Tough time for chiffchaffs

We haven't heard a chiffchaff singing yet this year, but yesterday we had brief glimpses of one flitting from tree to tree in the garden, and this afternoon we were surprised when a small bird sped into a clump of rushes in the semi-frozen  Guilsfield Arm of the Mont Canal. It was hidden from sight for several moments, and we imagined it was probably a wren, but when it emerged it was obviously a warbler, which from then on was constantly on the move,  pecking fairly frantically at anything which might have been on the icy water surface. It seemed unaware of us, intent only on finding food - which surely must be in very short supply in these conditions. We can only hope it survives - and that the bitter cold doesn't prove too much for it.