Sunday 7th May 2006
	The rarest find of the day was a fine male Caspian Stonechat (of the form variegatus) at Virkie on Mainland, Shetland. This is only the second record of this form in Britain. A Laughing Gull found at Cromer in Norfolk (and later seen at Cley) was not altogether unexpected given the chance of some of last autumns influx moving north through the country this spring. Another good find was a female Citrine Wagtail at Holland Haven in Essex. Other new rarities found during the day included a Red-rumped Swallow in off the sea at Dungeness in Kent, an Eastern Subalpine Warbler at Sumburgh Head, Mainland, Shetland, a Laughing Gull at Marazion, Cornwall, Black Kites in Lancashire and East Sussex, and a Black Stork briefly near Holt in Norfolk. Two belated reports included an American Robin on the 4th near Aviemore in Highland and a Bee-eater on the 6th on Stronsay, Orkney. Records of Roseate Terns at inland waters are always unusual, so six different birds found inland during the day was exceptional. They were in Derbyshire, Northamptonshire, North Yorkshire and Staffordshire. Other notable birds included a Common Rosefinch at Blakeney Point, Norfolk, Hoopoes in Dorset and East Yorkshire, Woodchat Shrikes in Cornwall, Hampshire and Cumbria, a Short-toed Lark in Cleveland, a Serin over The Gower, Glamorgan and a smattering of Temminck's Stints.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA