Wryneck

Extinct in Britain and rare on passage in the summer I got the heads up on the rare bird alert yesterday that this Wryneck had been spotted near Berkeley on the sea wall.

I knew I had got the right place as the grass verge was full of cars - quite handy really in that all I had to do was to follow the bobbing hats! Lenses, tripods, scopes and binoculars all at the ready, everyone standing round having a chat and obviously not paying attention as after a quick shuftie into the maize I started clicking away! That focused their attention somewhat :))

Small about 16cm, solitary and undeterred at banks of paparazzi it hopped about at ground level. It has a short pointed beak and although a member of the woodpecker family it doesn't bore into trees but instead uses it's fast moving tongue to search on the floor looking mainly for ants but does eat also beetles and spiders. You have to admire the plumage - so well camouflaged for the terrain - mottled greys, browns and yellows with barring on the tail. An amazing array of colours. The above link shows what I think is it's main feature - a dark line running from the crown down the back. The name 'wryneck' comes from it's habit of twisting it's head right round on it's neck!

They like orchards and gardens and breed in open countryside.

One for the Bird List I feel :))

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