Friday 5th January 2007
	Despite there being no new rarities today, long-staying rarities continued to keep birders across the country occupied. The rarest of the long-staying birds were the two Barrow's Goldeneyes in Forth and County Down as well as the Black-eared Kite cruising around northwest Norfolk. Other popular birds included the Ross's Gull in Argyll, the Blue-winged Teal in County Down and the Red-throated Pipit in County Dublin. It emerged that the Ivory Gull which graced the Ayr area over the Christmas period had sadly succumbed to a roundworm infection, its weight having decreased from the usual 550g to 350g. Other wintering rarities which continued to perform well included the Great White Egret in Hampshire, the Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent and the Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall.
-  Simon Mitchell, RBA