January 1st: New Year's Day in Hartlepool. it's become a personal tradition. 59 species - not bad for me on my own without Barry to eagle-eye a few more. Missing feeders at Cowpen Bewley didn't help but I do now know where they've moved to! Here's a few photos.
Ward Jackson Park excelled with parakeets and 9 goosanders. Plus a few regulars...
A stonechat near Saltholme.
Pintails at Dorman's Pool but seen from the path without going as far as the hide. I pressed on to Newburn Bridge. Sanderlings, ringed plover, knot and a starling.
The Headland was busy with people but I saw a few things to remember...
...purple sandpiper, oystercatchers...
...including red-throated divers
Someone had gone to the trouble of locating this grave at the Old Cemetery on the Headland. A reminder of the awfulness of war - killed aged 12 in 1914.
January 2nd: A quick trip to west of Wistow near Selby for a great grey shrike. A long way off by the time I found it!