On 2 April, whilst watching a group of Blue-winged Parrots in farmland at
Woolnorth, a Willie Wagtail appeared from trees along a fence line next to
the road. The wagtail was observed catching insects in grass by a gate
through the fence. It was seen at 9:28 AM and observed foraging around this
gate for about 30 seconds before flying off to the south. Searching further
south later in the morning and again in the afternoon failed to find it.
The site was also visited on 7 April but it was not seen.
On 11 April, 400 down a track through the aforementioned gate I saw another
Willie Wagtail. It was first seen at 10:11 AM, perched on a triangular
wooden frame above a round concrete cattle drinking trough. It remained
there for about 5 minutes, making brief foraging sallies. It then flew
about 40 m north to a fence and continued making foraging sallies from the
fence, each time landing a bit further east along the fence until it ended
up near the gate where the sighting was made on 2 April. I visited the spot
again in the late afternoon and also on 15 and 17 April but did not see it
again.
The gate is next to the Woolnorth Road, 4.5 km beyond the Welcome River
crossing. It is on private property and birders are advised to seek
permission to gain access.
Jon Starks
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