RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL AND A SUNNY SATURDAY.

Marc called at 7.30 a.m. yesterday morning and I expected him to tell me he had refound the Pallas' Warbler.  However, it was a real mega in the form of a RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL which had been caught by Matt and Chris Hindle.  They were going to release it at 8.30 a.m. at Chambers Wall and I enjoyed 5 minutes with the bird before its release.  This morning I enjoyed a beautiful sunny morning stroll to Cold Harbour and back and 45 minutes around the caravan bushes.  The undoubted highlight was a SHORT-EARED OWL which flew in off the sea and alighted near the Oyster Farm.  We also had good views of the bird when we returned along the sea wall - the second owl that Ann Hindle had spooked in a day following her close encounter with a Barn Owl.  Totals for today included : 22 Meadow Pipit, 10 Skylark, 2 Grey Plover, 1 Little Owl, 1 WATER RAIL, 15 Siskin, 12 Redpoll, 4 Turnstone, 3 Wheatear, 1 Greenshank, 1 Sparrowhawk and 2 Little Egret.   An enjoyable time - shame we didn't find a Dusky Warbler.