Time rolls on, defying our efforts to slow it down for the enjoyable bits. I tick off the markers of spring’s progress. Far out west, in Ealing, a singing skylark evades detection in the boundless sky, its silver chain of sound offering no clues as to its whereabouts. In “leafy Barnes”, sand martins duck and dive in and out of their nesting burrows. And at Lord’s, the cricket season begins. There is sun. There is a chill wind. There is a low hum of expectation. Lancashire are 143-2. Nearly everything is in place. All we need is a particular bird. As if summoned by the thought, it enters the scene. Flutter bounce flutter bounce land trot. Two rows in front of us, a member rejoices: “The wagtails are back!” There is no more reliable cheerer-upper than a pied wagtail. A week ago, I was revitalised by a 50-fold uplift of them at Sutton Scotney services. They streamed over the car park, silhouetted against the dusky sky, their collective energy an antidote to the undertow of quiet despair prevalent at such places. To London birders, they’re the “Chiswick flyover”, the name invoking both the elevated section of the M4 in the west of the city and the bird’s habit of flying overhead with a brisk “chi-zick!” They’re at home around humans – many of our half a million pairs are found in towns or villages. On the ground, tail flicking, their whirring gait recalls a clockwork toy. They regularly turn up at motorway services, car parks and station platforms. And Lord’s. The Lord’s pied wagtails are known even to the ornithologically unaware, offering entertainment during the inevitable lulls of four-day cricket. Birding and cricket – twin reminders of the value of slowtime. Scuttling over the pristine hallowed turf, the wagtail pecks at the grass. Their main diet is insects and invertebrates, so this is a pleasing endorsement of the ground staff’s enlightened approach to pesticides. They’ll also happily rootle on a pavement for crumbs and scraps – our local pair favour the patch outside Greggs (other bakeries are available). Harris clips Roland-Jones for four. The wagtail, astute tactician, anticipates its captain’s directions and relocates itself to leg slip. Cricket. Wagtail. Perfect. • Under the Changing Skies: The Best of the Guardian’s Country Diary, 2018-2024 is published by Guardian Faber; order at guardianbookshop.com and get a 15% discount
Author: Lev Parikian