Update

No I haven't been on an exotic South American bird trip to find the cock on the rock but it would have been a nice idea...

                                                                     ...I've been ill.

                                                 ...Slowly improving...

Sheila thought it would cheer me up to 'pop out' for half an hour to see the Flying Scotsman outside York. We went to Tadcaster Road Tesco's [25/2] and set up our watchpost. Several hours later, after adding hyperthermia to my list of ailments, she arrived. Very late.

Flying Scotsman

I relapsed.

By Sunday 28th I felt I might risk a trip to a sewage works. Nothing like a sewage works to help you retch that wretched catarrh out of your system so I wrapped up warm and drove to Lemon Royd. Sounds like a cough sweet: 'Have you tried Lemon Royds? My gran swears by them. Always has a packet handy!'

Oh well, I went to see. Set up my scope through the fencing. Up to six grey wagtails, countless pied variety and - eventually - one water pipit. If it only knew how many miles, how many hours I had spent last year and this trying to see one! No photos as I didn't take the camera and it was a scope job anyway.

Today, to round off February I went to North Duffield and Aughton church. Lots of usual suspects but no year ticks. Didn't stay long. Had to suck Polos to lubricate my sore throat.

I'd run out of Lemon Royds again.

152 UK 2016