Wyneck: Toady I was up early carrying out a GCN pit fall trapping survey and resuing toads of which afterwards I decided to drive over to Lincs to spend the rest of the morning with this little stunner.
Wrynecks are scarce autumn passage migrants in the UK, halting briefly to rest and refuel as they travel from their breeding grounds in Scandinavia down to sub-Saharan Africa. While they used to breed in Great Britain, they are now strictly visitors, making every single sighting a highly sought-after event.
By the time I arrived the bird had flown off, snot spooked or disturbed but perhaps to have a roost after feeding all morning. But, I didn't have wait too long before it was relocated on a nearby path.
For those planning a trip, you might not have to hike very far into the reserve. The bird has been frequently reported right around the main car park and nearby ground foliage, proving that sometimes the best wildlife encounters happen before you even pass the welcome signs.
Unlike their cousin woodpeckers, you won't often find a wryneck drumming on high tree trunks. They are primarily ground-dwelling birds, feeding almost exclusively on ants.
If you get lucky enough to see one feeding, you can watch them use their long, sticky tongues to lap up ants from the gravel and dirt. Seeing one is easier said than done, however.
Slightly larger than a sparrow, their intricate, bark-like grey and brown mottling gives them near-perfect camouflage against dry leaves and bare earth. They are famously "skulky" characters, often freezing or blending perfectly into the background when approached.
