Weekend birding

Saw some nice things in the vice county this weekend. Runswick Bay produced an inshore Red-throated Diver on Saturday plus the usual Oystercatchers and Turnstones. Also this rather smart "Fisherman's Robin" outside the pub.

Sunday's birds included Common Buzzard, a couple of flocks of Redwings, a pair of Stonechats, the first Curlew of the spring on the moors, Lapwings on territory on the moors, Siskins on territory methinks in a conifer plantation and various other bits and bats.

2nd best moment was seeing a 4WD vehicle go off road and rapidly get very stuck. As it was the lead vehicle of 3 and a motorbike they all had to get out just as a particularly vicious hail storm passed through. Sadly they managed to get the vehicle out of the huge rut that has of course been created by 4WD vehicles. These were recreational 4WD excursionists, I have no problem with working vehicles on the moor, but these folk, hope they smash their sumps and their vehicles are scrappy bound tomorrow, all of them, and the off-road motorbikes as well.