May 25th
Survey site in Argyll and Bute

I was out surveying when I suddenly became aware of a liquid song demanding attention amongst the typical throng of woodland birds. Surely just a Blackbird? But the more I listened the more this was sounding like something a whole lot more exotic. I closed the gap between me and a grove of Birches and now it was clear; I was 30 metres from a singing Golden Oriole. The bird had evidently clocked me and was throwing some 'angry cat' alarm calls into the mix. After a while all went quiet and it looked like the bird had moved off down the slope. At the end of the survey I relocated it, now singing from a more suitable area of oak woodland by the roadside and managed a brief flight view which suggested it was a greenish bird (first sum male?).
Excellent end to a productive week which also turned up Short-eared Owl and male Hen Harrier.