Friday 28th August 2009
	The third American Black Tern  C. n. surinamensis for Britain was identified today, joining a White-winged Black Tern and three Black Terns at Farmoor Reservoir, Oxfordshire, where it showed until 8.20pm at least. Other new rarities included an Aquatic Warbler in Powys, trapped and ringed at Llangorse Lake, a Citrine Wagtail briefly at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB, Aberdeenshire, a Blue-winged Teal in Hampshire, a Ferruginous Duck in Suffolk and a Great White Egret at Spurn, East Yorkshire. Seawatching was the main feature of the day, however, with excellent north-westerly winds bringing large numbers of seabirds to the west coast. Pendeen Watch, Cornwall, scored with Little Shearwater, a possible Yelkouan Shearwater, two Wilson's Petrels, two Cory's Shearwaters, nine Great Shearwaters, a Red-necked Phalarope, seven Sabine's Gulls, 91 Balearic Shearwaters and a Long-tailed Skua amongst the many highlights. The Bridges of Ross, County Clare, had just one Wilson's Petrel, but also had 56 Sabine's Gulls, 40 Grey Phalaropes, 12 Leach's Petrels and a Long-tailed Skua, amongst others.
-  Will Soar, RBA