Last week. Surveys in Yorkshire in temps reaching 34c, it was like being in the Med. Highlights were 10 or more red kite, pair of merlin and a bit of vis mig including  yellow wagtail, tree pipit and crossbill.

Sunday 28th July-Day of the Painted Lady in Eastern Scotland.

An exceptional arrival of this delightful butterfly today. I first noticed this while seawatching at Kinghorn early morning where 50 + were seen coming in off or resting in the harbour car park. Later in the afternoon when the sun broke through, more and more dropped onto the two buddleia in our garden in Dunfermline until a peak of 22 were counted. Not quite matching the estimated 10,000 seen on the Isle of May today but an awesome sight in our small back garden. A Juv Blackcap was a garden tick too.

As for the seabirds, they were a bit underwhelming with 10 Manx Shearwater, 26 Common Scoter and 19 Puffin the highlights. Moved on from Kinghorn to check waders on the rising tide at Newmills/Valleyfield Lagoons where two stunning Knot in summer plumage  were the pick of the sightings.