Birding blues

And so the bad luck continues, after failing to see the Glossy Ibis at Teesside on Wednesday I couldn’t believe it when a juv Pallid Harrier turned up there the next day, it showed extremely well at Dormans Pool all day Friday so Saturday morning found me waiting there bright and early hoping for a repeat performance, alas it was not to be there was no sign, I hung around until 11am but had to be back home by lunchtime and then annoyingly the bird was seen during the afternoon over Cowpen and Greenabella Marshes. Sunday me and Andy were back up there, we staked out the Marshes for most of the morning where Marsh Harrier and Merlin entertained but again there was no sign of the Pallid, we had distant views of the Semipalmated Sandpiper on Back Saltholme during the afternoon which offered a little recompense but by late afternoon and despite a few rumours there had been no definite sightings of the Harrier. Then belated news came out today that the Harrier was photographed on the ground eating prey at Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park yesterday afternoon, I find it hard to take that the finder didn't release news of this sighting until today especially knowing how many people were looking for this bird.

coming in to land