Sunday 9th July 2006
	An Alpine Swift over Wheal Rose, Cornwall and a Great White Egret at Grove Ferry, Kent. were the two most noteworthy finds today. After being absent for several weeks, the Squacco Heron reappeared at Shapwick Heath NNR, Somerset; the bird was initially seen in mid June. Two Great White Egrets were at Blashford Lakes HWT, Hampshire and the female Lesser Grey Shrike continued to entertain an appreciative crowd at Shingle Street, Suffolk. In Cleveland the adult Semipalmated Sandpiper was still at Back Saltholme Pool and in Borders the Black Stork was seen again. It followed the same pattern as on Friday evening, initially by the Eye Water near South Renton, then roosting in a tree near Auchencrow late in the evening. The main talking point of the day was a breeding-plumage Red-necked Grebe present at Deeping Lakes LWT, Lincolnshire for its second day. It was initially flagged up as a possible American Red-necked Grebe (form holboelli) due to the extensive amount of yellow on the bird's lower mandible. When sporting breeding attire, this feature is thought to be indicative of the American and East Siberian form. However, it appears that there is a significant amount of variation in bill colour within nominate grisegena, and coupled with the lack of any truly diagnostic features of holboellii, the Lincolnshire bird's progression beyond 'a possible holboelli' seems unlikely. There was again no sign of the male Pine Grosbeak; this bird really does seem to have performed a remarkable disappearing act, evading all but the fortunate few.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA