Sunday 27 September 2009

Thornton - Rosefinch

Not a bird to move heaven and earth for but slightly nearer than Orkney and hopefully an easy tick? Famous last words.......

Had bumped into Ron Kinrade at IMF and he had set off for the Rosefinch mid morning. A few miles into the journey, I got a text saying - not seen for a few hours!

Oh well, eventually we arrived and joined the slightly tense bunch of garden birders at 281 Main St! One of the benefits of a ringer finding a garden bird is the generous hospitality! It was 'Garden Open' for one day only. For a donation to the local ringing group, spirits had been kept up during the no-show period with tea, biscuits plus a comfy chair or two.....






Ron was quite pleased to see me as having been waiting for over two hours, he announced it'll show now! Sure enough, the lucky Jim effect kicked in - a couple of minutes later, after spotting it distantly but briefly in a neighbouring garden, it flew up into a tall conifer - in full view!! The juvenile Rosefinch sporting it's new ring, gave us all 15 mins or so of cracking views.....












What a way to end an awesome weekend!!