Sunday 5th December 2010
	A surprisingly busy day, given the weather conditions and time of year. New rarities included a Northern Long-tailed Tit at Middleton Hall, County Durham and a drake King Eider at West Voe of Sumburgh, Shetland (where it joined the long staying female). In Norfolk, a presumed Arctic Redpoll flew over the windmill at Cley and a Ross's Goose was in the east of the county at Waxham. Long staying rarities included the American Coot in County Mayo, House Crow in County Cork, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, single Lesser Scaups in Orkney and Glamorgan and single Ferruginous Ducks in County Down and Somerset. A possible Eastern Yellow Wagtail remained in Devon, at Colyford sewage works. Once again, Waxwings stole the National channel show, with several thousand reported, including five as far south-west as Devon. None have been reported yet this winter from Cornwall, with only three in the Isles of Scilly. Other scarcity highlights included a Little Auk and a Hoopoe in Dorset, a Common Crane in London, a White Stork in Yorkshire, two Cattle Egrets in Merseyside, two Great Grey Shrikes, two Rough-legged Buzzards, three Surf Scoters and three Ring-billed Gulls.
-  Will Soar, RBA