Bird of the Week – Northern Wheatear
There is a bird that winters with elephants and giraffes, and summers with us in Alaska.
Northern Wheatear, Eagle Summit, Steese Highway
The Northern Wheatear has one of the longest migration routes among the passerines, the small singing birds. The species breeds on rocky slopes like the White Mountains and Brooks Range in Alaska. Once the kids are fledged, it packs up and flies to Africa – yes, southeastern Africa – for the winter. 9,000 miles, each way. The bird weighs just 25 grams.
It’s a privilege to photograph them.
For more bird photos, please visit Frozen Feather Images.
I don’t want to brag or anything — well, actually I want to brag. Or anything.
First Bonnie Raitt named her album after me:
http://www.bonnieraitt.com/album/slipstream
Now Heathrow Airport has built a 78 metre sculpture of me:
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/apr/24/new-heathrow-sculpture-expected-to-be-most-viewed
Don’t worry. I won’t let this go to my head. I will just keep on being the humble world-famous superhero you have come to know and adore.
Hah!! I thought you were simply warped. Now I see you are perpetually twisted. Shiny,too. Or is that brilliance? Pray tell,what salacious secret did you blackmail Bonnie Raitt with? And do you recommend West End girls?
Simply amazing. Thanks as always for the insights.
Happy Easter, muddies!
Hippity hop!
Such a little thing….
Tiny little thing for such a long flight… I’m guessing it’s route is across the Bering Straits and then the coastline to Africa?
Well, generally, they fly Qantas. First class.
But they never watch the movie; they just look out the window.
🙂
good to see you pop in ben!
hoping all of the all you have going on is going well!
Asparagus is up! Installed 114 units of kennebec spuds yesterday plus 3 units of bird house gourds (local DNR guys use them for purple martins majesty houses). Gonna catch up,yet, ben. 🙂
Beautiful photo, lovely little bird!
Half onions planted. You visiting the Grands? Hasn’t been two weeks yet,I’m worried about your bears.
Good on your planting!
Leave in a few days to see Grands.
Bears are pretty quiet so far- sightings have all been about a half mile away.
Can hear “Hooters” almost every time I’m outside now though :
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=wildlifenews.view_article&articles_id=142
I enjoy hearing the thrushes the very mostest- don’t see them often but hear them .
They make wonderful sounds.
Had a family of grouses two doors up the street from me when I was a teen. Their name was spelled Grause. Its a wonder Snowgrift Snoozie didn’t name her other daughters Rock and White Tailed along with Willow. Have a wonderful time with relatives and if your bears get out of line,Slip will gallump over and chastise them for you. 🙂 🙂
some doof left garbage out last night so bear stopped by to check it out .
was stringled all up and down the street this morning.
Pffft! on the doof
What do you do with the half onions when they are grown? Use them in half stews?
Half onions/stews for us half-fast cooks. 🙂
😀 😀
I had read about this bird, but never expected to see it. Just lovely; thanks, W.C.