3rd and 4th June

Still pretty foggy through the day on the 3^rd but there were signs that it wanted to clear – still no planes though!   The highlights were lingering birds again with the Red-backed Shrike still at Ancum and the Hawfinch and Long-eared Owl still around Holland while other landbirds included a Collared Dove, 2 Garden Warblers, 5 Chiffchaffs and a Pied Flycatcher.

                A few odd wildfowl emerged with 4 Wigeon, 3 Pintail and 2 Garganey perhaps hinting at breeding attempts while lingering waders were highlighted by single Little Stint and Curlew Sandpipers at Westness and Trolla respectively along with a Golden Plover, 153 Sanderling, 24 Knot, 2 Purple Sandpipers and 29 Bar-tailed Godwits.

                A quiet day for new migrants on the 4^th with our focus slowly shifting to breeding bird monitoring but a Quail was seen at Kirbest and the Red-backed Shrike and Hawfinch remained in place; other bits and pieces included a Woodpigeon, a Collared Dove, a lingering Redwing at Holland, a Garden Warbler, 4 Chiffchaffs and a Spotted Flycatcher.

There are now trillions of baby Starlings emerging from everywhere!