If there’s one thing you get used to by the time you reach my ripe old age, it’s being making errors. Being mistaken, getting the wrong end of the stick, failure to comprehend — I’ve had a wealth of opportunities to do all these things. Let’s avoid all the truisms about failure being the path to knowledge, or that irritating business concept of ‘failing upward’ — when you’re wrong you’re wrong, and it’s best to take it on the chin and try to preserve what little is left of your dignity.

So it is with this Nestwatch series. It’s embarrassing to admit, but facts are facts. In short, these birds I’ve been stalking under the assumption that they’re Willie Wagtails — and let’s face it, that name with its pleasing alliteration and gentle double entendre makes for good material — is an assumption too far.

Yes, after all these posts, it turns out that I’ve misidentified this bird. It’s not a Willie at all. Turns out, this is a Grey Fantail family. Apparently not an uncommon mistake, but all the more reason to make sure before going out in print, no?

So what’s the difference? Well, according to the Backyard Buddies website, “the Grey Fantail looks a lot like the Willie Wagtail or Rufous Fantail, but it is usually grey-brown with two small white bars on its wings, white eyebrows and a long, fanned tail.” So the quick identifier is those white bits on the wings. Noted.

Look, we’re reasonable people, aren’t we? So let’s not allow my imperfect fact-checking get in the way of a good story. I’ll keep monitoring these guys’ progress and reporting it here. I even have an idea for a new series title. After all, it’s about them, not me. (That’s my line and I’m sticking to it.)