Due to a breakdown (mechanical), i finished work earlier yesterday, got in, switched computer on. Only to get a text from Alan of blyth birding, giving me a push to get out. So i had a journey around, picking up my first wheatear of the year and a reeling gropper at dru.
Also a display of highland dancing and a dodgy picture opportunity
I'm on nights this week so i thought i would get out for a couple of hours
on patch, but heavy rain stopped play so i headed to cresswell in the vain hope of a passing avocet or three.
I'm on nights this week so i thought i would get out for a couple of hours
on patch, but heavy rain stopped play so i headed to cresswell in the vain hope of a passing avocet or three.
Instead i got an influx of yellow wagtails. First there was three, then a few more arrived
(sorry for the low light pictures)
then the air turned blue
This one was a pale blue
This one was a pale blue
I noticed brian (northunbrian birding) behind me got out of the car to tell him about the blue headed.
He later got his eye onto this darker one
a closer but just as bad picture
We were both confused by this one
a closer but just as bad picture
We were both confused by this one
It had this marking on only one side of it's head possible genetic variant or maybe it has not reached breeding colours!
Then this one was closer in and less active
after looking in my guide at home. i have come to the conclusion it was a juv (unlikely given time of year).
after looking in my guide at home. i have come to the conclusion it was a juv (unlikely given time of year).
A much sleeker wagtail was even further away, more a kin to the black headed picture on birds north east, but without the black head and a bit of wishful thinking on my part. I counted nine including the distant sleeker bird
Left with headache, but happy.
5 comments:
That pale blue bird looks a canditate for Syke's Wagtail (race beema) which is from further East. I'm going to post a link here on my blog and see what others think.
You got some good shots given the conditions, I waited for a bit longer but got nothing better as it started to rain.
Brian
Interesting post, ST. Some nice Yellow Wag variants there.
Not surprised you`ve got headache, the Flava group are full of variants and probably hybrids.
Hi ST,
Interesting pics of the Yellow Wags. The bird in the bottom pic (that you refer to as a poss juv) is probably a first summer female, which is why it looks a bit drab. The darker headed bird is a proper Blue-headed, and the paler one, is probably a 'Channel' Wagtail. This latter type appears to be more prevelent in Northumberland than pure B-h's.
Ian
Brian- your pics are better, but so is your camera/ lens.
Dean- it's great to be in a position to compare.
Alan- not confident enough to name even from a guide.
Ian-Thanks for the ID's.
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