Sunday 17th May 2009
	A fine selection of new rarities were discovered today, including a brief Greenish Warbler in Northumberland, Pallid Swift on Isles of Scilly, Thrush Nightingale in Aberdeenshire, Red-rumped Swallow in Kent, Bee-eaters in Lincolnshire (5) and Angus, Red-footed Falcon in East Yorkshire, Laughing Gull on Mainland Shetland and Black Kites in Hampshire and Cornwall. Pratincoles were again popular, the Black-winged remained in Kent and the Collared was still in Norfolk and in Fife the Collared Flycatcher continued to show well near Crail. Other lingering rarities came in the form of Savi's Warbler in Essex, at least one Red-rumped Swallow on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, Pallid Swift in Merseyside and Subalpine Warbler on North Ronaldsay, Orkney. A couple of adult drake Ferruginous Ducks were logged at Chew Valley Lake, Somerset and in Devon the Western or Semipalmated Sandpiper reappeared at Dawlish Warren NNR. Scarcities included two Melodious Warblers (both in Suffolk), eight each of Icterine Warbler and Bluethroat, two Red-backed Shrikes, seven Grey-headed Wagtails, four Temminck's Stints and single Wryneck and Ortolan Bunting.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA