I spent as much time as possible on the deck of the ferry home from Bilbao this w/end but hunger drove me below on Saturday night. We had just sat down to eat when a whale appeared under the window - confirmed by the ORCA team spotter as a Fin Whale (pic taken thru thick glass at an acute angle!)

The return journey from Bilbao to Portsmouth on Saturday produced two small pods (5 and 3) of Cuvier's Beaked Whale in the Bay of Biscay - identified by the trained spotter from ORCA on board, I was just trying to get photos!

Despite the best efforts of VW and Citroen, whose cars fell apart, and LV/Britannia European breakdown assistance, whose service is itself in need of a serious tow, we finally made it back from Spain. Our car, however, remains in Bilbao, working on its tan. Pic: Hecho Valley.

Having seen them here here in 2006, I was dismayed to find Rock Sparrow completely absent from the Citadel in Jaca (Spanish Pyrenees) earlier this week despite online reports of the colony still doing well - but fortunately I located some in with a local Bee-eater colony

An up and down fortnight in the Pyrenees (car broke down, replacement hire car did likewise, Claire sprained her ankle and could barely walk for the last week) ended on a high today with Citril Finch, Scarce Swallowtail and Cleopatra at Gabardito high in the Hecho Valley

Went back to Pic du Midi today hoping to see a Wallcreeper in the sunshine this time (they seem to like to feed in the shade) and was successful - just!

Adult White-winged Snowfinch at Pic du Midi in the French Pyrenees on Tuesday - feeding chicks which were audible inside the nest hole

Juvenile White-winged Snowfinch at Pic du Midi in the French Pyrenees on Tuesday - very visible in and around the observatory compound

Saw my first female Wallcreeper at Pic du Midi in the French Pyrenees on Tuesday

I was hesitant about splashing out 59 Euros for the cable car to Pic du Midi on a family holiday to the Pyrenees - but when I found Wallcreeper, Alpine Accentor, White-winged Snowfinch and Crag Martin all giving great views at the top I realised it represented excellent value!

Butterfly underwings at Swineham in the heat of yesterday evening: Comma, Holly Blue, Painted Lady, Red Admiral

Butterflies at Swineham in the heat of yesterday evening: Red Admiral, Comma, Painted Lady, Peacock

My Father's Day treat was this Red-backed Shrike on the patch at Swineham, within a a couple hundred yards of where the much celebrated Red-spotted Bluethroat was found in March - the Shrike originally located from a @harbourbirds.bsky.social birdboat @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

A Quail heard at Tarrant Rushton airfield on Thursday evening brought the non-motorised yearlist to a round 190 - Corn Bunting, Skylark, Brown Hare and Roe Deer pictured @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Rock Pipit, Chiffchaff and juvenile Goldfinch, Old Harry Rocks this evening @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Butterflies on the way to Old Harry Rocks tonight: Marbled White, Painted Lady, Ringlet, Large Skipper

Bits and bobs on the way to/from Portland Bill this morning: Spoonbill and Barnacle Goose at Lodmoor, Little Owl on Portland @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Seabirds at Portland Bill after a long bike ride this morning - Manx (left) were closer than the Balearic Shearwater (top right) which stayed a long way out. Guillemot and Razorbill also on the sea and a few flocks of Common Scoter east @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

Juvenile Whitethroat, Old Harry Rocks this evening @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Juvenile Stonechat at Old Harry Rocks this evening @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Female Stonechat at Old Harry Rocks this evening @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Juvenile Stonechat at Old Harry Rocks this evening @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social

You had to be quick or lucky to catch up with the cracking male Red-backed Shrike that bombed through Arne today - fortunately my bike was the former and I was the latter! @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Some days the bike just doesn't make it out of the shed: after a lie-in yesterday the offer of a lift to Wales from @staldhelmsbirder.bsky.social for Britain's first Western Reef Heron was too good to resist!

King of the castle: Western Reef Heron in North Wales yesterday - thanks to @staldhelmsbirder.bsky.social for driving

Reed Bunting in song at Swineham this evening @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Blustery weather brought a flock of Swift low over the gravel pit at Swineham this evening @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

358 miles cycled during May, bringing the non-motorised year list to 185 - highlights being the Red-footed Falcon at Holt Heath, Common Rosefinch at Martin Down, and yesterday's Night Heron at Studland which made up for dipping one at Iford earlier in the month @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

One of the many Corn Bunting which cheered me along during the long bike ride home to Wareham from Martin Down this evening - or perhaps the 'jangling keys' song was in fact trolling me with a reminder that there are easier ways to get there!

Grey and Red-legged Partridges, plus Grizzled Skipper and Small Blue at Martin Down this afternoon