In what seems to be the year of the above named full species, the chance for a few of our team again presented itself to see one. It was found on Sunday the 15th December in a flooded horse paddock and remained all week. We got a team together consisting of Steve B, Bob K and two birding friends from Huddersfield, Dave W and Rob D. We met at 6-45am near Outlane, Huddersfield with Dave W driving. It was wet, gloomy and generally wintery as we made our way up the A1 towards Newcastle, then around 8-30am news that the bird was still present spurred us on. Reaching the correct place at about 9-15am we had no trouble seeing this very rare visitor to our shores. The wagtail landed about 10 feet in front of us in a bare hawthorn hedge and showed really well. A Pink footed Goose skein of about 40 birds passed over, then a small flock of Golden Plover and along with an assortment of small passerine birds kept us entertained.
After a hastily called meeting we decided to try to find the Black Grouse in the Langdon Beck/road to St John`s Chapel in County Durham. Whilst travelling over the tops you could not fail to be amazed at how beautiful this area is even in winter. Views over to Cross Fell brought back some great memories of the day we climbed said mountain! As we turned off the B6277 we saw a few birders watching something in the grassy fields, we joined them and were soon admiring about 35+ Black Grouse in winter plumage. Quite a stunning sight really with lots of grey hens to admire and the males without their red wattles, but still having their distinctive white rump and lyre shaped tail.
After checking for bird news, which was a bit sparse, we decided to head east for Redcar and South Gare near Middlesbrough. At Redcar we saw: - A flock of 10 Red Throated Divers fly past, Eider, Common Scoter, Red Breasted Merganser but the hoped for Velvet Scoter and Long Tailed Duck could not be found. A nice flock of waders including: - Sanderling, Turnstone, Knot, Redshank and Oystercatcher caught the eye of our photographers as the light was really good. At South Gare we saw a Great Northern Diver fairly close inshore but perhaps as the light was beginning to fade on the shortest day of the year, not much else presented itself. Twite were heard, 4 Goldfinch and a flock of Reed Buntings were the last birds of the day. Dave W did really well driving us back to Huddersfield after a long and very fruitful day.
