Wednesday 24th January 2007
	News of the presence of a first-winter American Robin in Bingley, West Yorkshire, was released today, to the delight of both Yorkshire and year listers. This first for the county was actually discovered about three weeks ago by non-birders, but the report was only taken seriously after a local birdwatcher was shown a photograph of the delightful thrush. The bird was soon located early this morning and after the news was eventually released at 11am, it intermittently showed well in gardens and on wasteground into the late afternoon. Elsewhere the Black-eared Kite and Lesser Yellowlegs were both still in Norfolk and three Penduline Tits were seen at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London. How many are actually lurking in the reedbeds at this site? In Devon the first-winter Laughing Gull reappeared, this time at Stover Country Park and long-stayers included the Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth, Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall, Cattle Egret in Devon and Lesser Scaup in Oxfordshire. On Shetland, the released adult dark morph Rough-legged Hawk remains at large on Mainland, being seen at Channerwick this afternoon.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA