Two new birds on the year list over the past few days, one a bit of an old nemesis, one a total surprise!
The first was the regular Great Grey Shrike which has been reported on and off from the airfield for well over a week. We got a report on Sunday evening to say that it was in an area of the airfield we were sure we could see from the reserve (the rule for the reserve list!). I headed down to the airfield in my car, Tom stayed in mobile contact back at the visitor centre. We then probably had the silliest twenty minutes of birding I've ever been involved in as I wandered about the airfield trying to point at the shrike while Tom tried to fine me (and then) the shrike with his scope. Eventually, the bird helpfully flew up on to a wire, a bit of pointing and a shouty phone call later and the shrike was definitely seen from reserve soil and we could get it on the list for the year.
The second new addition came late this afternoon. We'd had a bit of a disappointing visit to the Plantation, the most exciting thing in there being a couple of chaffinches, so we had time for a quick trip to the lagoon. While I was scanning the far shore for waders, Tom checked through the small birds on the grassy area and suddenly spotted two with a bright yellow face and black moustache.
After an excited shout of "It's a Shore Lark!" we managed to get some views through the telescope and I managed a couple of record photographs.
Shore Larks (or Horned Larks) are very rare this far north (they're a bit more common on the Lothian coast and down in Norfolk), they're usually just seen on migration in spring and autumn, and this is only the fourth ever record for the reserve. It was a lifetime first for myself, Tom, Ed and Robert and a pretty good way to start the week!