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Male wheatears Skokholm Island are looking in peak condition right now as with A33 here. Contrast this with A33 last July when he was undergoing his post breeding moult.

Nest building was bit two paced today Skokholm Island. Female D28, who was energetically building yesterday took a break this morning. C46 picked up feathers and dropped them near the nest hole to show his concern - a known behaviour in wheatears. Eventually she got going again.

Just because Wheatears are settling down in pairs Skokholm Island doesn’t mean the males’ territory defence scales back. In fact it’s in full swing. This morning F22 had a spat with C54 at North Plain. It started with a ‘face off’ and then got serious.

Returning adult Wheatears Skokholm Island are usually loyal to the previous year’s territory if possible. Male C59 has been at Wallsend for 2023 & 2024 and next door at Windmill Gully for the previous two. He’s had four different mates in four years.

This unringed male Wheatear was looking quite territorial this morning Skokholm Island. Although most breeders here were fledged here, there is some immigration. Likewise some birds fledged on the island have returned to breed as adults on Skomer, Ramsey and the mainland.

There are several unpaired male Wheatears Skokholm Island due to the low rate of returning females. Here D82 is holding a territory near Little Bay Point. And C39 is near Howard’s End hide - discovered by visitor Katie, it now boosts the male return rate close to its norm.

Despite heavy overnight & morning rain Skokholm Island, some female Wheatears were nest building this afternoon. Here C29 is gathering nest material. She was fledged in 2019 and has bred in the North Fields territories each year since. At five she is one of the oldest females.

In long awaited news, male Wheatear F22 is now paired with an unringed female. He’s been Skokholm Island since mid March so he’s certainly taken his time. The wardens are less impressed by the happy couple’s interest in the new Petrel Station 2 wall - a des res for Wheatears.

Female D28 and her mate C46 are at Twinlets but no sign of nest-building today. She was busy building yesterday but at a different site to last week. This is a common Wheatear trait; females often build several nests before deciding to lay.

Between 1947 & 1955 Peter Conder was warden Skokholm Island. During that time he studied the Wheatear, a task he continued throughout his career. After he retired (from leading the RSPB) he published this monograph. Much of the research in the book was carried out on Skokholm.

Male Wheatears Skokholm Island took advantage of the sun and were out singing and songflighting today. This still unpaired male was eagerly pursuing a female Greenland type but in vain. As she weighed in at 43.5g compared with him at approximately 23-26g he was easily rebuffed.

Wheatear males in full breeding plumage are a striking bird. It is also amazing just how effective they are at camouflage. Here D18 is modelling a rocky outcrop down at Little Bay Skokholm Island to prove the point.

Near Twinlets Skokholm Island Wheatear male C46 is hopping around with mate D28. He seems caring & attentive. However, he’s ‘mate guarding’. D28 is becoming fertile and neighbouring males will be looking to steal a copulation. Clutches often contain eggs fathered by other males.

Better weather has brought 2 pairs of Wheatears from harder to see areas to the attention of Skokholm Island Wheatear watchers. This pair with a colour ringed female is near Orchid Bog and proving difficult to get pinned down - as is a distant pair at Kay Rocks. Tomorrow’s task!

Wheatear males Skokholm Island have mated & are now looking to spread their DNA with a 2nd mate or by seeking a copulation with a mated female elsewhere. F22 was trying this 500m from home & F20 was looking to grow his nearby territory; both with the same single female (pics RGB)

Wheatears are settled down now into about 25 pairs. Most females are on eggs with a few finishing off nests with white Manx Shearwater feathers. Time for me to leave until the young need ringing in June. I hope you’ve enjoyed the tweets. Goodbye for now from Skokholm Island.

Good in one way Oman trip coming to close as running out of superlatives. Holiday designed by @westcoastbw & Ian Beggs to deliver good views of Crab-Plover, top of my bucket list. Boy it delivered at Masirah. Leave it to Dave to wow with pro pics but these from my bridge camera!

As our trip approaches its final stage, once again @westcoastbw works hard to plan, execute and deliver another excellent day’s birding.

An absolutely fabulous trip brilliantly led by @westcoastbw.

Highly recommend both Oman and Dave.