A PARLIAMENT OF FOWLS

Yesterday, while driving about the shoot looking out for coveys of greys that I had missed in the autumn count, I saw a wee flash of yellow as a small bird flushed from one of our beetle banks.

I was sure it was not just another yellowhammer, so I turned back to get another look. It flushed again and there was no doubt, it was a yellow wagtail; the first I have seen here in 25 years.

Most folk think water when they think wagtail, and the flash of yellow with the long bobbing tail that you see on the riverbank. This is the grey wagtail; yellow underneath, but dark grey on the back. The yellow is a farmland bird, and it has sadly much declined.

I’m sure it was just on autumn passage, and that I cannot claim that our conservation programme has made much difference to it, but it was still a joy to see.

The yellow wagtail population has much declined