Spring creeping in

Despite the bitterly cold conditions, there were a few hints of spring on the patch today; 2 singing Chiffchaffs, a White Wagtail and an LRP. I'd logged the LRP last night on a brief after-work visit, and only saw it for a few minutes today before it started calling and then headed high north. The White Wag was with a very notable 95 Pied Wags feeding on the short horse-grazed turf on the western side of Ferry Lane Lake; the pools here look ideal for a Water Pipit, but not today.

LRP

White Wag

White Wag

Others things on Ferry Lane Lake included a redhead Smew (which as Mark Dawson pointed out when he arrived, looked like it was a 2cy male, as it was showing silvery feathering in the crown and on the mantle), the juv GND again (on my second look at the lake), and 3 Whoopers which flew in from the direction of Langford. One of these had a slightly washed-out yellow colouration to the bill, coupled with distinctive black spotting, more so on the right side than the left. 

Whooper (left side of bill)

Whooper (right side of bill)

I then went to Langford for a walk round, as the Rock Pipit that Andy Hall had had at Cromwell Wier earlier had relocated to Phase 3. I had it calling in flight, plus 2 LRPs which had dropped in earlier in the morning. 

So a good day out all in all.