A strange morning at Redcar Tarn in decent conditions with 90% cloud cover at 5 degrees on a SW>4. For some reason all the gulls were reluctant to come to the water with all the big gulls, including the 2 Caspians, in the Tarn Lane field next to the building site. Later in the morning the Iceland showed up briefly on the water then turned up in the field at the top side of the water behind the Hawthorn hedge but keeping at distance.
I spent most of my time there checking out the hedge finding
Brambling, Chaffinch, Redpoll, Siskin, Redwing and Goldfinch but all very mobile and sticking in the shelter of the lower parts of the hedge.
Around 10 birders up there including HC, DW, and JM who all got to see both species. Some impressive looking hardware up there with lenses that made Big Bertha look more like Tiny Tim though usually the 3 target birds come near enough to the shore, or on the shore, where you could take them with a mobile phone.
By late afternoon the wind was building up with drizzle and low cloud so I decided on a local dog walk and get the last of the 3 dogs bathed and groomed which has taken me every evening this week but thats it now for them for another 6 weeks.
At the moment the wind is lifting the roof off the house with a blasting W>9 strong gale but its suppose to blow itself out shortly with a wet and windy day promised for tomorrow.
Redcar Tarn
Caspian gull 1st and 2nd winter
Iceland gull 1st winter
Brambling 3
Siskin 6
Redpoll 1
Chaffinch sev
Redwing sev
Goldfinch sev
+ usual sp.
BS