Consolation Prizes

By that I mean that sometimes you go off for the day hoping to make contact with a particular bird. You don't but instead you find another different bird. A consolation prize, so to speak.

There's been a few recently.

January 20th: Morning at Old Moor. No sign of bearded tits. Consoled myself with a few photos at Tree Sparrow Farm.  Siskin Siskin Siskin Bullfinch Siskin Siskin

Afternoon visit to Blacktoft to catch up with the hen harrier. No show - or we ran out of time before they locked up! Consolation prize: two views of merlin.

January 23rd: East Yorks tour began well at North Cave with a couple of lesser redpolls. One was especially well-coloured. I went on to Hornsea hoping for a long-tailed drake. No sign but consolation bird: red-crested pochard. Same day Barmston beach as a Kumlien's gull was reported: no sign but a solitary grey plover lingered on the beach till the dogs came! So on to Flamborough for the Richard's pipits. What glorious mud! Nothing quite like it. Quagmire was putting it mildly. No Richard's but meadow pipits and a nice black redstart just north of the car park at North Landing. Excellent consolation prize that one!

January 24th: Spent the morning on The Ridge at Saltburn hoping for a hawfinch which appeared after I had left. Quick drive down North Gare access road. Curlews flying in. Curlews Curlews

Went to Jackson's Landing for another look at the glaucous gull but it was Sunday and the jet skis were displaying their acrobatics. Consolation?  Jet skier Jet skier Jet skier Jet skier Jet skier

Finished the day as the light failed at Ward Jackson Park trying to get a parakeet in flight. They are so damn fast!! I think they must gather to roost: over 18 birds seen.

Ring-necked parakeet Ring-necked parakeet

Best effort... Ring-necked parakeet

I'm not complaining but for the photos a bit of cold, blue sky, frosty weather would be nice. It's so dark at times!

UK 128 2016