Pied Wagtail roosting flock is still at Heathrow T5

This post is simply to document the calendar of the Pied Wagtails that roost at London Heathrow’s Terminal 5 during the cold months. Today was Thursday 13^th March 2014 and is the latest that I have seen the birds here. Their numbers have dropped since January when as many as 1400 were seen. Approximately 500 were seen here this evening.

This year’s numbers are down on last year, but this may be down to a significant prune of the “bird-proof trees” last autumn which reduced the outer branch capacity. In previous years the roosting flock has exceeded 3000 during extreme cold nights.

The wagtails find warmth and shelter from the elements as they are sheltered between the terminal and the multi-storey car park. Recent rises in temperature may have contributed to the drop in numbers as the birds roost elsewhere in smaller flocks.

See the previous posts on the Wagtails of London Heathrow Airport at the links below;

http://redgannet.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/where-did-all-these-wagtails-come-from.html

http://redgannet.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/the-wagtails-are-back.html

http://www.redgannet.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/i-have-been-watching-out-for.html

Harmondsworth Moor is also very close to Heathrow Airport and a post can be seen at this link.
Birding, Bird watching, London UK, Heathrow Airport, T5