Tuesday 13th June 2006
	The major news release tonight was of a singing male Scops Owl just outside Kidlington, Oxfordshire. The bird has been on territory at Thrupp for at least three weeks when it was first noticed by inquisitive residents. There is a similar record of a singing Scops Owl in southern England, at Dummer, Hampshire - 45 miles to the south of Kidlington - from 12th May until 14th July 1980. If the current bird remains until mid July it will certainly prove to be a popular attraction, although - as was the case with the Dummer bird - gaining an acceptable view may prove very difficult. Highlights elsewhere included a lingering Purple Heron at Old Moor, South Yorkshire and a Red-necked Phalarope at Eyebrook Reservoir, Leicestershire. In Scotland the singing Great Reed Warbler at Loch of Kinnordy, Angus showed only briefly whilst on Shetland a female Red-footed Falcon was located at Fladdabister.
-  Chris Batty, RBA