Friday 20th July 2007
	Appalling weather conditions across much of the country kept many birders indoors but hardy souls who ventured out were rewarded with a fine adult Spotted Sandpiper at Draycote Water in Warwickshire and an adult White-winged Black Tern at Farmoor Reservoir in Oxfordshire. Draycote holds all three previous accepted county records of Spotted Sandpiper, with the most recent in 1990, while Farmoor holds all seven accepted records of White-winged Black Tern in Oxfordshire! Unfortunately for would-be observers of the Farmoor bird the reservoir had to be closed late afternoon to due to flooding in the area. A pelagic from St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, once again recorded two Wilson's Petrels, but the only other rarity to be reported was the lingering first-summer Bonaparte's Gull on South Uist in the Western Isles. Scarcities included Pectoral Sandpipers in Kent and North Yorkshire and a scattering of Roseate Terns, Spoonbills and Balearic Shearwaters, while late news of rarities included a Black Kite reported near Scarborough on Thursday morning and another report of a Great White Egret at Minsmere RSPB yesterday evening; sadly even more belated was a report of a Black Stork on Wesbury Moor, Somerset on 1st July.
-  Andy Symes, RBA