Reading other blogs often makes me take an extra look at some of the birds close around me. Tricia over at http://belfiebird.blogspot.com posted about a Pied Wagtail and I wondered if its movements were at all like the Willie Wagtails which are quite common around my house.
Willie Wagtails according to the birding book are "active, aggressive, and fearless". They are flycatchers and often come down onto the lawn and then dart around catching insects. They are seldom still and their tail is in constant movement. There were four of them around the yard yesterday and I wondered if it was a family group from over the road where I know they had a nest a little while ago. There are four photos of the same bird to show that tail.
Mick - I think they must be of the same family. Your description of your Wagtail ties in similarly with the Pied Wagtail we have over here but the latin name is very different.
ReplyDeletesee this link: http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/p/piedwagtail/
Hi Tricia, that's very interesting - especially that they have similar habits but belong to different families. Thanks for the link also.
ReplyDeleteMorning Mick!
ReplyDeleteGreat shots of the little fellow. Nice to see the Willie Wagtail again. Their closest relative on Tasmania is the Grey Fantail, which I think, is even smaller in size.
I remember you posting some videos earlier. If WW are common at your place would you be able to record the tail wagging on video? :D (Many times I regret that my camera lacks video capabilities...)
Cheers!
Nickolay
Hi Tilcheff - good idea about the video. I am usually so interested in getting photos that I forget about the video.
ReplyDeleteHi Mick. Thanks for leaving a comment on my blog. I am not familiar with wagtails, but they sure are cute. You did a great job trying to capture your bird's tail wagging. Sounds like a video of the bird would be greater yet.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting and commenting, Mary. If/when the birds are back on my lawn I shall get the video out.
ReplyDeleteOh, I definitely like how the Wagtail holds its tail. It's a nice display.
ReplyDeleteLove those eyebrows! Sweet bird.
ReplyDeleteThanks NM and Sparverius
ReplyDeleteHey Mick, great shots (as always!)
ReplyDeleteYou can tell from the pics that it moves around quite a bit. It must have been a fun challenge to capture all those shots!
ReplyDeleteIt's attitude reminds me of a Scrub Jay.
Thanks for visiting Christopher and Red.
ReplyDeleteGoodness Mick, you hit the jackpot with that post, judging by all the comments.
ReplyDeleteTricia is correct about the Latin names being very different.
For the record our Aussie Willy Wagtail is an Aussie Flycatcher, and not closely related to the Eurasian Wagtails. Their tail movement is different from our Willy Wagtail, which is more of a spread and sway movement. The Eurasian ones lift their tails up and down rapidly, without spreading the tail (as I recall).
Hope that helps.
Cheers
Denis
Denis - You are quite correct about the movement of the tail of the Eurasian Wagtails.
ReplyDeleteHi Denis, thanks for your comments - very informative! I do admire the depth of your knowledge.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tricia, and my neighbor has her sister and brother-in-law from England out here on holiday and they told me (this morning) the same thing about the movement of the birds over your way.
ReplyDeleteNice captures, Mick! They do look like the Pied Fantails of my home country - the Philippines.
ReplyDeleteHi Mick
ReplyDeleteDuncan has "tagged you". Have a look at his blog.
Cheers
Denis
Very beautiful bird. Nice photos. :)))
ReplyDeleteHi Denis, sorry I've been away so will get to it asap
ReplyDeleteThanks Animtreebird
ReplyDelete