Subtle star flies under the radar

So-called “birdwatchers’ birds” are the nondescript feathered wonders only devotees of the pastime truly cherish.

As a nation of wildlife enthusiasts, we get a thrill from seeing robins perched on garden spades and swoon over visiting families of playful long-tailed tits. Marauding peregrine falcons and sparrowhawks leave us awestruck.

A good proportion of the population also knows enough about common birds to browse a field guide and correctly name dozens of the species on show.

That said, there are some birds so furtive in behaviour or dowdy of plumage that they only spark excitement among those fully fixated – some say obsessed – by birding.

One such species is the winsome whinchat. Defined by its subtle colouring and shy demeanour, this portly, distant cousin of the robin goes about its business without need of an audience or desire for approval.

The whinchat derives its name from the old country word for gorse which, in truth, is a plant more favoured by its close relative, the heathlandloving stonechat.

Whinchats opt for upland rough pastures and water-meadows to nest before heading south to tropical Africa for the winter.

Over the years, I have heard whinchats singing their warbling ditties under the midnight sun in Arctic Finland and watched them resting in the Sahara.

Far from being characterless little brown birds, a closer look reveals they are a wonderful blend of earthy tones with the male’s apricot-coloured breast particularly striking.

Strong eyebrow markings provide a haughty look, especially when standing sentinel on an exposed sprig or fencepost.

This autumn has been good for catching up with whinchats as hundreds move across the country on a broad front, numbers bolstered by birds drifting across from Scandinavia and the Low Countries because of atmospheric conditions.

Away from traditional migration hotspots, whinchats have been on show on the edges of paddocks, parks and playing fields, flitting between perches on stubby wings while families and sports teams have gone about their day oblivious to a bird we should all pay more attention to.

A closer look reveals a wonderful blend of earthy tones

WINSOME The little whinchat is a shy bird