Andy Latham  & Jim Almond were to score with a double whammy on 26th with not only a Whinchat in the top field but also an Osprey over the trout pool!! Unable to go due to home/work commitments I simply seethed for 24 hours!! That's 2 Osprey's I've now missed (& at least 3 Red Kites!!!).

But on the 27th, after work, I was back at VP, and after a quick 'chat' (har-hah!!) with Simon it was apparant that the Whinchat was still present but hadn't been seen for nearly 2 hours despite Simon & Geoff searching for it!!

I worked my way along the hedgerow, picking up on 2 Redstart on the way, when eventually I saw a bird perched on top of the kale.... an imm. Whinchat!!! Then, just behind it was a second one! This one an ad. female. I called Simon down and we got both in the scope.

Good grip back and now just 6 off my target for the year!! Plus, the gap between myself & the 'deadly duo' is back to at least 4! ;-)