Lemsford Springs Hertfordshire

Last week Jimmy & I visited Cliffe Pools in Kent, we were after the Black-necked Grebe,only trouble we can't find the pit that it's on.
We walk around the reserve & find a large pool that gives us our first Avocet of the year also a couple of Common Sandpiper gives another tick.
We walk for what seems like miles still not being able to get to the pit, the reserve has no birders that we can ask,a dog walker comes to our aid & we finally reach the pit & find 3 Black-necked Grebes  without to much trouble but the Red-necked was a lot harder to find.
Jimmy gets a likely in the scope but it dives before we get a proper I D & we can't find it again & the wind was blowing a bit of a gale making the water very choppy & it was not nice so we give up & miss out on another tick.
Next we are off to Leysbourne Lakes country park & once again it's a long long walk before we find New Hythe pits & as soon as we find Abby mead's pit we are onto the Ring-necked Duck for another good year tick.
Next day a quick trip over to KGV reservoir gets us a first winter drake Scaup,3 Goosander also seen while there.
Today looking for somewhere to get ourselves out & about we decide to pay our yearly visit to Lemsford springs in Hertfordshire, it's only 25 miles from home so a nice easy drive to get there.
The watercress beds here make good feeding for Green Sandpiper & we find at least 7 birds while here.
 A walk down to the bridge gets us our first Red Kite of the year.
Grey Wagtail is another bird always seen here & today is no exception.
This is a favourite place of mine to visit always so quite & peaceful & a guarantee year tick.

Green sandpiper