Tuesday 22nd September 2009
	Paul Higson hit the jackpot this afternoon when he found a Sandhill Crane on South Ronaldsay (Orkney). There have been only two previous records in Britain (both on Shetland, in 1981 and 1991, and only one record in Ireland, in Co Cork, way back in 1905. A local farmer has suggested that this bird has been present for around ten days; fingers (and toes) will be crossed by those travelling north overnight. In Kent a large raptor, believed by some to possibly be a dark morph Booted Eagle, was seen several times in the Dungeness area between 11.10am and 2pm, with a final possible sighting around 5pm. Elsewhere new rarities included Solitary Sandpiper on Annagh Head (Co Mayo), where a Black-browed Albatross was also observed flying past, Long-billed Dowitcher on Tresco (Isles of Scilly) and Arctic Warbler on Mainland Shetland. Lingering rarities comprised Arctic Warbler on Unst (Shetland), Ferruginous Duck in Somerset, American Golden Plovers in Orkney and Argyll and White-rumped Sandpiper in Essex. At least twelve Glossy Ibises were logged and in Ireland the Spotted, Baird's and White-rumped Sandpipers all remained at Black Rock Strand (Co Kerry) and an American Golden Plover lingered in Co Waterford. Late news from yesterday of the reappearance of the Fan-tailed Warbler at Pegwell Bay Country Park, Kent.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA