Wagtails & Pipits in East Riding of Yorkshire
6 species matching this filter.
The East Riding of Yorkshire supports six species of wagtails and pipits, a charming family of slender, ground-dwelling birds known for their distinctive tail-bobbing and undulating flight. The region's diverse habitats — from the dramatic chalk cliffs of Flamborough Head and the Holderness coast to the rolling farmland of the Yorkshire Wolds and the wetlands of the Humber Estuary — provide important breeding and wintering grounds for species such as the Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, and the increasingly scarce Yellow Wagtail. Keen birdwatchers should also look out for passage migrants like the Tree Pipit and the elusive Water Pipit during spring and autumn.
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinereaLC
An uncommon resident found along streams and waterways year-round. Often bobs its long tail while perched on rocks in flowing water.
Year-round
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensisLC
A common resident of open grassland, moorland edges, and coastal fields. Large numbers move through in autumn, often calling overhead.
Year-round
Rock Pipit
Anthus petrosusLC
An uncommon year-round resident of rocky shorelines and chalk cliffs. Regularly seen along the Flamborough and Bempton coast.
Year-round
Tree Pipit
Anthus trivialisLC
A rare visitor, mainly noted on passage in spring and autumn at wooded coastal sites. Has declined significantly as a breeding species.
Apr–Oct
Water Pipit
Anthus spinolettaLC
A rare late autumn passage visitor, occasionally found at coastal wetlands and watercress beds. Easily overlooked among Rock Pipits.
Nov
Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flavaLC
A summer breeder on arable farmland and wet meadows, arriving in April. A declining species nationally; the lowlands here remain a stronghold.
Apr–Oct