Thursday 7th December 2006
	The continuing south-westerly gales deposited a couple of Bonaparte's Gulls in the south-west region today, near Plymouth, Devon, and on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly. However, the spotlight was again on Leach's Petrels, with larger numbers wrecked than yesterday in south-west England and Wales and several individuals made it much further inland. At least three were seen at Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire during the morning, whilst two were at Farmoor Reservoir, Oxfordshire and another was at nearby Dix Pit. Several reservoirs in the south-east region played host to singletons and in Leicestershire individuals were at Swithland Reservoir and Watermead Country Park. At least one was seen at Leighton Moss RSPB, Lancashire. A count of over 80 was made at Kenfig Pool NNR, a truly remarkable figure for a freshwater location. Sadly, virtually all of these inland visitors are likely to succumb to exhaustion (and that is if they avoid the attention of gulls and corvids). It was not just Leach's Petrels making it to inland locations - one of the best finds of the day was an adult pale morph Pomarine Skua at Belvide Reservoir. The Oceanodroma show somewhat overshadowed today's rarities, but long stayers included the Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth, Bufflehead on Shetland, two Lesser Scaups in County Donegal and the Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall. A female Blue-winged Teal was located at North Bull Island, County Dublin, probably the same bird that spent last winter in the area.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA