Escaped Hawk, and Summer Migrants Return

No need for a jury here! A very tame Harris’s Hawk, complete with jessies (or the eyelets, at least), gave me something of a shock as I came through the kissing gate at the far end of the Rogersceugh track on 23rd April. Perched on a fence post and instantly recognisable (and not the Marsh Harrier I thought it might be when I clapped eyes on it), it proceeded to follow us for a short while as Ali and I walked towards the Drumlin. (A quick phone call to the Bird of Prey Centre at Thurstonfield confirmed my suspicions.) My first Grasshopper Warblers (at least 4) were out in song, too, which was a pleasant surprise, and I even managed to get a shot of one of them by the main track. With Snipe drumming, Buzzards mewing, Ravens croaking overhead, a distant Cuckoo calling and plenty of Willow Warblers and Reed Buntings singing, summer seemed very much on its way. Lesser Redpoll were out in force, too, and for the first time I noticed them displaying and singing along the track, flying high and calling repeatedly. Finally, in the evening, the local Barn Owl made an appearance, and posed nicely on a post close to the road. Despite the very poor light, I was pleased with some of the photo results. More success was had on 26th, at Rogersceugh, but I still came away thinking I could have done better had luck been on my side. Of note was the female Marsh Harrier that had clearly drifted south of the Drumlin, and Grasshopper Warbler (again, c.4-5).