White-throated Dipper
Cinclus cinclus

The Dipper is a bird of tumbling streams and rivers from sea level to the mountains from the UK through to China in a patchy distribution and while mostly resident, some populations migrate. They are well-known for their feeding habits, which involve walking or diving into fast-flowing water and foraging through the stream bed for invertebrates. They also swim across water using their wings to propel themselves. Unusually for passerines they have solid bones which helps to reduce their buoyancy. They have a sweet, thrush-like song. Dippers are fairly small at 17-20 cm in length.
 

1-2: Lynmouth, Devon, 16/09/2013.