Chew

Photos:

Female Long-tailed Duck and a gull (I have this pegged as a first winter Yellow-legged) with a deformed bill at Chew Valley Lake

March 29th

Finishing work today in Somerset, I decided a detour to Chew Valley Lake was in order. I spotted my first Swallow of the year in a little village somewhere along the way. On arrival I headed up to the dam to look for the Long-tailed Duck. It took me a while because said bird was on the water on the far side of the water tower - the one place I didn't look. It showed well briefly when I did discover it. A Green Sandpiper was patrolling the dam and both Chiffchaff and Blackcap were singing.

Next I went round to Herriot's Bridge where the elusive adult Spotted Sandpiper is still in residence and now has some spots! Another Green Sandpiper was skulking with it and a sharp-eyed birder found a Red Kite soaring overhead. A Cetti's Warbler was singing and I also found this gull with the deformed bill. Looks like a first winter Yellow-legged Gull to me - crossed with an Egypitian Vulture!