Last year, somewhere around August or September, when the first time I spotted a White-browed Wagtail (Motacilla maderaspatensis) near a well in my university campus, I mistook it to be an Oriental-magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis). The mistake was bound to take place because I was observing it from quite a distance and both the species have somewhat similar colouration and build. As I moved closer, I noticed that there were two of them, slightly slender compared to the Oriental-magpie Robin and both of them were wagging their tail continuously which is why I was sure then and there that they were a species of wagtail family. They were mostly pecking around the well, but once or twice I noticed one of them diving inside the well, where they were probably trying to put together a nest in one of the dark crevices of the well. Since, the water level doesn’t rise after a certain limit, it was indeed a safe and cosy place to build a nest away from unwanted attention. At that time, I spotted them around the well often enough but until recently I hardly noticed their kind anywhere else around my university campus.
Lately, I have been noticing a number of them around my campus, either near food courts, perching on topiaries or casually walking in the lawns. However, no matter how many opportunities I got to observe them properly, I couldn’t get a closer look at them because of one reason or another. But, the golden opportunity finally knocked the door this afternoon when I was walking back to hostel from mess after a mess-y lunch. I was aware of sweet chirrup of a bird that I assumed to be coming from one of the nearby eucalyptus trees. But, the voice got clearer as walked on. Suddenly, I caught glimpse of a White-browed Wagtail pecking at the ground right in front of me. I advanced towards it to get a closer look albeit fearfully that it might take to wings, but the more steps I took towards it, the nearer it came to me! From time to time it chirruped a sweet string of notes and while I observed it closely I realised how aptly the species is named after all: a thin strip of white just above its eyes. I am quite sure it was a juvenile just out of the nest since it didn’t seem to be as scared of humans as birds usually are and didn’t try to take to wings as any adult bird would have rightly done. Besides, I noticed how its upper parts were not fully black, and were reddish-brown in some areas. I enjoyed watching it for a while and after listening to its honey-sweet melody for some time I left it to its exploration, wishing heartily for a good future for the brave young bird.