Monday 1st May 2006
	Whilst Mayday brought several new rarities it lacked the major find many were hoping for on this bank holiday. The picks of the bunch were a Long-billed Dowitcher inland at Nosterfield, North Yorkshire and an Alpine Swift at Arlington Reservoir, East Sussex, whilst a mobile Broad-billed Sandpiper on the Exe Estuary, Devon gave many would-be watchers the run-around. A Blue-winged Teal was present near Borriskane, Co Tipperary, a Gull-billed Tern flew past Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire whilst yet another White-billed Diver was discovered in northwest Scotland; off Handa, Highland. It was a good day for inland birders with Bar-tailed Godwits and Arctic Terns at many sites whilst coastal locations logged several Pomarine Skuas.
-  Chris Batty, RBA