Nice Start

Several local visits today, the female Garganey remains at Arcot, and a freshly dead gull on the island, possibly a LBB but as it was upside down with head bent under; it was hard to tell from 100 yards away.

Wessie was dead at dawn, a gull fest at tea time, and this evening, its usual wag-fest, with a dozen Pied and three Yellows.  Until this year, Yellow Wagtail was a patch lifer, and this year I am falling over them.  Brilliant!

This fellow was trying to generate some sustenance, but without much success.  He'll learn!

After dropping Mrs M off a local hostel, and second visit to Arcot.  As I got out of the car, a Robin flew from the hedge onto the wooden structure that allows the cows and horses in and out safely, the sort of equine/bovine kissing gate.  But feck me, the bins showed the Robin to be a female Redstart (patch lifer),

Camera bag open.  Camera out. Camera on.  Started to raise it from my hip and the bird was into the hedge.  Bollocks!  After a text to the troops, a game of cat and mouse as it was always one shutter button ahead of me.  This went on for 20-25 minutes, with periods where it went missing and then reappeared. 

And with the light fading, the shittiest shot that is not even good as a record.  I'll spare you the humour.

Back early doors for another go.

And the gull is now but a few feathers and the odd bone!