I went specifically to see the Smew, a redhead which had been present from the 13th.  By the time I arrived, skidding on Grane Road twice, I had found out that the lake had frozen over and the small portion free was occupied by Coot.  Had I gone yesterday....famous last words!

Then I decided to see the Glossy Ibis, a bird I had seen abroad but never in Britain.  It was not a priority for me but who could not be impressed by such a beautiful bird even if it was not a first?

I set off to Heysham to see the Glaucous Gull and Little Gulls which would have also been firsts.  Kittiwake, Shag and Guillemot were also present but having seen them before they were not a priority.  Some one gave me pecise directions but I could not find the each place where they were so missed once again.  I took a walk around Heysham Nature Reserve with its mixed habitat including woodland, scrub, acidic heath, calcerous grassland, wetland and reedbed all in a fairly small area it did not leave me going home feeling disappointed.