Wagtails - A Success Story?

[DiddlyQuaQua]

It's well known that birds such as sparrows are declining in numbers. But are there any success stories?
I notice many, many pied wagtails about the place and they seem to be one of the most numerous species hereabouts, whereas as a child it was a rarity to see one at all.
I live in the West London suburbs if that makes a difference.

[Canary42]

You could participate in the RSPB Garden Watch later this month. The results will answer your question.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/

[Negomi]

There is one that lives on the roof of the post office in the town centre, and two run about by the subway entrance of the central line tube (east london). I saw one in my street today, never seen a wagtail there before.

[Graham-W]

Wildlife seems to go in cycles. A few years ago we had far too many magpies taking the other birds young from their nests. Now I see fewer magpies and the garden birds seem to be thriving.

The wet year has been very good for newts: http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/10141569.Newts_delay_work_on_Monks_Cross_stores/

The same cannot be said for hedgehogs. Finding somewhere to breed and have young has been a real problem for them.

[paddywak]

Not seen a wagtail for ages yet a fe years ago they were reglar visitors to the patio.

[coccinelle]

I must say this winter is the first in about 15 years that I've had regular visits of sparrows so they might be coming back. I'm seeing more and more woodpeckers too.

[flicrat]

I have seen wagtails this autumn/winter in various places in central Leicester. They like the market approach and the outside coffee shops. (But they won't be eating crumbs, surely?) Pehaps the crumbs attract insects? There is also a hardy specimen that sits on the outfield at Grace Road ( the county cricket ground.) Only a well hit boundary sends it fluttering away temporarily, but it's soon back. Sometimes more interesting watching it than the cricket!

[paddywak]

Since posting yesterday that I'd not seen a wagtail for ages, they seem to be everywhere but my patio.