Once again, an early start to the day for a drive to the steppes to find Great Bustard. We drove around for a couple of hours and at last a sighted a flock - very distant - and by then, the dreaded heat haze had appeared. This is the one and only record shot worth keeping and only after some considerable editing.

So we then moved on to a Roller hide overlooking a nest hole in an upright log. A pair appeared to be feeding young in the nest so there were some comings and goings and perching to show off a beetle dinner

before heading to the nest site

and then appearing

and perching as if waiting for the applause!!!

A very showy species

In between the Roller activity, a White stork lazily flew by

and, of course, Rabbits were everywhere, presumably accounting for the many raptors in the area.

So a disappointing start to the day but the Roller hide was a really enjoyable end to the morning's session.