Woodcock in Glenesk, and a supporting cast

A very rare opportunity on a trip to Glenesk in Angus when in the middle of the day a Woodcock stepped into view within photo distance of the fenced track I was on. Also on the trip, Cuckoos at various places, heard but never seen, a single male Ring Ouzel, Tree Pipits, many Mistle and Song Thrushes, Redstarts, Red-legged Partridges, Lapwings, Curlew, Oystercatchers, Siskins, Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch and an Osprey failing to catch a fish in three attempts. No Spotted Flycatchers seen despite a long search.

Note to self and photographers, a repeat trip from the south bank of the North Esk may be a better option unless in early morning, the light in late morning onward was always wrong.

Woodcock, it had the decency to stand still for a couple of seconds in a small bit of shade in otherwise bright sunlight. It's looking directly at Olive as she fumbled to get her binoculars on it......

Common Sandpiper on the North Esk near Auchintoul where I also found a pair of Redstarts, unfortunately they remained directly into the sun in a tree

This Common Sandpiper is one of a pair on the shores of Lochlee

Good to see a Tree Pipit in exactly the same place as previous years in the Haughend area of the Glen. Good to hear the song as elsewhere I found a Meadow Pipit in a tree but in different habitat before it returned to forage on the ground