Camping in south Devon over the bank holiday weekend. The campsite at South Allington has cirl buntings on it - at least one male was still singing. The other avian highlight was an osprey which flew W over Hallsands towards Start Point while we were enjoying a pot of tea on 27th.

The eclipse plumage male ring-necked duck was at Barrow tank no. 3 on 24th, with 2 common sandpipers. Interesting birds at Chew Valley Lake on 20th included the returning female ferruginous duck, a black tern, 2 common terns and 2 garganey. There's also a drake tufted duck wearing a bizarre turquoise nasal band (with SZ on it in black), that was marked near Nantes in France in 2004. On 19th I went to see the Slimbridge AQUATIC WARBLER. After a lengthy walk to 100-acre, the bird was very elusive and I had three brief views in two hours. I'd seen one in Poland two years ago, but this was my first in the UK. Also present were a whinchat, green sandpiper, little egret, 2 hobbies and common terns. A flock of at least 17 mistle thrushes over Flax Bourton on 9th, and a red kite from the London train on 10th.

For the family summer holidays this year we visited Dorset and the Isles of Scilly. Photographs from Dorset can be viewed by clicking the swallow below.

Scilly photos can be seen by clicking the cuckoo.