Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea). Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on January 15th 2025 Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on January 15th 2025 (© David Hastings) (1/1000th sec at f/7.1. Click image for larger version) Description L: 17 - 20 cm The Grey Wagtail is more colourful than its name suggests, with slate grey upper parts and a distinctive lemon yellow under-tail. Its tail is noticeably longer than those of Pied and Yellow wagtails. There are various island subspecies, include patriciae of the Azores, schmitzi of Madeira and canariensis of the Canary Islands. It is found throught the British Isles, but only in summer in most of Scotland. It breeds on small, fast-flowing watercourses with plenty of exposed rocks and with woodland or trees along the banks. Most British birds are resident. There are also migrants and winterers from northern Europe. Because of recent moderate population declines it is an Amber List species. There are between 38000 and 46000 pairs in the UK. Sightings | 21-Nov-2025 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 12-Nov-2025 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 24-Oct-2025 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 06-Oct-2025 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (3) | | 14-Sep-2025 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (2) | | 10-Sep-2025 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 29-Aug-2025 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 18-Aug-2025 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (3) | | 15-Aug-2025 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (3) | | 25-Jul-2025 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 06-May-2025 | : | Cannop Ponds, Gloucs | (2) | | 05-May-2025 | : | Nagshead, Gloucs | (1) | | 17-Apr-2025 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 09-Apr-2025 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 26-Mar-2025 | : | Sherborne, Gloucs | (1) | | 17-Mar-2025 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 15-Jan-2025 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) |
| | 11-Dec-2024 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 05-May-2024 | : | Cannop Ponds, Gloucs | (2) |
| | 17-Nov-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 22-Sep-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 02-Jun-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 28-Apr-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 21-Apr-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 20-Jan-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 02-Jan-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) |
| | 20-Dec-2022 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 06-Dec-2022 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 13-Nov-2022 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 04-Nov-2022 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 03-Nov-2022 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 05-May-2022 | : | Elan Valley, Powys | (1) | | 04-May-2022 | : | Gwenffrwd-Dinas, Ceredigion | (2) | | 21-Apr-2022 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) |
| | 14-Nov-2021 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | (1) | | 14-Nov-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 18-Oct-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 24-Sep-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 12-Sep-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 03-Sep-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 11-May-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 25-Apr-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) |
| | 14-Dec-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 09-Dec-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 04-Dec-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 01-Dec-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 26-Nov-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 03-Nov-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 08-Oct-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 05-Oct-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 30-Sep-2020 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 29-Aug-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 18-Aug-2020 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | (1) | | 15-Jun-2020 | : | Chimney Meadows, Oxon | (1) | | 30-May-2020 | : | Goring, Oxon | (1) | | 15-May-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 17-Feb-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 01-Jan-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) |
| | 03-Nov-2019 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 21-Sep-2019 | : | Wytham Woods, Oxon | (1) | | 15-Sep-2019 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 08-Sep-2019 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 05-Sep-2019 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1juv) | | 31-Aug-2019 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1juv) | | 22-May-2019 | : | Grantown-on-Spey, Highland | (1) | | 28-Apr-2019 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 31-Mar-2019 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) |
| | 31-Dec-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 22-Nov-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 31-Oct-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 07-Oct-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (3) | | 19-Jul-2018 | : | Vercors Natural Park, France | | | 25-Jun-2018 | : | Eskdale, Cumbria | (1) | | 05-May-2018 | : | Gilfach, Powys | (1) | | 04-May-2018 | : | Elan Valley, Powys | (2) | | 03-May-2018 | : | Gwenffrwd-Dinas, Ceredigion | (2) | | 04-Mar-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) |
| | 19-Nov-2017 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 05-Nov-2017 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 19-Oct-2017 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 14-Sep-2017 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 12-Sep-2017 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 06-Jun-2017 | : | Plitvicka Jezera National Park, Croatia | | | 10-Mar-2017 | : | Oxford, Oxon | (1) |
| | 11-Dec-2016 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 06-Nov-2016 | : | La Janda, Spain | (1) | | 03-Nov-2016 | : | Montejaque, Spain | (1) | | 22-Oct-2016 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (4) | | 09-Oct-2016 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) | | 02-Oct-2016 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 28-Aug-2016 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 19-Aug-2016 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 13-Aug-2016 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 05-Jul-2016 | : | Richmond, Yorks | (6+) | | 05-Jul-2016 | : | Smardale Gill NNR, Cumbria | (1) | | 23-Apr-2016 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 09-Apr-2016 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 05-Apr-2016 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 25-Mar-2016 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 06-Mar-2016 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 18-Jan-2016 | : | Oxford, Oxon | (1) |
| | 28-Dec-2015 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 06-Dec-2015 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (3) | | 28-Nov-2015 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (3) | | 04-Oct-2015 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 13-Sep-2015 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (5+) | | 06-Sep-2015 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (3) | | 30-Aug-2015 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 26-Jul-2015 | : | Baderitza, Bulgaria | | | 17-Jun-2015 | : | Lynton/Lynmouth, Devon | (1) | | 16-Jun-2015 | : | Watersmeet, Devon | (4+) | | 16-Jun-2015 | : | Heddon Valley, Devon | (5) | | 08-Mar-2015 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 08-Feb-2015 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) |
| | 10-Dec-2014 | : | Redbridge, Oxon | (1) | | 09-Nov-2014 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 28-Sep-2014 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (2) | | 13-Sep-2014 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 23-Jun-2014 | : | Trigrad, Bulgaria | | | 19-Jun-2014 | : | Koprivshtitsa, Bulgaria | | | 24-May-2014 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 09-May-2014 | : | Bwlch-y-rhiw, Ceredigion | (2) | | 09-May-2014 | : | Gwenffrwd-Dinas, Ceredigion | (1) |
| | 29-Mar-2013 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) |
| | 14-Oct-2012 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) |
| | 16-Apr-2011 | : | Bryher, Isles of Scilly | |
| | 12-Dec-2010 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 29-Jun-2010 | : | Vienne, France | | | 27-Jun-2010 | : | Vienne, France | |
| | 30-Oct-2009 | : | Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon | | | 09-May-2009 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 18-Apr-2009 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | |
| | 31-Aug-2008 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | | 06-Mar-2008 | : | Madeira | |
| | 25-Nov-2007 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | | 30-Sep-2007 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 27-Aug-2007 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | | 11-May-2007 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | | 06-May-2007 | : | Mt Brunca Spina, Sardinia | | | 21-Apr-2007 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | |
| | 02-Dec-2006 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | | | 29-Oct-2006 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | | 07-Oct-2006 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | | 06-Aug-2006 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 09-Apr-2006 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | | 26-Mar-2006 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | |
| | 10-Apr-2005 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | |
| | 11-May-2004 | : | Madeira | | | 10-May-2004 | : | Madeira | |
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