Monday 29th January 2007
	The highlight today was breaking news of a juvenile Pacific Diver - the North American form of Black-throated Diver, pacifica - at Farnham, Knaresborough in North Yorkshire. This is the first record of this form for both the British Isles and the Western Palearctic. The bird has been present at this site for over two weeks and, after initially being presumed to be a Black-throated Diver, the exact identity was not realised until recent days. Despite attempts to suppress the occurrence, news was broadcast widely this morning and allowed everyone the chance to see this extreme rarity. Pacific Diver is not currently not classified as a full species by the British Ornithologists' Union but is granted full species status by many other taxonomic authorities. An excellent selection of major rarities remaining in situ comprised the Black-throated Thrush on the Isle of Bute, Argyll, American Robin in Bingley, West Yorkshire, Black-eared Kite at Snettisham, Norfolk, Bufflehead in Co Clare and Forster's Tern in Co Galway, whilst a Penduline Tit was a new discovery at Swanscombe, Kent. Other over wintering American birds included Long-billed Dowitchers in Kent, Co Louth and Anglesey, Lesser Scaups in Oxon and Western Isles and the Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall.
-  Chris Batty, RBA