Grey Wagtail is another bird that I see constantly on my little stretch of brook.  In the winter season it is not as easy to tell the sex of the birds, but during the breeding season males sport a solid black bib. The bird here is almost certainly one that I have been seeing since last September when he had the vestiges of a bib left over from the summer. Now, even though he has got a week or so to go before he has finished his pre-nuptial moult, he is looking very smart. This morning he visited a spot opposite my Kingfisher hide and was feeding on the, now more abundant insect life. During the winter he had been feeding frantically most of the time to get enough to sustain him, he was obviously successful. Here is a photo from January to compare.

…….. and a female to show the contrast. Note the whiter underparts and lack of any yellow on the breast but yellow belly, unlike the male who is almost all yellow on the belly.

…………. and a couple of Kingfisher shots taken late afternoon. I did my Otter survey this afternoon and discovered 8 different spraint sites. On the way back up the brook to my car I noticed that the Kingfisher was around my hide so I popped in and took even more photos and watched him fishing.  If I don't see him tomorrow then, as I am off to the USA on Friday for almost 5 weeks, today may have been the last time that I see him. I hope not!!!!!!!  If so, then it has been a wonderful experience watching him and getting to know him intimately over the last 7 months.