Psilos Bird Journal
Thursday May 15th 2008
     
Grey wagtails - "We are family" page 2
 
For three hours I watched these wonderful and amazing birds. They worked tirelessly to feed their babies and what a food source they had! The river and surrounding air was teeming with life. Great swarms of flies, insects and grubs made is easy pickings for the birds.
     

These birds were such aggressive hunters. With lithsome agility and pinpoint accuracy they would leap into the air or dive with their beaks held out ready to snatch up any unsuspecting insect that got in their way. Their eye sight is remarkable. Quickly they filled their burgeoning beaks. How they managed to catch so many and still hold onto them whilst they continued to catch more is one of the bird worlds little mysteries. A time or two I did see a stray insect fall away but on the whole they did very well. One thing was for sure though, those young wagtails were never going to go hungry.

 
 
 
After the first hour I had crawled up the bank and was directly opposite the nest site on the opposite side of the river about thirty feet away. The birds continued to keep their distance but seemed comfortable enough in my presence. I was just happy to photograph them at all. I was concious that I hadnt taken full advantage of my surroundings to photograph them but I hadnt wanted to push them too hard. I could have stayed and watched them all day but I knew time was running out. I decided there and then that I would return the following day, not even knowing then that the best by far was still to come.....