[ZaktheLad]

The pied wagtails that had nested and hatched 6 eggs in our barn had their youngsters taken by some horrid predator over the weekend  .  We are not sure what it was that raided the nest, but it had to climb up some way and be quite lean to get in to the space where the nest was built.   Such a shame.  Parts of the nest were over the floor and I noticed that they had used some sheep wool, cow hair, horse hair and even some rabbit fur.    At first we were worried that one of the adults had been taken too, but we saw them both in the garden yesterday and it appears that they are already rebuilding a new nest in the wood shed this time.  They should hopefully have more luck with this location as a nest of wrens hatched and fledged from there a year or so ago.    that they have some success. 

[Clarebelle]

aww thats so sad

Hopefully they will have time to get another clutch hatched. I love watching the birds in the garden cleaning up after me by picking up bits if hay, rabbit fur and dog fur!

[Q]

Such a shame -could your predator be of the flying type - like crows or magpies even?

[suziequeue]

Or a rat??

[ZaktheLad]

Yes, we thought rat or possibly stout/weasel as we saw a stoat around some months ago and I think they are good climbers.  Don;t think it would have been a crow as too small an area for them to access easily and they would have made a lot of noise in the process.  Just feel so sorry for the pair - they are such lovely little birds.  Nature can be so very cruel.

[Dan]

  One of my favourite birds, we get a lot here.

[suziequeue]

We get a lot at home. They perch on the car wing mirrors and peck at them for hours!!