03/05/2021 Cutacre Country Park, Bolton

Whinchat: I've been looking all over the place and been dipping whinchat locally for weeks, from Leasowe, Garston Coastal Nature Reserve to Cut Lane Lancs.

With a few reports coming out of Cutacre I decided to brave the wet bank holiday weather and try my luck. 

I soon bumped into local birder and legend of Cutacre Phil Rhodes who pointed me in the direction of a whinchat. 

Hot on its heels I picked it up fluttering around a scrubby patch to the north of the site. The bird appeared to be associating with seven wheatear which were in the area. 

Finally my luck changed. 

Wheatear: The weather continued to be bad, with heavier more persistent rain moving in, so after getting my whinchat fill I moved on back to the car. 

Linnet: On the way back the wheatear and whinchat seemed to pop up as if they were following me, spritely scurrying across the pathways and perching upon the reeds I managed to get pretty close to the wheatear while the whinchat kept its distance. 

A Pair of linnet was also showing pretty well close to the horse paddocks feeding on the teasel and smaller herbs on the ground. 

There was also a singing lesser whitethroat halfway down Engine Lane, which showed at time but typically now very well.  

Wheatear: Definitely worth braving the rain and wind and getting wet, very wet actually! With some nice birds. 

Thanks again Phil for the gen.