Friday 25th August 2006
	The Fan-tailed Warbler seen for just twenty minutes by a few lucky observers at St Margaret's at Cliffe (Kent) was undoubtedly bird of the day. If accepted, it will be the first British record since the two well-watched birds in Dorset in 2000, the first for Kent and only the seventh for Britain and Ireland. Unfortunately it could not be relocated later in the day. A Greenish Warbler joined a Barred Warbler at Kilnsea (E.Yorks), and there was a brief Great White Egret at Rye Harbour (E.Sussex), but a possible Aquatic Warbler at Gibraltar Point (Lincs) was not pinned down. Seawatchers at Bridges of Ross scored up to 44 Great Shearwaters as well as Grey Phalarope, Leach's Petrel and Long-tailed Skua, but Brandon Point (Co.Kerry) claimed the big prize with a Fea's Petrel. The adult Franklin's Gull put in another evening appearance on the Ythan Estuary (Aberdeens), and the Ferruginous Duck remained at Blithfield Reservoir (Staffs). The best of the scarcities included Icterine Warblers in Suffolk and Scilly, a brief Corncrake at Flamrorough Head (E.Yorks), Spotted Crake at Spurn (E.Yorks) and a scattering of Dotterel and Roseate Terns. A Wryneck at Mam Tor (Derbys) was a good record. An improvement in the weather saw a further flurry of Camberwell Beauty sightings, but a Long-tailed Blue at Dawlish Warren (Devon) took the butterfly prize. Finally, there was a belated report of a Great Spotted Cuckoo at Margate cemetery (Kent) on Monday.
-  Andy Symes, RBA