Wednesday 6th June 2007
	Whilst birding at Caerlaverock WWT, Dumfries and Galloway this morning, Richard Hesketh made a discovery that put a huge smile on very many birders' faces - the first twitchable White-tailed Plover in Britain for thirty two years. This species, despite an increase in the records in continental Europe in recent years, has failed to make an appearance here since 1984. Indeed, it was as long ago as July 1975 when Britain’s only twitchable one was at Packington Gravel Pits, Warwickshire, from 12th-18th, so apart from the few that saw that bird, its re-occurrence in Britain has been eagerly awaited. With two records in northern Europe whetting the appetite already this spring, one in Sweden on 24th May, and another (or the same?) in Denmark on 29th May, for those who travelled to see it today the long wait is over. It was well worth the journey! Elsewhere, new discoveries included two more Squacco Herons (at Radipole Lake RSPB, Dorset, and Eyebrook Reservoir, Leicestershire), continuing the excellent run of records of this species in recent weeks. A Subalpine Warbler was trapped and ringed on Calf of Man, a Black Kite flew over Hill Head and Stubbington, Hampshire and an adult Laughing Gull made a brief appearance at Dungeness, Kent.
-  Stuart Piner and Dick Filby, RBA