Linlithgow Loch

Days hols today with the weather overcast but not at all cold, saw me in the garden topping up my various feeding stations. Almost immediately, a Pied Wagtail,  a garden first, arrived at the seed tray

 along with three Siskin, which made a welcome return.

Nice to see the return of five House Sparrows, after me bemoaning their absence this year
.

The Coal Tits are still in evidence but still no sign of any Robins in the trees.

Walking down to Linlithgow Loch saw the sky getting cloudier, but still a good number of Mute and Whooper Swan

along with the ususal 'tame' Greylags.

Spied a couple of Wigeon on the water, which was a novelty, 

with plenty of Coots and Moorhens feeding away quite happily.

Walking up the path brought my first (and only) Robin so far this year.

Plenty of Mallard at the top of the Loch but not much else.

On turning for home a number of birds arrived whilst I was talking to an old chap walking his dog. This brought a good discussion as to whether or not they were Common Tern , Common Gulls or 1st Winter Black Headed Gulls.

All the evidence pointed towards Terns, orange bills with black tops, orange legs, dark bar on forewing but trailing edge to inner wing, but still could beBlack Headed Gulls

I will send a photo to my mate Bagsy, who is pretty expert on Gulls.

***Update***
Bagsy has agreed with my identification of Black Headed Gulls in adult winter plumage with the exception of the  top bird and the third one down who are both 1st Winter. As always my thanks and beer is on mw when I am next down in the Portland Bird Observatory

A quick walk back brought the sight of a solitary sheep scratching its back against a low branch, then it was home for lunch.