Wheatear

One on 20/05/02 was an unexpected addition to the local list. Presumed female northern wheatear, but curiuosly nondescript individual, lacking any grey plumage on the back, but rather a buff brown. Another, 07/09/02.

Whinchat

Small spring passage, the first being in February in 2001.

White stork

One flew low over the village, heading north,12/03/02 and a group of 6 circled to the south of the village on 3/04/04, before disappearing into the cloud base. A group of 18 passed through 02/04/07, during a period of heavy raptor movement. Magic! 2 on 29/08/07, then 10 on 9/04/08, with c.15 found roosting in a field on the village edge the following morning and then a further 17 passed through later the same day.

White wagtail

Regularly seen as a passage migrant, with a small number remaining to breed.

Whitethroat

Passage birds visited the garden 23/04/05, 2/09/07, 10/04/08, 21/04/08 and 28/04/08. A significent number were found on the eastern side of the village, 29th and 30/04/09, presumed passage migrants, although one was in song and local breeding is possible.

Willow warbler

Seen/heard as a spring migrant from March/April in small numbers. One in our garden 07/08/01 and occasional bursts of song heard during that month in 2001.

Wood pigeon

Seen in small numbers at various times through the year, with some evidence of incresing numbers locally, perhaps due to more and more land being turned over to cerial crops. Some autumn flocks seen heading south, presumably to Spain, over the Pyrenees, understood to have originated from Russia - large numbers seen, for example, 16/10/09.

Wood warbler

Small number, presumed passage birds, seen in April/May.

Woodchat shrike

Spring passage occurs at the same time as for red backed shrike, but some evidently stay to breed, as present in small numbers in the summer, most reliably on the southern edge of the village. 2(a pair?) spent a day in our garden 03/05/02, then a female popped up 09/05/10.

Woodlark

Another pleasingly common bird, seen in flocks in the winter, a group of 9 regularly visiting our garden in the winter 2001/02. The delightful song heard from January through to the end of April and occasionally beyond. A further song period occurrs in September/October.

Wren

Scarce on our arrival here, but better numbers present in gardens as the autumn turned to winter.

Wryneck

An individual spent some time in our garden on 30/09/03, my first record for the area. Presumed to be a migrant in view of the date, it appeared amongst a fall of chiffchaffs, blackcaps and redstarts. One was calling and seen well on 3/05/05 in the garden surrounds and was present until at least 5th May - superb!