White-tailed Plover!

7 June - news of a mega - at Caerlaverock WWT. A 4-hr drive and a 2-hr wait in a crowded hide was followed by distant but satisfactory views of the bird in flight and on the ground - striking black-and-white in flight, and elegant with long yellow legs when feeding and preening. The first twitchable bird for over 30 years...

Monty's etc

12 May then 2 June - Salisbury Plain - after visits to the usual areas initially produced only male Whinchats on territory, on 2 June a male Montagu's Harrier was seen over a cornfield adjacent to the main road.

4 June - male Montagu's Harrier seen hunting in a traditional area on the Oxon/Berks downs. A visit the following week produced a superb Long-eared Owl hunting voles before dark - presumably to feed young in the nest - flew very close, orange eyes and long ear-tufts easily seen.