30th May-A Veery good day!!!!

We said this spring had been more about quality rather than quantity and the surprise discovery of a first-summer VEERY (capitol letters justified at this point!) at Holland gardens early morning raised the bar to a new level. This smart, little catharus, North Ronaldsay's second (first in 2002) and Britain's eleventh was found in a mist-net and after release in the nearby Kirkyard showed frequently enough in the sycamores there to at least mid-morning before returning to the gardens by evening. The rest of the day was something of a blur but we mustn't forget the Rustic Bunting offered up fine support, being seen once again at Ancum Willows and it has now been present for 10 days. Throw in another Red-necked Phalarope, which flew west over the school early afternoon, the first Green Sandpiper of the year, a Wood Sandpiper at dusk, the 2 Curlew Sandpipers, a drake Garganey and a Snow Bunting, and few could deny-it had been a veery good day!

Veery (photo by the finder Gavin Woodbridge)

 Veery (2 photos by George Gay)