Drowned!

This morning started promisingly with a male Brambling in the garden being the first bird I saw. This is the first bird in Winwick since I saw a male in the garden 16 days ago. This mornings bird was well into moult towards breeding plumage and was a cracker. The usual pair of Grey Partridges were wandering round on the left lawn and 2 male Reed Buntings (one adult, one immature) were also present. Nine Stock Doves were in the field behind the house.
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I headed off to HGF with Bill thinking it's windy and cold but at least its fine. Half way through the south field the wind suddenly cranked up to hurricane and a torrent of rain started. We were soaked! I could barely see anything and when I got to the pool I couldn't hold the scope straight so I gave up. The only bird of note was a Golden Plover in the south field (full breeding plumage!) which flushed by the path - clearly it hadn't seen or heard me until the last second.
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I went back to HGF this evening in less windy and fine weather. Five Black-necked Grebes present plus a new Great Crested Grebe - a juvenile which still has the face and neck stripes! 11 Pied Wags and 7 Linnets were in the south field, 58 Wigeon, 2 Teal and 31 Tufties on the pool. Around 20 Sand Martins were also present.
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A quick note on the Ring Ouzel. At least three other birders connected with it and surprisingly it was still present at 3-45pm - the last time it was recorded. It hung around even when disturbed by the farmer fertilising the field and also when some tosser drove his Spaniel straight at it.
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Eight Grey Partridges present today at HGF - one in the south field and three nr Midhops having a scuffle. Aside from the garden pair, just one other pair showing in Winwick in the field off the bend in Waterworks Lane.