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The Birds Of South Gloucestershire          Blue-headed Wagtail - motacilla flava flava

 

Blue-headed Wagtail breeds in much of temperate Europe and Asia and has a foothold in Alaska. It is resident in the milder parts of its range such as western Europe, but northern and eastern populations migrate to Africa and south Asia. Nominate Blue-headed Wagtail and Yellow Wagtail form a narrow hybrid zone in northern France, birds from this zone vary in appearance but one type which resembles nominate Blue-headed Wagtail is colloquially referred to as Channel Wagtail.

 

There have been nine Blue-headed Wagtails reported from S. Gloucestershire;

 

2012: (1)

A summer male was on Northwick Warth on April 27th (Paul Bowerman);

 

2008: (1)

A male was seen briefly in the morning by four observers at Severn Beach on April 20th.  (John Martin)

 

2004: (1)

A male was found on May 1st on Northwick Warth. (John Martin)

 

1999: (2)

A presumed adult was seen on April 19th on Northwick Warth; A presumed adult was seen on April 25th at Aust Warth and the same or another presumed adult was present on April 26th at Severn Beach. (Brian Lancastle and John Martin)

 

1954: (4)

Four were reported on April 23rd at Severn Beach on the foreshore with around 35 Yellow Wagtail. This occurrence constitutes the first report of this form for S. Gloucestershire.

 

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