About a month ago I was alerted by a message on social media about a pair of Black Redstarts in the City of Culture. I made enquiries and was directed to a less than salubrious area of the city. I was given precise directions, but I actually came across the pair about a quarter of a mile nearer to the parking area than the directions stipulated. I first saw the female, but she soon made herself scarce. Later, the singing male was more obvious as he sang from a few prominent song posts, all of them incredibly industrial-looking. It seemed impossible to observe the bird in attractive surroundings, but then that is something you don't really expect in the UK. Displaying the tail to best effect Female Black Redstart Male Black Redstart A bundle of fluffy coal A nice background colour, but shame about the wires On a rusty structure My nephew wanted to see it so the following Sunday morning I went looking again. This time it was singing much further away. , but much closer t
