Joe tries his best to calm troubled waters and Pip hopes to bring new blood into the Young Farmers circle.

Radio Times: Robert and Jim are up with the lark, and Joe confides in Emma.

Characters: Emma, Jim, Joe, Pip, Rex, Robert, William

• The competition is on, with agreement between Jim and Robert that it will be won or lost on sightings of more unusual birds, as the common species are more or less a given. The two men later meet by chance and a flurry of text messages to Jim’s phone belies a secret weapon in The Bull Birders’ armoury. The source of Jim’s intelligence reveals that a red kite has been spotted.
• Rex is satiating his chocolate craving at the temporary shop. He bumps into Pip who passes on information about availability of land at Pear Tree Farm. She’s glad to have new faces in the area and invites him and Toby along to forthcoming Young Farmers’ socials. Fishing for information, she extends invites to their friends and girlfriends..
• Robert’s spotted a wheatear – there are few around, so could this be a winner? While he’s setting up his tripod to photograph the bird, Joe takes the opportunity to ask Will to reconsider being Ed’s best man. Suspicious that Ed has put Joe up to this, Joe reassures him that this is his own idea. Will remains unconvinced and feels Ed’s offer was only for Emma and Clarrie’s sakes, as Ed gave up quickly enough when Will seemed less than keen. Joe appreciates how difficult it is for both of them but feels this is an unfair analysis and that at least Ed tried. The subject is closed by Will’s adamance that he doesn’t want to spoil Ed and Emma’s big day, so the best thing he can do is to keep a low profile.
• Emma and Joe are inspecting her wedding day transport. The hunt for Clarrie’s dress is still on, as Emma and Caroline’s search yesterday was fruitless. Fallon has now been drafted in and is searching the vintage shops. Emma detects that Joe has something on his mind. He had hoped that the wedding would prompt Ed and Will to finally put the past behind them, but it’s looking unlikely. He impresses upon Emma that Ed is beyond reproach on this occasion, as he’s asked Will to be best man. Oblivious to this having taken place, she’s surprised and disappointed, but knows how stubborn they both are.
• The competition’s culminating near the sewage works. If only Robert could spot an owl and a couple more unusual species to add to his list. The only thing he does spot is Jim, skulking in the woods as he’s long ago lost his driver, Kenton. They’re busy comparing notes, when there’s a sighting and a race to be the first to photograph what they both think is a rare bird. In the event, it turns out to be a pheasant and the voice of reason, Will, steps in to suggest that they all call it a day.