Wednesday 17th August 2011
	The first Aquatic Warbler of the year was seen very briefly at Exminster Marshes RSPB, Devon mid morning, but it wasn't seen again by late morning. Almost as brief, a Blue-winged Teal was present on Pudmore Pond, Thursley Common, Surrey for around half an hour, before it was seen to fly west from the site. Lingering rarities included Black Scoter in Aberdeenshire, Subalpine Warbler in Essex, Bonaparte's Gull in Highland and Western Isles, Wilson's Phalarope in County Antrim, single White-rumped Sandpipers in County Wexford and Norfolk, Bee-eater in Scilly and Black Kite in Scilly and Cornwall. Scarcity highlights were a Woodchat Shrike, Melodious Warbler and Icterine Warbler in Scilly (with another of the former in Gloucestershire and another of the latter in Lincolnshire), Hoopoe in Surrey, Wryneck in Devon, single White-winged Black Terns in Cambridgeshire and Yorkshire and Purple Heron in Suffolk.
-  Will Soar, RBA