The Juvenile Birder

Cumbria Crack! We arrived at Sizergh Castle at first light in hopes of seeing Hawfinches. We parked on the left side of the car park, and walked over to the veranda. There were a number of birders lined up. We approached them and met Joe and Steve, who kindly pointed out two showy male Hawfinches  less than 40m away. We also saw a female Hawfinch. I managed to get a record shot of both of them, before heading over to the River Kent for Dipper.  Image from @RobsBirding, not same bird We arrived at the River Kent at 8:00am.  As soon as we arrived, we set up the scope along the bank of the river, since the bridge was shut, and on the first scan, I managed to the see the Dipper  bathing, however I wasn't quick enough for a photo. We stayed for an hour, seeing the Dipper  a few more times, however I wasn't quick enough for a record shot. Satisfied with our views and eager for a lifer, we set off on the hunt for the reported Richard's Pipit.  We arrived in Ulvers...

  Winter Waterfowl and Finches We arrived at 9:40am in hopes of spotting a rare Green-Winged Teal. We walked in and headed straight for the Ron Barker Hide where it had been seen. We arrived with no luck. We only saw the usual Eurasian Teals, Common Moorhens and Western Marsh Harriers. We then headed to the Discovery Hide where we saw Common Pochard, Eurasian Wigeon, Mallards, Tufted Ducks, Ruff, Black-Tailed Godwits, Northern Pintails, Greylag Geese and Whooper Swans. We then went the opposite direction to the Janet Kea Hide in hopes of seeing Bramblings. At first, the hide was quiet until one Brambling went out to feed on the feeders, then it hopped back into a bush. European Goldfinch & Greenfinches, Eurasian Blue Tits, Great Tits, Common Chaffinches and Eurasian Tree Sparrow where also there. We saw Rooks and a Common Kestrel on our journey home.