First Major Dip of 2009!!!

What a total, utter shit!! I hate dipping, especially when it's a lifer involved! I've never seen a White Stork & have for some time been expecting one to turn up in Shropshire.... & yesterday, one did!! The bird was reported to Geoff by a non-birder, at a ploughed field in Rednal!
I'd stopped off at VP en route home from work this morning, the Lesser Whitethroat was still present in the top field, vocal as ever, & a slight surprise on the main pool when I noticed the Bar-tailed Godwit had returned!
Having only slept barely 3hrs in almost 2 days I soon jacked the birding in & set off for some much needed sleep!
It was roughly 11:30am when I heard my phone go, so needed to answer the call of nature anyway, I got up, my head numb with tiredness & went downstairs to check my phone...
A text from Rob - 'White Stork @ Rednal'!!!!
I woke instantly... I dressed, was in my car & arrived at Rednal before midday!!! I joined Rob & Geoff, only to discover I'd missed the bird by half an hour!! I stayed for an hour & half, searching everywhere, but no sign! A small consolation came in the shape of a Whitethroat!
Now late for picking up my daughter, relucatntly I left!

I was back at Rednal for 5pm. I made for the canal path & once again began searching! I was soon joined by Paul Rutter, 2 sets of eyes always a big help! Still no sign... Soon we were joined by Andy, Dave & Jim... plus 4 more birders came for a brief while, but soon left!
Us hardened Salop birders remained until 20:30hrs, with no sign of our target bird.... At least Andy kept up going with some f-word filled humour!! Plus Jim's never-ending faith that the bird will show!!
Sadly, we all left empty handed. Another painful loss this year, but this one is by far the worst for me, missing a lifer by minutes really, really sucks!!!