Amwell: 2.12.13

A two hour wander around the splendid Amwell Reserve this morning.Birding was somewhat hindered by the fact that a reed cutter boat was out and about, flushing most of the birds down to the Gladwin Hide end of the lake. From this hide a redhead, 1st year male smew was watched along with several goldeneye, pochards, great crested grebe, gadwall, wigeon and good numbers of tufted duck and shoveler.
However, my interest was taken by a very pale white headed gull that was on the water. As I was studying it and reckoning 1st year caspian, the reed cutter started up and both the smew and gull flew off. Later, a picture was posted of this gull and, indeed, a caspian.
A wander around to the feeders at Hollycross Lake didn't give views of the recently recorded marsh tit or brambling. A sparrowhawk has been patrolling this area and maybe the birds have moved on. Plenty of chaffinch, goldfinch, great, blue and long tailed tits and a few magpies.
In the woods over the River Lea was a small flock of siskins. Several shots of the smew here, plus  a few others. This bird, whilst basically resembling an adult female is showing black around the eyes and on a couple of photos, white can be seen coming through the redhead crown, indicating that it'll moult into adult male plumage.

Finally, I ran the garden moth trap last night and managed just one moth, but a new one for the year, a mottled umber, shown here.