GREY wagtails are normally thought of as birds of the rocky streams, perching on the boulders with fiercely wagging tails as they seek out water insects, and nesting behind waterfalls.
However, nowadays they are quite often found in towns or other built-up areas with a stream running through. They are more common than they used to be in southern England. They nest in cracks in walls beside the stream, and families of them can now be seen on the roofs of surrounding buildings.
They are called “grey” because of their bluish-grey backs, but the males’ undersides are a brilliant yellow, while the females have white chests with a splash of yellow under the tail. The young birds look like the females, and wait on the roofs to be fed.
Thunderstorms do not affect birds very much. They may be startled by loud noises, but they are not hurt by them. Their feathers are also fairly waterproof, and they know how to shake themselves and send the drops flying when they get wet.
However, if their wings are really waterlogged they may not be able to escape from prowling cats.
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DJM