Grey wagtails are tough little birds. It was blowing a gale here today, yet these small creatures were still out foraging along the water line of the Ely embankment, poking their needle-thin beaks between pebbles and, sadly, amongst the human detritus, to find the tiny invertebrates they feed on.
It amazes me that such small birds can fly so well in gusty conditions yet, with a flash of their bright yellow underbellies and a blast of their cheery call, they seemed to move further along the stony shore with ease.
Two of the birds pictured here are from today, the other three are photos taken during recent walks along this same path, as I’m always happy to pause and watch these cheery little bobbers.
Well, that’s me told isn’t it? Tee hee! I had no idea about that but at least you have educated me somewhat more, for which I thank you. 🙂
Actually, I’d like to thank YOU for raising it as, not having seen a Citrine wagtail, I googled it and found out the differences. 🙂
So we are both better off!? I like that.
I love these and have always thought that they are mis-named since I have a preference for yellow over grey.
Indeed, but then what would we call the Yellow wagtails?
Citrine? As the French do?
Ah, but they’re different species, aren’t they? Yellow is Motacilla flava and Citrine is Motacilla citreola: https://www.birdid.no/bird/eBook.php?specieID=1247&compareSpecieID=1696