Tuesday 18th July 2006
	The main news today concerned the 'firming up' of the identification of the first-summer American Black Tern (form surinamensis) at Lady's Island Lake, Co.Wexford. After finally obtaining good views of the bird, Killian Mullarney is 'confident that it has good enough credentials to be considered a definite surinamensis'. This is the first American Black Tern to be identified in first-summer plumage in Britain and Ireland. The three previous records, two in Ireland and one in Somerset, all relate to autumn juveniles. A Bee-eater flew west over Pitcox, Lothian late afternoon, and was the only new rarity found today. The extremely elusive Squacco Heron put in another appearance at Shapwick Heath NNR, Somerset and the far from confiding Black Stork was seen again near Grantshouse, Borders. The Pine Grosbeak was still showing well at Gilston Park, Hertfordshire, whilst in Fife the drake Ferruginous Duck remained at Loch Gelly. In Berkshire, the first-summer female Red-footed Falcon was still at Moor Green Lakes LNR and two Wilson's Petrels were observed from an afternoon pelagic off Scilly.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA