Is it really a.....?

[Greenmillie64]

Is it really a pied wagtail ? It looks different to me.
I saw a pair of thenm flying over the houses on Lindasfarne and this one stopped briefly on the roof and I just managed to get this and a frontal. Lovely bird and my favourite of the day. Had a beautiful swooping flight pattern.

[MIKE THROWER]

Fresh( new plumage ) Male,

[Greenmillie64]

well, I never, isn't he a beauty! Thanks Mike, I was hoping you'd be around.

[devonsue]

Originally Posted by MIKE THROWER

Fresh( new plumage ) Male,

How did you tell it was a male please?

[PeterB]

I think this is right.... Black and white, the female has grey shoulders. Good comparison here:-

http://www.arkive.org/white-wagtail/...ge-A16747.html

[devonsue]

Interesting. Thank you Peter.

[Dave Appleton]

Yes, black mantle points to male (but grey back could be male or female - young males are grey-backed). Perhaps it looked strange because you're looking up at it...?

[aquila 1]

Thats a lovely picture, yes a deffinate male, lovely black marking, having said that the female is still as nice, we were lucky last week, in one morning we saw pied, grey, white and yellow wagtails,also a bluethroat mind you we were in Cyprus, best regards mac

[Dave Appleton]

Originally Posted by aquila 1

...we were lucky last week, in one morning we saw pied, grey, white and yellow wagtails,also a bluethroat mind you we were in Cyprus, best regards mac

Pied Wagtail in Cyprus...? Pied Wagtail breeds only in Britain and, I think (?), the near Continent, although a small number are seen further down the west coast of Europe. I think there may have been the odd record a little further into Europe but I should think a Pied Wagtail on Cyprus must be exceedingly rare!

[aquila 1]

but I should think a Pied Wagtail on Cyprus must be exceedingly rare!


indeed it was ? best regards mac