Rustic Bunting and Radde’s Warbler: Suffolk, October 2020

Richard Carl Nielsen says: “On the theme of dipping, 4 October

2020 ranks very highly in regard to feelings of wretchedness and selfloathing. For on this day I managed to ‘double-dip’ in spectacular fashion.

“I set off from my home in Loughborough bright eyed and bushy tailed in eager anticipation of seeing my first Rustic Bunting on the outskirts of Lowestoft. After a very testing drive, I eventually arrived at the genteel holiday resort.

“Somehow I managed to lose my way and my nerves could only be described as fractious. I pulled into a lay-by and asked a man wearing a flat cap and walking two whippets for assistance. “You’re miles away, bonny lad,” was his opening salvo. My head dropped and I questioned my sanity. The gentleman did give me excellent directions and I arrived at the coastal location eager to add to my meagre list of birds seen over the years. There was an ice-cream van on the site and I asked the vendor if the bird was showing. “You should have been here 10 minutes ago, mate; it was strutting around people’s feet.”