Thornton Reservoir 18/04/2008

Back again - this site is pretty easy to get to quickly from my work. I'm visiting more regularly than the Thornton Mothman! Anyway, a call from John just before I left work lead me to return to look for a Redstart found a little earlier by the Wearside Whippet, Brian Moore. John had seen it but had to leave to collect his car from a service. Shortly after arriving Allen Pocock also turned up, and we spent the next hour failing to see the said Start. John returned but still no sign. Throughout the visit I kept scanning through the Swallows and Sand Martins and I eventually picked up a couple of House Martins amongst them. Aside from these, Yellow Wagtails, the Little Owls and a couple of Sparrowhawks were the only birds of interest. The main field held the ugliest cow I've ever seen. If it had been a lot warmer and brighter I may have taken a photo to illustrate this fact, but frankly I couldn't be arsed. I left Allen and the newly arrived Grayboy to continue the search ....