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Last night on a cool breezy Carr I joined John and his mate from Cumbria waiting for some Owls to show. As the previous night and in fact for the last week a Whinchat was flycatching from the fenceline. I put the scope onto what I thought was the bird and blow me a Stonechat was on view. After the debacle of the last two winters this is the first of the year and No 108 on the PC list.
Great to see and craptastic record shot was taken as was one of the white chested Buzzard.

Closer to the lens I managed a nice male Bullfinch.

This morning my count struggled up to 40 species but included Golden Plover, Treecreeper, Crossbill and two perched Long-eared Owls in their favourite spot. More disturbing was the other type of chat. Now I know Prestwick Carr suffers noise from the airport but far more annoying to me is folk bawling as they pass through. It's normally cyclists or horse riders but this morning it was two power walking women who just couldn't shut up about their crap birthday night out and an old geezer shouting down his mobile phone, both audible from almost 100 yards away. Makes me feel like the Blue Tit above looks.

Scotland was cold and windy but a nice trip (thanks Kevin). Not many photo opportunities although had I been quicker I could have had numerous roadside Buzzards. This Turnstone just about sums up the weather!