A trip up north - Pacific Diver

Utterly frazzled by long days at work, sixteen on one horrendous day when the pressures weighed heavy on my shoulders, the demands of sadistic clients demanding delivery of work that were likely to be disregarded anyway.

I'd had enough and spontaneously headed north late Friday morning. We ended up in York for the evening, relaxing in this beautiful city under the grandeur of the Minster and the quaint cobbled streets.

The next morning was a stab at the Pine Bunting. Present for a long stint in the village of Dunnington, the bird was seen early morning. Arriving at around 1030 after a tardy morning start, the scope was set up as resident gregarious flocks of Tree Sparrow and Yellowhammer flew nervously around the paddocks. There was no sign. A male Bullfinch brightened up the short vigil under leaden skies but by 12 I had given up and the bird wasn't seen since.

We continued north and arrived in Amble early afternoon. It was throwing it down, but clad in my waterproofs, I headed over to East Chevington where the Pacific Diver was still present on the north pool. There was no one around. The place had an eerie feel, the silence punctuated by distant sounds of wildfowl and the belligerent rain as it bounced off the metal hide, After a brief rest, the Diver become a bit more active swimming to the far end of the pool before heading back across my eye-line. Darkness began to creep in, but the light was still sufficient to observe at least six Scaup there including two drakes, a pair of Red-Breasted Merganser, and at least 25 Goldeneye,

The next day, we visited Saltholme RSPB for early migrants but none were forthcoming so continued onto Skinningrove for my second Eastern Black Redstart of the year which showed down to a few metres, The singing Dunnock there was evidence the our common birds shouldn't be overlooked.