Hard Work.

Started the day along the Westfield Trail (old line as it used to be called) at Rampside. There's usually a few migrants to be had along here but not today, in fact it was devoid of birds almost completely bar a few House Sparrows, Blue Tits and a couple of Chaffinch. A skein of 28 Pink Feet flew north overhead.
Roa Island causeway held a selction of waders 100 Turnstone, 40 Ringed Plover, 40 Dunlin, 10 Golden Plover and 20 Redshank.
Newbiggin outfall had 22 Wigeon, 40 Shelduck, 12 Mallard, waders were limited to just 20 Ringed Plover, 20 Redshank and 15 Turnstone.
Bardsea Wood had only 4 singing Chiffchaff and it seems that summer migrants are thin on the ground so I decided to have a look around Rusland/Newby Bridge.
Bessy Bank Wood had 3 singing Chiffies but it was nice to see a small party of Redpoll looking really pink and smart.  With those 6 birds were also 2 Siskin, also single Kestrel and Sparrowhawk and 3 Buzzards.
Rusland was quiet and only 7 singing Chiffies, 5 Buzzards and 2 Ravens were making use of the thermals. The woods around Newby Bridge were a little better:
 2 Nuthatch
 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
 4 Long Tailed Tit
 1 Blackcap
 3 Chiffchaff
 1 Crossbill - a cracking male calling it's head off,  I've never seen them here before.
 2 Buzzard