White Wagtail - 1894

Motacilla alba

A summer visitor, no doubt often overlooked and confounded with the next species.

Writing as long ago as 1850, Mr. Tracy says : "I am convinced that a few young birds of the Continental White Wagtail appear on our coasts in the months of September and October." But the birds pass south again before either of those dates. We saw a flock of from 20 to 30 White Wagtails sitting on the telegraph wires by Treffgarne Bridge towards the end of August, 1884, and the birds were then evidently migrating. On 24th June, 1886, we saw a pair of adult White Wagtails close to Clarbeston Railway Station.

Mathew M.A. 1894, Birds of Pembrokeshire and it's Islands