Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Wild Bird Wednesday and Nature Notes - Willie Wagtails


As soon as the first rain came, with it's accompanying drop of 
temperatures, the male birds went in for territorial posturing, 
chasing each other around in whole gangs and  making one 
heck of a ruckus.
They carried on as though it were spring not autumn.


Two of them in threatening poses in a cherry tree


quickly nipping down for a tasty insect snack


and back to the chase.


They were so intent on their purpose, they even darted around
in the grapevine next to the house.


It was really fun watching their antics.

Likning with Stewart's


and 

Michelle's Nature Notes

53 comments:

  1. Lovely birds and beautiful captures, Arija!! Hope your week is off to a good start! Enjoy!!

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  2. Lovely shots and I love the name of those birds!

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  3. love the dashing check mark above the eye!

    (those turtles today are just red-eared sliders. no biting. we do have a few snapping turtles, though.)

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  4. Thanks for the well wishes! Are these birds really called Willie Wagtails? What a fun name! I enjoyed having a peek into your world today :-)

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    1. You bet they are and as they flit about they constantly wag their tails.

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  5. I just love seeing this bird and hearing (or reading) it's name. It seems like somebody should have written a children's story featuring it! I'd love to see this bird 'in person' sometime, but that's obviously not gonna' happen, so thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thanks Sallie, you also need to hear their most musical call, they often sing on moonlit nights as well.

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  6. Interesting that they behave this way ou of season--I take it the young and female are long gone from the nest?

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    1. These are all fully grown birds and the reason for their unseasonal behaviour is the confusion in the weather, the feel in the air is spring-like. Normally they behave like this in August.

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  7. Hi Arija, those Willie Wagtails are such a pretty bird. I enjoyed your photos of them, thank you :)

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  8. Great looking and fantastic names. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  9. Maybe they are wishing it was spring. Your Wagtails are cute!, Great photos, Arija! Have a happy week!

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  10. Great photos, how neat that they came close to you and your camera :)

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  11. I remember reading somewhere the Aboriginal name for Willie Wagtails and it was interesting also - they are little birds with loads of character and always a delight to see. There seem to be more of them around these days - around ten or fifteen years ago I despaired of ever seeing them in any numbers again, they seemed to have disappeared on the plains, so their return is welcomed very much. They were quite prolific in my childhood.

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    1. The parks in Adelaide have plenty. Willies like to hang out with sheep rather than cattle, maybe that is why they are fewer in your area.

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  12. Willie wagtails are so cute, it's fun to watch them flit here and there, I haven't seen any for awhile. Lovely shots, have a nice day. K.

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  13. Great photos - they have so much energy and "spunk" for such little birds.

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  14. A handsome bird, with a cute name!!

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  15. I didn't know that there were territorial issues in the fall... Michelle

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    1. It is just that they are confused with climate change and think it is spring.

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  16. Neat looking birds. I love what looks like a shaggy grey eyebrow.

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    1. Actually, the eyebrow is a very clear straight line in contrasting white. They are great fun to watch as they flit about wagging and flirting their tails.

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  17. Great stuff. What a beautiful bird.

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  18. They are enchanting birds. I haven't seen any near us in quite a while - and miss them. Thank you.

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    1. It helps to have sheep, they often sit on their backs and nip down for the tiny insects the sheep disturb while grazing.

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  19. The name is as entertaining as the birds. Wonder if they get territorial over fall food. Sure glad you're getting some rain.

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    1. These birds are tiny insect feeders and food is plentiful. The territorial troubles are because they think it is spring with sudden drop in temps. and the rain bringing up fresh growth. Normally these fights occur in August. Climate change can be confusing for birds too.

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  20. These are great little birds - they remind me of clock-work toys (which does rather date me!)

    Cheers and thanks for linking to WBW

    Stewart M - Melbourne

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  21. Don't you just love when nature comes right to your door, so to speak...or maybe does. These birds certainly are pretty birds too. We have Carolina Wrens beginning a nest at our front door...we shall see. Hugs dear friend!!!

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  22. I so wish we had these in our part of the world!! Great photos.

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  23. Indeed this wagtail are different than here in the Netherlands.
    Well photographed.
    Regards, Irma

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  24. Arija, Thanks for visiting my blog during my absence in Menorca. I didn’t have full computer access on holiday so wasn’t able to visit Blogger pals at the time but I’m now in the process of catching up with everyone. Those Willie Wagtails are smart looking birds with as super name.

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  25. the lighting in these photos is so beautiful Arija!

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  26. You were fortunate to capture these little willie-wagtails Arija .....
    I love watching them but they flit around so fast that I've never been quick enough to capture them.

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  27. Cute bird! I've never seen these, but many of the males forget to eat they're so busy chasing each other away. Fun to watch, though.

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  28. I love the stoic willy-wag-tail; lovely photos Arija

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  29. Great shots of this attractive bird!

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  30. Really, there are birds called Willie Wagtails ... how very cool! And from the looks of them, they live up to their name. Very nice pictures ... and I have to wonder why all the raucous in the fall ... are they confused? Great pictures!

    Andrea @ From The Sol

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  31. A lovely post which put a big smile on my face - thank you Arija!

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  32. Lovely shots. So different from our Wagtails.

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  33. Nice pictures, love the background too in the first two. Your wagtail doesn't look like the same as our in Sweden.
    Thanks for your comment! Greetings Pia

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  34. they look cool with those eyebrows. Guess there is no mistakes in ID-ing them. Great shots. :)

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  35. Lovely captures Arija!
    I especially like the pleasing colors of the bokeh in the first two shots!

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  36. What beautiful birds they are! Have not seen this before either..

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  37. They can be very noisy, great post.

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