Sunday 18th May 2008
	Portland Bill, Dorset scored again, with a male Thrush Nightingale singing near the observatory today, although it was elusive and only seen briefly a few times. The Eastern Olivaceous Warbler was even more elusive, however, being seen just twice this evening. The Little Bittern nearby at Lodmoor RSPB was seen a few times in flight, and just once perched in the reeds for a few minutes. Southern rarities included four more new Red-footed Falcons, in London, Hampshire, Cambridgeshire and on the Kent/Surrey border. A Red-rumped Swallow spent the morning at Leasowe Lighthouse, Wirral, and a Bee-eater was on the Isle of Skye, Highland this evening, with another on Portland Bill, Dorset. A Black Stork was seen a couple of times in the Arlington Reservoir area, East Sussex mid morning. Lingering rarities included the male Snowy Owl on North Uist, Western Isles, King Eider in Ayrshire with another on Fair Isle, American Golden Plover in Devon, Great Reed Warbler in Suffolk, Whiskered Tern in Cheshire, Glossy Ibises in Hampshire and Merseyside and eight or nine Red-footed Falcons.
-  Will Soar, RBA