Living in Devon

[devon]

Hi,
My brother suggested I visit this site because I keep asking him for information about the wildlife I am encountering in Devon. (I have recently moved here) I am very glad I took up his suggestion. I have so many questions regarding the wildlife here and I am hoping someone will have some answers.
During late summer there was a tiny bird here about the size of a wren but thinner, it was dark brown, almost black, short tailed, with white marking on its wings. (I've looked in my bird identification book and can't find it in there) It doesn't appear to be from either the 'tit' or 'finch' family. What is strange about this little bird is that it flies along the ground, in and out of wheels of parked cars and around my ankles! It doesn't seem to stop to feed, although I assume it must. By late October it had disappeared and I never got a photograph of it. I wondered if it was a juvenile. Does this ring a bell with anyone?