Tag Archives: White Wagtail

The same pair year after year

Newly arrived April 28

Every spring we await the arrival of the White Wagtail in the garden. It seems that the same pair comes here year after year. And we celebrate its arrival by putting out wholemeal biscuits which are its favourite.  At least that is what we think. And every year they build their nest in the spruce and perhaps it is the same tree every year. 

Collecting material for the nest May 9.

We love having this pair of  White Wagtails in the garden. These are such lively birds to watch as they trail their long tails in undulating flight around the trees and wag their long tails and dash about in the garden.

The nest ready and the male courts the female.

It is also very interesting to see the male court the female. It points its bill upwards and zigzags about, moving up and down, and spreading its tail.

Both parents busy feeding the nestlings June 6.

Insects are its main feed and they can often be seen catching flies and spiders in flight. Both parents take part in the nesting and in feeding the hatchlings.

Busy time ahead feeding the young ones June 6.

This spring they arrived on April 22. They started making their nest the next day which took about two week. Now the eggs have hatch and the parents diligently feed the young ones. Bringing them insects, flies, larva and spiders. The eggs are usually four to six, can be up to eight, so if all have hatched the parents have their work cut out for them for the next two to three weeks.

The White Wagtail is one of the migratory birds whose arrival is looked forward to in Iceland in spring.

 

Year after year

Maríuerla – White Wagtail – Motacilla alba

Year after year the same White Wagtail pair breed in our garden, – at least we like to think so. Being migrants they come for the summer and by now they have bred and their offsprings chase them around the garden. The young ones whine for food, or just attention. It is interesting to observe their agile flying skills to catch insects, spiders and the like. They even grab the occasional seed from the feeders.

Just caught a spider

The White Wagtail’s winter grounds are in West Africa and most arrive back in Iceland  in the end of April or beginning of May. The Icelandic breeding population counts around 50,000 pairs.

Sunflower seeds taste nice too

This one is early

The first White Wagtail this spring arrived in the garden today. She went straight to the spruce tree where Wagtails have made their nest in recent years.  It seemed to know its way around the place.

mariuerla-2
Maríuerla – Pied Wagtail – Montacilla alba

The White Wagtail goes all the way to West Africa for winter and most arrive back in Iceland  in May. This one is unusually early. The Icelandic breeding population counts around 50,000 pairs.

The Wagtail wags its tail

The White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)  is a beautiful little bird that constantly wags its long tail. It is quite noticeable dashing about in the garden in the summer time. The Wagtail is one of the migratory birds which arrival is looked forward to in the spring.

mariuerla
Maríuerla – White wagtail – Motacilla alba

We like the Wagtail a lot and there is usually a pair with a nest in the garden every year. It quite likes the oatmeal biscuits we feed it.