Wednesday 11th April 2007
	News of a male Blue Rock Thrush at the seemingly unlikely location of Elan Village, Powys was released this evening. The bird was apparently present from about 1.30pm until 6pm in Caban Quarry, when it disappeared, and failed to put in another appearance before dusk. With only five previous British records, no doubt many will be cursing the fact that it took so long to release the news if the bird has gone by tomorrow. Elsewhere a male Subalpine Warbler was found on Lundy, Devon, the first of the spring. In Gloucestershire the Marbled Duck was still at Saul Warth, whilst the Barrow's Goldeneye and Lesser Scaups remained in Scotland, Long-billed Dowitchers continued to show in Kent and on the Essex/Suffolk border, the Laughing Gull again passed through Topsham, Devon and a White-billed Diver reappeared off Lewis. The Pallas's Warbler continued to be elusive in Wouldham, Kent and and an arrival of Ring Ouzels, mainly in Norfolk, included an impressive total of forty through Titchwell RSPB in the early morning. In Co Down, the female Lesser Scaup reappeared at Clea Lakes.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA