Old World Flycatchers and Chats

WHEATEAR (Oenanthe oenanthe)

Stuart Ford

Regular passage migrants.

Foster (1914) described Wheatears as, “not common near Stevenage” (one had been recorded on 4 April 1909).

The earliest spring date is 15 March 2008 and 2012 at Norton Green Tip and the latest autumn date is 20 October 1969 between Lytton Way and the Railway.

They are regularly seen on spring and autumn migration at Norton Green Tip from where they were first recorded on 21 March 1967. Since 1984, (when four were seen on 22 April) they have been recorded almost annually between March and May. The most seen on spring migration is 16 plus on 5 May 2012. On autumn migration between August and October the most seen is four on 9 September 2011. The most recent record is of one on 8 April 2026.

They have also been seen on spring and autumn migration at: the former Amoco Laboratory (now part of Glaxo), Aston, Astonbury Farm, Aston End, Botany Bay Farm (now part of the Great Ashby development), near Box Wood, Bragbury End, Chesfield Park, Dyes Lane, Epsom Close Football Pitches, Fairlands Valley and Lakes, Great Ashby Way , Gunnels Wood Road, The former ICL Factory (now Fujitsu), Lingfield Road, between Lytton Way and, the Railway, Mobbsbury Lane, Potters Spring, the River Beane between Aston and Aston End, Stevenage Cricket Club, Ditchmore Lane and, Trotts Hill School.

A male showing characteristics of the larger race O. o. leucorroa (“Greenland” Wheatear) was seen at Stevenage between 15 and 22 April 1983. “Greenland” Wheatears have also been seen at Norton Green Tip on 5 May 2004 (two), 2 May 2005, 30 August 2007, 8 May 2009 (three), 26 April 2010, 30 April 2010 (14), 21 April 2011, 1 May 2012 (at least two), 24 April 2014 (two) and 28 April 2018 (two).

There are also four summer records: a juvenile bird at an unrecorded garden location on 9 July 1968, one seen near Stevenage on 3 June 1984, (this was the second year that this undisclosed site had had a summer record), single birds in June and July 2007 at Norton Green Tip and two males and a female near Box Wood on 3 June 2021.

Norton Green Tip 9 April 2021.