Tuesday 23rd August 2011
	The highlight of the day was the discovery this evening of a Franklin's Gull at Helford, Cornwall. Elsewhere, other newly discovered rarities comprised an Arctic Warbler in the Shetland Isles on Fair Isle, Baird's Sandpiper in Aberdeenshire at Loch of Strathbeg, Aquatic Warbler in Cornwall at Marazion, and single Greenish Warblers in Norfolk at Blakeney Point, and in Northumberland at Newbiggin. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present today were the Semipalmated Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper and White-rumped Sandpiper all together in County Wexford, Western Bonelli's Warbler in Cornwall, White-rumped Sandpiper in County Kerry, Bee-eater on the Isles of Scilly, and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset. Scarcities included 11 Wrynecks, Woodchat Shrike (two on the Isles of Scilly), Melodious Warbler (Devon), Icterine Warbler (East Yorkshire, Gwynedd (3) and Norfolk), Common Rosefinch (Fife and Northumberland), Red-backed Shrike (Norfolk (2) and Suffolk), Kentish Plover (Lincolnshire), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Norfolk and County Wexford), Red-necked Phalarope (Hampshire and Suffolk) and Spotted Crake (Somerset).
-  Chris Batty, RBA