Tails wagging on the River Bovey
A Grey Wagtail busy bringing food back to the nest
As my pursuit of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker continues, I was again sidetracked. This time, a pair of Grey Wagtails drew my attention. They were rather noisy. I spotted them along the River Bovey on Dartmoor, and they were clearly busy feeding newborn in a nest by the riverside. I observed them returning repeatedly with a beak full of insects. Back and forth every few minutes.
I understand why this bird got its name, as there is also a Yellow Wagtail, which is, as the name suggest yellower. However, the Grey Wagtail’s name doesn’t really do it justice. It definitely wags its tail … constantly. So that part of its name I get. ‘Grey’ though … that would suggest a rather drab bird, but the Grey Wagtail is not dull. On the contrary, it is a rather elegant looking bird, with grey above and black wings, topped up by a bright yellow belly and white sides. Splendid indeed :-)
The Grey Wagtail’s habitat is watercourses and fast flowing upland rivers. It thrives on insects found beside rivers and streams and within shallow waters. The improved water quality in UK’s waterways has helped the Grey Wagtail extend its range. Nevertheless, it is on the UK’s Amber list for Birds conservation due to large fluctuations in its numbers. As recently as 2015 it was on the Red List. So, there is reason to be optimistic about its future.