Barrow Gurney trio

5 Jan - A bright but quite breezy morning. There is currently an impressive trio of wintering birds at Barrow Gurney. The returning drake Long-tailed Duck that has wintered here for several years now was looking as smart as ever, in stunning winter regalia. Nearby on the largest tank, a Great Northern Diver has been joined by its rarer (inland at least) cousin, a Black-throated Diver - both were surprisingly difficult to locate on the slightly choppy water, but gave good comparisons in the end, the Black-throat being more compact and smaller in size, also showing its distinctive white thigh patch. A couple of Common Sandpipers are also wintering here and flew with typical fluttering, bowed wings.