Whinchat Saxicola rubetra

Whinchat, West Midlands, August 2016

In late July and August, 2016, the Whinchat in the image above spent 50 days 'off passage' in West Midlands, during which it underwent its complete post-breeding moult.
Normally, the species moults on or near the breeding grounds, before migrating. Also unusual, this individual dropped all its tail-feathers simultaneously. Details and further photos can  be seen < here >.

© A. R. Dean