June 9th

After a gap of a few years I think that there is a pair of grey wagtails breeding again along the Brandyburn, and probably in Victoria Park. They are handsome and elegant birds. I also love their bounding flight and “zit zit” double flight note that makes them very distinctive and noticeable even when passing high overhead. I noticed that they were probably back to breed this summer because they have been commuting over my garden – the Brandyburn is underground of course between Market Street and Nethergate so the wagtails have no choice but to go over the houses. They are at home on rooftops anyway. In the winter in Crail you are just as likely to see them feeding on a wet slate roof as on wet rocks beside a burn.

Grey wagtail

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