You've gotta roll with it...

Lovely morning spent out at Allerthorpe Common YWT with old friend Jo Thomas. Spent two hours pottering round the site, with highlight being a Woodlark in stubble to the north of the YWT reserve. Later, we finally found the redpoll flock, on feeding on the deck, possibly on heather seeds. Sadly the flock was only 30 or so strong (there are over 100 present on site) and despite containing some cracking frosty Mealies, did not contain the Coue's Arctic, our target. Quite a gathering occurred with Russ, Andy and Alan all arriving, plus a number of unknown birders. 19 Goosander flew southwest late morning and a couple of Buzzards soared over the northern section. Lots of common stuff singing now including Skylark, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, Chaffinch, plus a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming.


Mealy Redpoll with a smart white rump.