20th May

The light easterly breeze did bring a small but varied assortment of migrants throughout the day. The best bird was a short-stay Shore Lark near Stennabreck that soon upped and disappeared west out of sight. Other new birds for the year were an anticipated 10 House Martins and 2 Swifts, and a less anticipated flock of 5 Tree Sparrows at Holland House. The first really notable hirundine movement of the spring also involved 8 Sand Martins and 158 Swallows, while finches dropping in during the day included a Goldfinch, 2 Bramblings, 2 Siskins and a Redpoll.

The / a drake Garganey was on Hooking Loch again, and the Reed Warbler from a week earlier made another appearance. Census counts of small migrant species came to 1 Tree Pipit, 2 Robins, 3 Whitethroats, 8 Blackcaps, 6 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers and 1 Pied Flycatcher. A couple of Jackdaws and 11 Carrion Crows passed through, and 1 each of Sparrowhawk, Merlin, Common Sandpiper, Woodpigeon and Collared Dove were seen.

Four of the five Tree Sparrows were ringed in the afternoon.

The Reed Warbler that has been lying low near the airfield for several days bears a non-local ring on its left leg.