A potential, and if so extremely rare, three-tick day for me started with the amazingly confiding first-winter Steppe Grey Shrike at Grainthorpe Haven, Lincolnshire, which absolutely enthralled all observers present. This was followed by the superb male Two-barred Crossbill at Garfitts Farm, North Yorkshire (with a Red Kite seen from the car enroute over A1 Jcn 47), and finally the putative drake Canvasback at Nosterfield Gravel Pits, N. Yorks. Hoping for close views of the latter it was unfortunately distant, but looked rather convincing with the exception of a pale subterminal area on the bill.
