2nd June 2019 ff
The Pastor, Wild Mignonette and a Black-headed surprise!
Sounds like a racy little tale, doesn't it?
June 2nd took me bright and early up to South Gare to see if I could spot the rose-coloured starling. By the time I arrived it had flown off with a group of starlings but it wasn't too long before they [and it] were relocated. On a wall and then by the Bomb Hole overlooking the River Tees. Here it is!
It liked to sit down in the grass and at times would disappear completely. The other starlings seemed to accept it as a starling: this juvenile is not about to land on it but is dropping down towards the pebble beach below.
I'll say good bye and leave the bird quietly looking out over the River Tees from the far side of the Bomb Hole.
Back at the car I noticed this fine stand of Wild Mignonette reseda lutea - it took me some time to correctly identify it.
Saturday 8th June I set off reasonably early for Flamborough as the black-headed bunting had been confirmed as still present. After arriving it took me less than a minute to see the bird! However that was pure luck as it would disappear for quite a while and reappear somewhere along a 70m hedge line. I photographed it from the roadside where most of the birders were standing. Also seen: whitethroat and lesser whitethroat. Here's my 437th lifer - and the first of 2019 and my 343rd British species I have photographed!
Later, down by the golf course willows fleeting views of subalpine warbler together with chiffchaff and another lesser whitethroat - the latter seen really well.