Under the weather

Not been so hot these last five weeks - had the flu which has manifested into a hideous viral chest infection which I still haven't shifted. Managed to man up enough to visit Barmston this morning and it was well worth it. Also under the weather were a few seabirds desperately skirting a squall out in Bridlington Bay. Pretty standard were single Red-throated Diver and Guillemot. More exotic were a couple of Arctic Skuas and a Manx Shearwater the latter a full patch tick as they rarely get this deep into the bay. A juvenile Kittiwake, a distant Fulmar and two loafing Common Scoter were also patch year ticks.

On the land it was much quieter. No Littoralis pipits unlike last year and not a snipe never mind a jack. Totally different to 2013 when there were loads. I walked the ditch but the White-spotted Bluethroat didn't appear. Another patch year tick clucked in the reed bed as a female Pheasant put in a brief appearance. This takes me on to 57 species and 65 points for the year so far at Barmston. This week I also took delivery of a rather smart t-shirt...