Where to watch a Wheatear?

[Deb London]

On the London Bird Wiki I read that several Wheatear have been spotted recently about the London area. But there are not too many specific details apart from general location.

Am I right in thinking they can turn up anywhere? Or is there a good place to watch for them? If I go bird watching, what type of habitat will they be likely to be attracted to? Is there anything I should look for to help me spot one?

Would love to see one.

Thanks.

[Wild-Woman]

I don't know how close you are to the London Wetlands Centre Deb but there were 3 there the other day.
I've seen them in a variety of habitats- coastal/ estuary marshland, chalk downland, grazing marsh. So I think they'll pop up in most places where there's food and nice little humps in the land to perch on.

[The Woodman]

I don't know about London, Deb, but up here they can be seen around the lower edges of the fells especially on/in drystone walls. Enclosed grazed pasture type habitat.

One regulary nests in a low embankment faced with random stone at a local reservoir site.

Wheatears and Curlews = spring in the fells.

[snake]

Hi Deb,
There are a few showing up down here on Sheppey right now along with a number of Yellow Wagtails. If you can get down here I would be pleased to find a few for you.

[htcdude]

They like the heath/moor/scrub land. Also keep an eye out along fenceposts and other small mounds in these types of habitats as that's where they like to perch

We usually have some at Staines Moor throughout the next few months, I'd imagine somewhere like Rainham or Wandsworth Flats would have some too.

Hope you find some!

Nige



EDIT: Just checked, apparently there were 13 at Staines yesterday!

[Deb London]

Thank you all very much.

Thank you for the kind offer snake. I can't get to Sheppey at the moment (shame because I do love that area) but thank you.

Thanks for the advice WW. Bit tied up with commitments at the mo; would love a trip to the Wetlands Centre if possible.

Thanks Nige - good advice as to what sort of habitat.

Thanks Woodman. We don't have too many fells and dry stone walls here. But I will certainly keep my eyes and mind open for possibilities.

Right, I'll be on the look out for humps.

[The Woodman]

I wasn't expecting you to find many fells and dry stone walls in London, I was alluding to the type of habitat I see them in here.

You been given some relevant info for your area so you can rest easy and stop looking for drystone walls and the like!

I take it all back but have found the others' habitat notes interesting. We have coastal grazing and marsh right on our doorstep but I rarely see them there.

[nikolai_avenger]

There were two round our way last weekend, in a very freshly ploughed field so somewhere like that might be a good place to look. They didn't stay long though, obviously they were just having a quick rest/refuel on the way to somewhere else.

Cheers. Nik.

[Tursiops2]

The first Wheatears I ever saw (40+ years ago) were in Richmond Park. At this time of year, Wheatears can turn up on almost any area of open grassland, even playing fields and allotments, but they tend not to stay long, so it's really a matter of getting out there, keeping your eyes open, and being lucky.
T2

[Tursiops2]

Just wanted to add: if you have a park/common/playing field near you with areas of open grass, then checking it in the early mornings before it gets busy will increase your chances of spotting any Wheatears passing through. No guarantees though.
T2