A few of us were out at Fife Ness and its surrounds this morning with high hopes. Last night seven bluethroats turned up on the May Island. Surely at least one more will have also made it to us around Crail? If it did we didn’t find it. They can be skulkers, although once located they can usually be seen well. But it’s the locating that’s the problem. We have just too many bushes, hedges, ditches whereas the May Island has about three of each. And more birders, although today we did manage nearly double figures. Bluethroats are like robins but with a blue throat (obviously), red on the tail and a more striped head – well worth seeing. And I haven’t seen one yet for the Crail list. Consequently I was working hard today despite the rain. I found a spotted flycatcher at Kilminning and another at The Patch at Fife Ness. Good finds on any normal day and firsts for the year, but my expectations were high.

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