It is sad that I have to start most bird species reviews by saying that it is not as common as it once was but that is just the way things are as bird populations in general continue to decline despite best efforts of conservation organisations to stop the rot. The grey wagtail is yet another species that falls into the category of 'declining' having not so long ago been a familiar sight along rivers and streams but are now seldom seen in many areas. It was with delight, therefore, that when I moved here a little while ago I found that these lovely birds are frequently seen on the river Sid. They are not present in great numbers, maybe just two or three pairs.
Being an insect feeder the grey wagtail is associated with rivers, often by bridges or where there are stony outcrops above the water level, where they can wait and watch ready to fly out and catch any insect they espy.
One of the first things you notice about the grey wagtail is that it is yellow! Many people think that they are, in fact, yellow wagtails, but the yellow wagtail is much more yellow than the grey which is so named because it flanks and front are grey. The two species are quite different in colouration and can easily be told apart, especially when you consider that they frequent very different habitats.
The grey wagtail has the long tail that bobs up and down (or 'wags') like other members of the family and also shares the short 'quip' alarm sound.
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