We live in Windsor Berks and have a small ornamental pond in the garden.
We are very excited to be visited by a beautiful bright yellow wagtail.
I understand that it is not normal for the yellow wagtail to be around after September and that the bird is on the Red list.
We are keen to help feed the bird but understand that it feeds on small insects and beetles.
We put out general bird foods including seeds, dried mealwaorms, peanuts, and fat balls etc.
Can anyone tell us if there is a food that we can buy that will help the wagtail through the winter.
Thanks.
(Pardon the Scottish Accent)
Yes, bird food is aimed almost exclusively at seed eaters. Yes, fat balls and other bits, but there is no demand to produce food for birds that don't visit gardens or have diets that can't be catered for. Even if you have a yellow wagtail, rather than grey wagtail, it won't still be there. Gardens and ponds are not yellow wagtail habitat. Grey wagtails are happy in those settings, but even they move around during Autumn and Winter. I'm afraid most bird species, incl almost all on the red list, don't and won't make use of supplementary bird feeding. Bird feeding in terms of conservation is a myth to a large extent. Only targeted feeding (e.g. for cirl buntings) has a clear benefit in terms of conservation. Just my opinion.