Monday 25th September 2006
	Another busy day with arguably the most notable discovery being another Marbled Duck, this time at Rye Harbour, East Sussex whilst the original juvenile remained with a Cattle Egret at Stanpit Marsh, Dorset. In Co Kerry a first-winter Citrine Wagtail was a new arrival at Derrymore as was a juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper at Smerwick Harbour. In Co Donegal a female Red-footed Falcon made a brief appearance at Glencolumbkille. A Blyth's Reed Warbler was identified on North Ronaldsay, Orkney but a Bonelli's warbler at St Abb's Head, Borders was not assigned to species. A Long-billed Dowitcher was an excellent find inland at Upper Bittell Reservoir, Worcestershire. Many lingering rarities included the Pallid Harrier in Norfolk, Isabelline Wheatear on Anglesey, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler in Co Cork, Isabelline Shrike on Western Isles, Western Bonelli's Warbler on Scilly, Black-winged Stilt in Carmarthenshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Northumberland, Greenish Warbler in Co Durham and Wilson's Phalarope in Cornwall. In Co Kerry an adult Yellow-legged Gull with well extensive head streaking forming a neat hood was seen again at Carrahane Strand (it was first noted here on 6th September). This bird seem to be a very strong candidate for an Azorean Yellow-legged Gull (form atlantis) also known as Atlantic Gull. This form has previously been suspected in the British Isles on several occasions (in at least Co Waterford, Co Cork, Co Kerry and the Western Isles) but has never been proven to occur here.
-  Chris Batty, RBA