Today's only surprise (and a taxon I've seen far too few of so far this winter) was a third-winter vegae. No attractiveness anywhere on this bird, just a grubby-looking head and an experession of pure menace. Fantastic! I've aged this one primarily by the tail band, which should be full on second-winters (only a trace on this one). It gets ID'd primarily by the extensive streaking and blotching on its head, but also by the pale saddle.
Attached: Third-winter vegae (ID'd by extensive dark head markings, pale saddle, traces of tail band).
Attached: Third-winter vegae (ID'd by extensive dark head markings, pale saddle, traces of tail band).