Not a great idea to check a north facing hillside for small passerines in a WNW>4 but at the moment I,ve to grab every opportunity so off to Soil Hill north slope late afternoon.
As it turned out it produced the goods but hard work with the birds very mobile and keeping down out of the wind.
First bird to appear in front of the camera was surprisingly a Grasshopper Warbler which allowed me one snap before dropping into the undergrowth never to be re located.
Up to 5 Whitethroats were around but very mobile and keeping low not interested in some nurd with a camera.
A single Sedge Warbler was giving out bursts of song but keeping out of sight just beyond the NK pond whilst 2 cracking male Reed Buntings gave me no chance of a photo by keep dropping into the long grass.
Otherwise it was down to about a dozen Linnets and 8 Goldfinch with no sign of moving gulls.
Water on Raggalds Flood well receding and just usual sp. present
With May gone we,re down to the worst month of the birders calendar now but some decent rarities have turned up in June in previous years.
BS