Saturday 13th May 2006
	The Calandra Lark remained on Isle of May, Fife for it's second day and was enjoyed by the lucky few who managed to charter boats to the island. Only one of Britain's 12 previous Calandra Larks has stayed for more than two days, and this was as long ago as 1985, when an individual graced St.Mary's, Scilly from 26th-29h April. Shetland once again produced the goods, this time with a White-throated Sparrow on South Mainland. This is the 8th White-throated Sparrow to occur in Britain in the last 6 years; two of these have been well twitched, so although an excellent record, it is no longer the Mega it once was. A Great Reed Warbler at Forfar Loch, Angus was an excellent discovery for the finder whilst he was walking his dogs, and also in Scotland, a Black Stork flew along the River Spey Valley, Moray. Broad-billed Sandpipers at Tacumshin, Co.Wexford and at Spurn, East Yorkshire created the other headlines and Red-throated Pipits on Calf of Man, Isle of Man and over Leasowe lighthouse, Wirral were fantastic west coast records. A Red-rumped Swallow over Portland Harbour was perhaps one of the birds that arrived earlier in the week and a Bee-eater was reported at Sandwich. Continuing the glut of Black Kites being reported this spring, two more were seen today; one over Pannel Valley NR, East Sussex and another over Hambledon, Hampshire. Elsewhere, long-stayers included the Lesser Scaup in Suffolk, Iberian Chiffchaffs in Devon and Lothian, Franklin's Gull in Devon, 3 Black-winged Stilts in Lancashire, Laughing Gull in Co.Galway and the King Eider was still in Aberdeenshire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA