Friday 21st April 2006
	New rarities included a Snowy Owl on North Uist at Aird an Runair, Laughing Gulls at Bexhill (E.Sussex) and Restronguet Creek (Cornwall) and White-billed Diver off Unst. A Red-rumped Swallow was reported from Portland Bill, this might have been the bird that was belatedly reported present at Radipole Lake yesterday. In Shetland the drake Hooded Merganser of unknown origin reappeared on Unst after a day’s absence, while other rare ducks still present included Blue-winged Teal at St. Mary’s Island, Black Duck in Scilly, King Eider in Ayrshire, Lesser Scaup in Leicestershire and Black Scoter in Conwy. The American Golden Plover remained at Cemlyn as did the Long-billed Dowitcher in Cornwall. A new Kentish Plover appeared at Breydon Water, a veritable hotspot for this species. The pair of Kentish Plovers remained at Marazion beach, while Dotterels were reported from Great Ormes Head and Pendle Hill. The Franklin’s Gull remained in Devon at Northam Burrows but there was no sign of all day of the Bonaparte’s Gull at Farmoor Reservoir (Oxon). Late in the day an adult summer Bonaparte’s Gull was found roosting in Weymouth Bay. Further White-billed Divers remained off the north-east side of Lewis and North Ronaldsay. The adult Night Heron was seen again in Lincoln, while other rare herons included Purple Herons at Nanjizal Valley (Cornwall), Bough Beech Reservoir (Kent), at a private site in Pembrokeshire and Minsmere RSPB (Suffolk). The Woodchat Shrike remained in Dorset and late Waxwings were in Berkshire and Edinburgh. A Hoopoe was reported in Shropshire and a Gull-billed Tern reported at Scalby Mills.
-  Richard Moores, RBA