June always has surprises up its sleeve but, with no previous sightings in this month even in those long-ago days when they were a more frequent visitor, Cirl Bunting probably wouldn't have featured on anyone's list of possibilities for today; however, preconceptions are there to be shot down by events and the hitherto unseen fine male that turned up in a mist-net at Culverwell was a great reward for the dogged ringer operating that site in what's very much the off-season for commoner migrants. The glorious sunshine was ample enough reason to get out searching but there were other snippets of interest to be found, with 3 Reed Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Sand Martins, a Hobby and a Chiffchaff unearthed at the Bill, the Turtle Dove still at Southwell and singles of Grey Plover and Wheatear at Ferrybridge. The sea was also worth attention, with 140 Manx Shearwaters, a Curlew and an Arctic Skua the best of the bunch off the Bill.
Mark Cutts' perseverance with Culverwell paid off in fine style with the Cirl Bunting © Martin Cade:
