regular on passage so this might be a more likely identification.
Without seeing the photo this is just speculation though!


Edit:
I guess that this is your photo...

That's a Northern Wheatear. It probably is a good candidate to call a Greenland Wheatear, but measurements are really needed to confirm racial ID.