RFBT in Middleton-in-Teesdale

Red-flanked Bluetail used to be a bird of legendary status. It seems wrong somehow that a relatively recent increase in national records has initiated its demotion - from mega to rare to merely 'scarce'. But this won't have detracted from the finder's astonishment when they came across this little beauty in the middle of nowhere (Middleton by name and by nature!). I eventually located the site (after various false starts as I tried to interpret useless directions), and then was treated after a short wait to the most amazing point-blank views of this stunning creature as it posed on fallen trees and hopped about in the short grass in search of bugs. These are two of my best, one of which won a 'notable' award on Birdguides (my second RFBT to achieve this accolade). needless to say, I came away beaming from ear to ear...