Species Account
Extract from Bird Report 2024
Common and widespread resident. Included in 23.3% of BirdTrack lists. The East of England long-term trend is decreasing -10%. (Green list).
The largest flocks of Pied Wagtails M. a. yarrellii were at Henlow Grange in January, feeding on a spring-sown cereal crop, peaking at 175 on the 31st. There were still 85 there on 19th March. Th ere were 117 at Harrowden WM on 31st January, and 100 at Biggleswade WTW on two dates in January. The highest count in the April to June period was 20 at Biggleswade Common on 3rd April, with the only other double-figure counts being ten throughout April at Meadow Lane GP and ten on flooded fields at Sandy on 27th April. During the July to September period the largest gatherings were of 58 at Wrest Park on 1st September and 40 at Harrowden WM on 28th September. At Houghton Brook Pools, 33 departed from a roost on the Lidl building on 11th August. In the last quarter there were 42 at Wrest Park on 13th October, 50 in fields at Blunham on 26th October, 83 at a pre-roost at London Road Trading Estate, Biggleswade on 13th November and 95 at Meadow Lane GP on 28th December.
The first White Wagtails M. a. alba were singles at Upper Caldecote on 26th March, Broom East on 15th April, and then at Broom South Quarry with one on 18th April, three on the 20th and two on the 26th, and lastly one on flooded fields near Sandy on 27th April. Later in the year there were singles at Broom South Quarry on 24th August and at Potton on 10th September.
