Ring Ouzel - Prestwick Carr

I've just got back from Prestwick Carr where I managed to stumble across a Ring Ouzel amongst a flock of Fieldfare at about 8pm. It was passed the sentry box in the field to the west of the track at the next gate along.

Ring Ouzel & Fieldfares

On the way back down the track a 'hairy' cow bolted out of the bushes in front of me and scrambled back through the fence into the field where it had escaped from. A quick change of underwear and I headed towards Prestwick village where a Barn Owl was hunting.

Something this colour and size (small cow) moving fast with a long hairy tail...........

I thought I'd been ambushed by a Lion!

Barn Owl near Prestwick village

Prestwick Carr 20/04

68 Golden Plover in full breeding plumage, 6 Wheatears, 2 Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk and a Willow Warbler for a year tick.

And, rather surprisingly one of these...........

A week tick!

Golden Plover in breeding plumage (still grabbed from video)

Short-eared Owl at Prestwick Carr

The sun was set by the time I found a couple of Short-eared owls at Prestwick Carr this evening. I managed to get a little video of one being hassled by a crow. Click here to view.

Bill 'the bike' told me that there are at least four, possibly six, short-eared owls at present, best seen from the goat pen on the bumpy road. And, as a bonus, there's a good chance of a barn owl or two. My advice is get there at 3.30pm for a 4pm start. Two young Buzzards still present in the field seen from the sentry point and another was seen flying.