Distinctive early bird with an earthy name and a very flashy tail

IF YOU want to beat the rush you have to arrive early – and one bird makes a habit of stealing a march on other spring migrants.

The wheatear is the ultimate early bird and I spotted my first on Dartmoor this week.

It arrived well ahead of the annual invasion of swallows, house martins, flycatchers and other visitors that come here during the breeding season to take advantage of our long days and plentiful insect life.

Turning up in good time means, just like beach-goers, you can secure the best spots before the crowds descend – though it is not without its risks, given the weather this early in the year can be far from favourable.

However, the wheatear is a tough character, and a number that turn up in Britain from wintering grounds in tropical Africa will press on even further north to Greenland – an incredible feat of endurance for something roughly the size and shape of a large robin.

It may not be a large or brightly coloured bird, but the wheatear is a species that can grab the attention of even non-birdwatchers. The reason is its tail: a startling flash of black and white that is visible when it takes

Close up the male wheatear is a handsome bird, with a grey back, apricot flush on the chest and a dark patch around the eye.

Its unfamiliar appearance makes it seem like a rarity, though around 230,000 pairs breed here during the spring and summer.

They are not particularly shy, and are frequently spotted by walkers as they favour rocky and grassy open areas found along coast paths, on downland and across northern and western uplands.

So if you want to impress fellow hikers on the South West Coast Path and West Country moors with your bird know-how over the coming