What's Black and White but Decidedly Not Red All Over?

Ever since I were a wee kiddiwink wandering pretty clueless in the field of bird ID (long time ago, obviously!), I noticed these little characters. Pied Wagtails are amongst some of the most ubiquitous birds in Greater Manchester, found on almost every hill, on every street and roosting in every awning over every shop, or so it would seem. However, it seems that its taken me the whole of four months to get my desired shots of this little bird. Picture the scene, on the ramparts of an ancient castle in North Wales, the weight of history pressing heavy on me, when I forget all that in favour of this little bird making its way across the precipice towards me! Swivel on the spot, lens extended, parameters set and lying on the floor I wait until it enevitiably turns round, but it doesn't. I fire off a volley, surely its time to go, but no. It starts preening, and I keep shooting. I believe they call this Symbiosis...

Then its time for a clean...

Think that puts Pied Wagtails to bed, next up...Yellow Wagstails! (I'm full of variation like that)

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas? Not here it ain't!

Well, i'd have liked to put up a post about how Manchester's gone all snowy and i've had a lovely time photographing Robins sitting on the nose of a Snowman whilst I ate mince pies and drunk mulled wine. However, since this is the real world, I haven't done anything of the sort. OK, I did have a mince pie! Anyhow, I headed to my local patch to photograph my favourite passerine; the Pied Wagtail. It was a dull day in the pissing rain, meaning I got wet and the camera got wet. Still, as it grew darker I ended up with some reasonable shots...

Anyway, not quite as Christmassy as i'd have liked but probably a fair representation of what Christmas will be like! (I'm a pesimist, by the way).

Welcome to suburbia...

Its a strike day, horray! That's a day off for me and i'm not complaining. I was hoping to photograph Owls today, but a turn of events has lead me to be unable to do this, so I resorted to the local water park where I focused on more terrestrial ambitions. I wanted to photograph the loafing ducks and Pied Wagtails, but like all the best plans it all went wrong very early on when I couldn't find any wagtails. Still, loads of ducks to choose from...

I did bring feed with me, but these buggers ate most of it...

As well as a group of Swans. They were so close I switched to a 18-55mm lens, so as to get a wide-angle perspective on them...

Before long at last I found the Pied Wags, and after judicious use of a bag of seed they soon were feeding happily on the tarmac in front of me. A good end to a nice hour!