24th May

A lot of the quality birds remained for another day of almost windless bright sunshine, and a few more notables dropped in to join them. A total of 8 Red-backed Shrikes included the 5 from the previous day, while there were a couple of new birds among at least 4 Icterine Warblers present. The first Common Rosefinch of the spring was near the old mill, and the year-list received further additions from a Cuckoo, a Little Gull and a bright Yellowhammer that was seen singing from the observatory roof.

Counts of the commoner migrants stayed much the same, with 14 Spotted Flycatchers, 6 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps, 4 Willow Warblers, 8 Chiffchaffs 2 Tree Pipits, 1 Tree Sparrow and 1 Song Thrush seen. A slight increase in finches comprised 6 Redpolls, 3 Siskins, a Chaffinch and a Brambling; a couple of Rooks and a Carrion Crow passed through; other odds and ends included 2 Short-eared Owls, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Sparrowhawks, 3 Collared Doves and 2 Woodpigeons.

Just one of the Red-backed Shrikes has found its way into the mist nets so far.

Yellowhammer

The first-summer Little Gull roosted with the Black-headed and Common Gulls on Gretchen Loch in the afternoon.