Cranes and Paynes.

Congratulations to the new Mr & Mrs Payne who got married yesterday. We had a fantastic day even though it meant I wasn't able to make it down to Norfolk this morning for the Trumpeter Finch! Those guys from RBA were spot on with their prediction for June. The 2nd Trumpeter Finch this year although last weeks bird was not really gettable being somewhere on a lump of rock 40 miles north of the Butt of Lewis.

Thursday saw me cadging a ride over to Hilbre again in an attempt to make it three weeks in a row that I'd managed a big bird for Cheshire on this island. No such luck but we did get to see summer plumaged Sanderling - an unusual plumage!

With a good fall of migrants on the east coast including a number of Iccterine & Marsh Warblers we hoped one would turn up on the Wirral but despite much searching nothing was found. Two Common Cranes in Shropshire were distant but photographable and a good record away from Norfolk. I've still to see one of these birds in Cheshire.