LET'S GET TOGETHER - ROOSTING PIED WAGTAILS

Remember to look up this Christmas to enjoy gangs of pied wags' gathered in the trees

- Mike Dilger’s

ONE OF THE MOST JOYOUS AND TIME honoured festive traditions for many this month must surely be decorating 0 the Christmas tree. But while adorning the tree in the warmth of your homes, do spare a thought for the feathery baubles festooning a number of urban trees outdoors, as pied wagtails join forces each dusk to collectively see out the long, cold winter nights.

Identified by their monochromatic plumage, jerky walk and habit of constantly pumping their long tails, pied wagtails are without doubt one of the most beloved members of our wonderfully diverse avifauna. Breeding across most of Britain, these adaptable little birds are often, but not

Did you know?

One theory for why pied wagtails wag their tails is that it helps flush out their insect prey always, close to water and tend to prefer 'open country' in farmland, moorland and even town parks. Insectivorous by nature, their favoured food is taken from the ground, the water's surface or snatched midair. Flies, midges and caterpillars are popular meals.