Psilos Bird Journal
Monday May 19th 2008
     
Grey wagtails - "We are family 3"
 
Got up to the river much later than I would have liked this morning but was reassured when I immediatly saw the female collecting insects below the nest site. The youngsters I thought must still be inside the nest. Approaching quite close my eyes were instantly diverted further up river to two birds and alot of begging and I instantly knew I was wrong and the chicks had fledged.
     

     
Striding over to the river bank and stepping down into the river itself a bird flew out from beneath me. One fledgling had been sat directly under the river bank and I could clearly see two juveniles on the river. Sadly upriver there are alot of thick trees overhanging and it was very dark. I just had to hope one would come sit in one of the few light pockets shining though the branches.


The adults were understandably anxious about having me hanging around and so in the hope that the juveniles would come back down the river and into better light I hung back and waited.
 
 
It really didnt take so long to bring the juveniles out and eventually they reappearedand gave me some lovely clear views.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The juveniles sadly though didnt stay there long. It seems they prefer to hang around in places that are dark and much more difficult for me to get to. Following their parents two of the three juveniles I saw that day flew down river below the nest site. If I wanted to get closer to them I would have to go climbing once again.