The Wagtails have Returned

I don't know whether it's because of the time of the year, or whether it is because my work schedules have now synced up so that when I live it is just past sunset, but suddenly, after wondering where they have been this autumn, I've gone through the big glass door that brings me back into the outside world, and there they are.

A flock of well over 100 pied wagtails, skittering about in the air above the car park and the great metal building I live in, their characteristic undulating flight marked with a flutey "phee-weeep" call as they reach the top of the arc unmistakable even without a close view of the birds.

We have a big communal roost in some trees on our campus, and that is where they keep warm and safe in the colder months. I've seen such roosts in some strange places; the line of illuminated trees outside The Bell pub in Nottingham is a great spot to find them, their little bodies lit up by the coloured bulbs.

But our roost is my favourite one.

The flight and sounds are exactly the same as this...

You keep warm too!

Si

All text copyright CreamCrackeredNature 20.10.16