Tuesday 29th July 2008
	A Mediterranean shearwater, thought most likely to be a Yelkouan Shearwater was observed for twenty minutes alongside a Balearic Shearwater off Berry Head, Devon this morning. Given the difficulty in separating Yelkouan Shearwater from both Manx and Balearic Shearwaters, prolonged views and sufficient photographic evidence will no doubt be required to add this species to the British List. Elsewhere on the south coast, Cory's Shearwaters were observed in decent numbers - totals included 205 past Porthgwarra, Cornwall, 61 past St Agnes, Isles of Scilly and 52 past Galley Head, Co Cork. A few Great Shearwaters were also mixed in with the Cory's movement. Two more Two-barred Crossbills arrived on Mainland Orkney, and in Shetland the female remained in situ in Sandgarth. Back on Orkney, a Bee-eater was watched in Stromness and the Pacific Golden Plover continued its stay on North Ronaldsay. A new Pectoral Sandpiper was at Hanningfield Reservoir, Essex, whilst another remained at Holland Haven Country Park, also in Essex and others were still in Cumbria and Norfolk News from Spurn related to the successful breeding of a pair of Marsh Warblers, which raised at least three young this summer.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA