Saturday 22nd July 2006
	Shetland hosted the first White-rumped Sandpiper of the autumn, an individual at Pool of Virkie, Mainland. An adult Long-billed Dowitcher at Gibraltar Point may have been a returning bird from 2004; the adult Lesser Yellowlegs remained at the same site. In Essex yesterday's Great White Egret was re-found at Loft's Farm GP and a Melodious Warbler at Portland Bill was bang on cue. The Irish 'Tern-Fest' continued today, with the finding of a first-summer Forster's Tern at Lady's Island Lake, County Wexford. The first-summer American Black Tern eluded twitchers for most of the day, but later reappeared at Carnsore Point, albeit briefly. A number of immature niger Black Terns were also present in the area, which caused the odd problem here and there! Elsewhere in Ireland, a Wilson's Petrel flew past Galley Head, along with 4 Great Shearwaters, 4 Cory's Shearwaters and 12 Balearic Shearwaters. A male Red-backed Shrike was at Croxley Common Moor, Hertfordshire and in East Sussex the first-summer Laughing Gull was still at Arlington Reservoir. In Scotland the Black Stork was still in Borders, Ferruginous Duck in Fife and King Eider again off Irvine harbour. The adult female Red-necked Phalarope continued to draw plenty of admirers at Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk. A Hoopoe was reported at Harlington, Bedfordshire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA