Two days in my life!

Woke up, fell out of bed, 
Dragged a comb across my head 
Found my way downstairs and drank a cup, 
And looking up I noticed I was late...

Day 1: Family Fun Day

...just managed to get to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster on time where Sheila and I had been invited to help celebrate my son's and my elder granddaughter's birthdays: one born on March 2nd and the other on March 3rd but some years apart!!

Obviously I took a camera so, slightly different to my normal fare, here are a few zoo snaps. I was impressed by the sense of space - very large enclosures - but not by the weather it was cold and wet. Still, we all had a good time. Lion Lion Lion

Lion Lion Polar Bear Giraffe Camel meerkat

Meerkat above; painted dog below. Painted Dog Best of all for me were the tigers - and they stuck it out in the rain for us! Tiger Tiger

Day 2: Back to the day job!

Headed north again to my beloved Hartlepool region and in particular to Redcar beach. First of all I parked up near the beach cinema to go look for velvet scoter. I could soon see eider but the scoter were diving and coming up somewhere else or disappearing in the waves... Velvet Scoter Velvet Scoter That's better! Velvet Scoter Velvet Scoter Velvet Scoter

Velvet Scoter Velvet Scoter Walking back to the promenade I noticed a few common gulls among the herrings. Two allowed a close approach. Common Gull Common Gull

A mile or so further brought me to Foxglove Covert yet again, Marske, hoping for either corn bunting or lapland. Ready for disapppointment I bumped into Martyn Sidwell and we homed in on the preferred 'lump' in the middle of the stubble field.

Foxglove Covert delivers! Lapland Bunting

Lapland Bunting Lapland Bunting

Velvet Scoter Double vision! Velvet Scoter I then headed back to Redcar Stray to call on the snow buntings. Three were present and seemed well used to the people, dogs and ice-cream throwing children. The conditions were brighter and calmer than previously and it shows!

Snow Bunting Snow Bunting Snow Bunting Snow Bunting Snow Bunting Snow Bunting Snow Bunting Snow Bunting I finished my day in the life with a walk along Greatham Creek just with my bins. I hoped to find my first avocets of the year out on Seal Sands and I wasn't disappointed. Five seen but there are more present as I write this.

Found my coat and grabbed my hat 
Made it to Tiggy in seconds flat 
Found my way inside and had a coke, 
Somebody spoke and I went into a dream....

166 UK 2017