Red-breasted Mergansers

Yesterday as I cycled past Widewater there were six Red-Breasted Mergansers at the eastern end.  They often turn up here in the winter, but I do not think I have ever seen as many as six at a time before.  There were two adult males and four 'redheads' and they were all very busy feeding.  They were bobbing up and down at an almost frenetic rate.  The water is shallow, so even if they are they were feeding at the bottom they were not having to go very far and so they were diving and surfacing very quickly.  They seem to be successful, coming to the surface with something in their bills quite often.  I could not make out what it was at the distance, but worms(?) about 5cm long seemed to be quite common.  Presumably the recent stormy weather had driven them here.  

Also busily feeding were at least 15 Little Grebes.  They were not maintaining the pace that the Mergansers had set, but they were active enough to make it difficult for me to be confident of my count.  Apart from that there were the usual little flock of feral ducks that have inhabited the lagoon for years and if there were any other birds, they were keeping down out of the wind.  Except the seagulls who seem to be enjoying the wind and surf blowing in.  Waves were high enough to push some shingle over the wooden wall on to the path.  It will be interesting to see what has happened to the sea defences when the wind is down and tide is out.