Ups and Downs

Wasted a morning, tyre rubber and diesel today by going for the 'third time lucky' Kielder Goshawk tick.  Like Eurovision, it was Liverbirder, nil points!  Crossbills, Buzzards, wee things and a Peregrine tho'.  Decided to try for the Black Redstart at Druridge at 2:30 pm.  It's great when you arrive and see better birders' cars there.  Northumbrian Birder was with Lord Dack Snr of Seaton Sluice and within seconds, l'oiseau!  What a stunner; flighty but more often visible than not.  It favoured the plantation or the bare, low sycamores to its east and north, but never venturing far from the perimeter fence.  And then, like the Famous Five, it was home for tea.