Friday 2nd June 2006
	The cooler north and westerly weather systems of late finally gave way across much of the country to warm, calmer conditions, and the star attraction of the day was a bird from the south-east, a male Black-headed Bunting found on Bardsey Island, Gwynedd, in the morning, which showed well throughout the day. This site is currently enjoying a purple patch with other birds on the island during the day including a Hoopoe, a Serin and a Golden Oriole.  Elsewhere, a Western Subalpine Warbler was ringed at Spurn, East Yorkshire.  In Co. Wexford, the possible Citrine Wagtail of yesterday at Tacumshin was confirmed as such today,  and the 1st-summer Night Heron remained at the same site.  Portland in Dorset had another great day with Bee-eater, male Red-backed Shrike, Hoopoe and Serin all recorded, though not all were obliging. A flock of five Bee-eaters was seen at Hoveton in Norfolk early in the afternoon and later a flock of 6 to 8 birds lingered for a while nearby at Caister-on-Sea. Of the lingering rarities, the Spotted Sandpiper remained a popular attraction at Minsmere in Suffolk, the Bonaparte's Gull was still at Blennerville in County Kerry, the Iberian Chiffchaff continued to hold territory on Dartmoor, Devon, and on Shetland, the Savi's Warbler remained at Skaw on Unst. A male Red-backed Shrike was new at Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex, and a Hoopoe was found at Dersingham Bog in Norfolk. In Cornwall a Purple Heron flew over Wadebridge, with another still lingering at College Reservoir and a Golden Oriole was at Bosistow Farm near Land's End. On Fair Isle, Shetland, the long-staying Short-toed Lark was still present along with a female Red-backed Shrike. Most bizarre record of the day was on The Scillies where a Hoopoe was seen from a pelagic 3 miles south-west of Bishop Rock, flying towards St.Agnes!  Also today, a belated report of a probable Gull-billed Tern feeding in fields near Lamorna, Cornwall on 31st May.
-  Richard Moores and Pete Hayman, RBA