What a mad July this turned out to be for birds that hadn't even registered on my radar of even being possibles. A western reef heron was discovered in North Wales, and subsequently was found to have been originally seen first in Pembrokeshire. A little while later, it relocated and went south again to Pembs. I lined up a family camping trip to Dewslake, and tried to twitch it. I missed it at the original area people were seeing it, had a while heron chase down river, and then after a beach visit, saw a birder with bins walking along the road. I swerved in and asked, and turned out my gut instinct that it went up river was correct. Managed to find the lay-by and went up to see it and found a small crowd assembled. Good views! A UK first! What a Mega.
Then, a long-tailed shrike was found near the Glos Oxford border on some farm land in a place called Eastleech. Only the UK's 3rd record, the 2nd only having been days before briefly in Fife. I set off early doors, hanging around until there was positive news after a refuel and a tyre pressure top up. I arrived, duly payed my fiver donation to the carpark charity bucket, and after views from the road, chanced going into the field where it was showing very well. Had to give it a wide birth initially and got some shots. It then flew off down field a bit and made itself scarce in a low bush. Lovely to catch up with Mat though. A clouded yellow screeches through and there was loads of small heath and common blue. A chap did mention chalkhill, but no sightings.
