MONTAGU'S failure

The returning pair of MONTAGU'S HARRIERS in west Bucks/Oxon has sadly deserted its cereal crop nest for unknown reasons, with no sign of either bird in six hours of searching today. Otherwise, very quiet, but 5 'purring' male EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVES at one site was highly noteworthy. RED KITE censusing revealed the presence of well over 70 pairs on the west Chilterns escarpment but no Eurasian Honey Buzzards have returned yet, and few Common Quails. LONG-EARED OWLS are again feeding young at one regular site, with two pairs of EURASIAN CURLEW now breeding and PEREGRINES feeding three well-grown chicks at one protected site (LGRE)