The Starlings are still feeding young in our roof, and driving us mad each morning at first light with their constant calling. Last night a Swift was also calling from inside there too, and was again calling this morning. Then, about 8am this morning there was a lot of screaming and it was fairly obvious a fight had broken out. I ran outside in my dressing gown and saw a Swift fall to the floor via the hedge which it tried, but failed, to cling on to. I went to pick it up but after a bit of a struggle where it floor straight into my car, it eventually took off. Swifts were back in there again tonight.

Several hours early until mid-afternoon. Sunny but a bit breezy. Snapped an Orange Tit on Garlic Mustard and then spent an hour or so photographing three Hobbys. I also confirmed the damselflies was an Azure, heard four Turtle Doves and a single Cetti’s Warbler, and saw a small Pike hunting.
Then, just as I was leaving, a Redstart turned up along the Guilder Brook. A very smart male, though possibly first summer due to mottling on the throat, and a indistinct white merging into brown on the cap.








 
 
 

Cairngorms:
Tom and I had planned to have another go for Ptarmigan at dawn, but we awoke to heavy rain and could not see the mountain tops. We therefore packed up camp early and breakfasted, by which time it had cleared. Leaving Erul we then made another attempt, seeing six displaying Red Grouse but no Ptarmigan.

Loch Garten:
We then collected Erul and headed to Loch Garten for more photographs and another Crossbill attempt. We didn’t have long as we needed to begin the long drive back to get Sam in bed at an early hour as he had exams the next day.

We walked around a trail where I had previously seen both Crested Tits and Crossbills fifteen years earlier, and stumbled upon a giant Wood Ant nest that had been there a huge number of years (from before my last visit.) During the circular walk we also saw four more Common Sandpipers and three Goldeneyes, as well as a few Red Squirrels. Just as we were packing the gear away, Tom connected with a male Crossbill that turned out to be a Scottish Crossbill; just about the last bird we saw. Definitely couldn’t make it into a Parrot (that will have to wait), but a final new bird for Tom.

A few Ravens were noted on the drive home.

An hour in the sun at Fowlmere produced three year ticks: Hobby, Shoveler, and Turtle Dove.