Slowly working my way northwards...

I began with a plan on Monday 28/1/19. Obviously it could evolve as I went along. I'd heard of a ruddy shelduck on a lake ''just south of Nunnington Hall.'' I couldn't find either the lake or the shelduck! So I headed west along the A170 towards Sutton Bank and Thirsk to pick up the A19. As I drove along I saw a pair of grey partridges. At the Sutton Bank centre I was pleased to see siskin and my first brambling of the year. The brambling disappeared when it saw my camera. This yellowhammer hung around for me.

The pager announced that a Russian white-fronted goose was in a field by Hurworth Burn reservoir near Trimdon west of Hartlepool. I decided to give it a go. Found easily with loads of pinkfeet and some greylags. Scope views only. I headed for Hartlepool Headland just to see what was around. No sign of any white gulls in the fish dock although birders were looking for a glaucous gull. I saw some nice bright looking eider drakes in the sunshine and cloudless sky. Mediterranean gull at Newburn Bridge - I passed my personal med gull spotting test! Saltholme hoping for a nice water rail tick and photo. Well satisfied with the results!

There were waxwings in the trees as I left the centre at Saltholme.

In the hide at Saltholme someone was extolling the virtues of Hawthorn Wood hide at Washington. A quick calculation and I decided I had time to go to the original Washington. I spent an hour in the hide at Hawthorn Wood along with bullfinches, siskins, redpolls, and bramblings. Great stuff!

139 UK 2019