Urban Dippers

12 Feb - A morning walk at Frome Banks, Stroud, and after a bit of searching this unlikely urban stream, with its rough water and bridges, produced the expected pair of Dippers - excellent views, as they are very used to people here on the path. The male was singing perched on a mossy root, and both birds flying around and calling - surprisingly conspicuous and noisy when they do arrive on a section of the river, and difficult to miss. Also a male Grey Wagtail. Dippers are fairly early nesters so should be on view here for the next several months - I always notice when watching them how conspicuous their white eyelids are. Charismatic birds.