The morning dawned like a summer's day but the forecast said rain before eleven. So the trip to Longtown to collect a bike had to be early. A glance out of the kitchen window before heading off - and there was a fine male Sparrowhawk, a juvenile moulting into adult.
The Esk at Longtown seemed quiet and after spending some time looking at the different ages of Common and Black-headed Gulls I headed back towards my car stopping to check a small group of wagtails on the shingle. One stood out as a much brighter paler bird - and those ear coverts encircled by a pale border ! No dark breast patch - Citrine Wagtail ! Then a whole period of doubt and frantic phone-scoping. Why is it NOT a Citrine ?
Back home and more checking the literature and a phone call to good friend Tristan along with a WhatsApp image for moral support before putting the news out.
I now believe in the magical qualities of Sparrowhawks !
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