White-throated Robin

Old school mega

We've not been short of quality birds so far this year in Britain and Ireland, what with a drake Stejneger's Scoter frequenting the picturesque Iveragh peninsular and a Slaty-backed Gull surviving on the far less picturesque rubbish dumps of the Thames Estuary. I'm not turning my nose up at these two 'firsts', but there is something special about seconds and thirds. Probably the years of looking on forlornly through my childhood at those photos in Vinicombe's 'Rare Birds in Britain and Ireland' or those gripping finders' accounts in British Birds/Birding World.

Anyway, a Red-flanked Bluetail metamorphosed into one of Britain's most wanted - the third White-throated Robin, frequenting gardens and lovely manicured bowling greens in Hartlepool. A true old school, 'what dreams were made of' quality mega rarity. And it only cost me £18 to boot. Happy days.