Cheers Mark, much appreciated.

Embarrassingly bad photos taken in rain and near-dark, only kept as features could just be made out, all other photos pure silhouetted blurs.

A quick look at Cattersty Gill to see if the Richard's pipit is still about was an impossible task given then weather. Did see these potentials though (poss same bird) with right size, undulating flight & very noticeable white outer tail feathers. Shame it/they didn't call. @teesbirds.bsky.social

That's a stunner Eddie, both bird and photo.

One of the 'Polish' mute swans that was born at Skelton Castle this year having a fly round its new home at Margrove, plus a dark eyed herring gull & one I'm not sure about - looks like herring but was very small, just a little bigger than a BHG. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

Wondered why the garden was so quiet before noticing this beautiful sparrowhawk waiting for a chance to strike. Photo taken in poor light at a distance through kitchen window. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

Cracking photo Paul. Absolute unit of a bird.

Many thanks Rob that's very kind of you to say. One of those all too rare but always welcome right light & weather combinations.

Dark winter storms together with bright sunlight giving superb contrast & colour with this collared dove near Loftus. Such a common bird these days, hard to believe the 1st UK record was only in 1952. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

Very distant long-tailed duck & common scoter at Scaling Dam today, both nice to see inland - many thanks to the kind birders who gave great scope views of the LTD. Much closer cormorant showing well just as the sun made a welcome appearance. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

Nice to see one of the Margrove barn owls out & actively hunting this afternoon - hope it had success 🤞 Common gull on ice & having a yawn nice to see also. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

Lovely to see a brambling at Lockwood Beck today, feeding well along with siskin, marsh tit & goldfinch. Always a joy to see these winter visitors with their stunning plumage. Nice to see one out of the leaf-litter so as to fully appreciate it. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

Thrilled to have seen the bluethroat at South Gare this afternoon. What a beautiful little bird. Amazingly fast scurrying through the scrub & grass more mouse-like than bird. Wishing it well on its travels. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

Very much a record shot of the superb olive-backed pipit at South Gare this afternoon - gave better views than photo suggests. 4 x whooper swans fresh-in at Bran Sands plus dark-bellied brent goose & bar-tailed godwit nice to see also. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

Cheers Rob that's very kind of you to say.

Twilight at Lockwood Beck with a treecreeper & goldeneye showing well in what little light there was. Pink-stained herring gull at Margrove, plus barn owl also giving close fly-by's - no photo unfortunately. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

Just leaving Scaling Dam as night descended when 12 whooper swans flew in. A couple initially looked promising for bewick's but distance & lack of light made it difficult to tell - pretty sure they're all whoopers. Lovely to see either way. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

Twilight at Margrove with a very distant jack snipe & little grebe, both nice to see - 1st LG I've seen there in a couple of years. Could barely make them out in the dark, motion of JS bobbing & LG diving gave them away. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

Greenfinch goldfinch spat at Lockwood Beck feeders. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

Greenfinch, goldfinch & siskin at Lockwood Beck. A reminder of just how big greenfinch are when seen alongside its smaller cousins. Water rail & teal showing nicely at Margrove. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

Excellent photos Neil. Superb given the distance.

Distant rough-legged buzzard over Park Nab near Kildale this afternoon. Views better than this terrible low-light photo suggest. Nice to see, hope it stays around for the winter 🤞 @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

Superb comparison footage. Nice to see both out in the open too.

Thank you, that's very kind of you to say.

Cheers Mark, good to know it was still showing late afternoon along with 25 common - an excellent number.

Family of red-legged partridge feeding around the manure heaps near Kildale today, at least 10 birds present including these two showy individuals. Plumage never fails to astonish. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

Haven't been able to get out for a while so a real treat to get to Margrove this afternoon and find a life ✅ with a jack snipe bobbing up & down feeding at the far bank. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

Good to know they're still there, no doubt enjoying a rest after their long flight from Iceland.

8 x whooper swans at Margrove this afternoon. Usually the mute swans see them straight off, but with the mutes currently being elsewhere the whoopers have settled to rest & feed. Fabulous to see & hear them. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

A small number of white & pied wagtails were the highlight at Margrove on an otherwise very quiet day. Lone wigeon still present. Rock pipit at Saltburn nice to see. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social