Saturday 3rd December 2011
	The highlight of the day the was the discovery of a Siberian Stonechat in Cleveland at Seaton Carew; only the second to occur in the British Isles since it was split from Stonechat as a distinct species. In Dorset both Blue-winged Teal and Ferruginous Duck were new arrivals at Longham Lakes. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present today comprised the Western Sandpiper in Norfolk, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and Spotted Sandpiper together in Somerset, Greater Yellowlegs and Lesser Scaup in Northumberland, Bufflehead in Cornwall, American Buff-bellied Pipit in County Waterford, Least Sandpiper in County Kerry, Pallid Harrier and American Herring Gull in County Cork, Desert Wheatears in both East Yorkshire and Shropshire, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Dorset, Penduline Tit in Kent, Red-breasted Geese in Devon and Essex, Spotted Sandpipers in Devon, Essex and County Meath, Glossy Ibis in Dorset and Essex, and Ferruginous Duck in Berkshire. Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starlings in both Dorset and Nottinghamshire, Bluethroat in County Waterford, Yellow-browed Warbler in Conwy, Surf Scoter in Cornwall and Snow Goose in County Donegal. A total of 77 Tundra Bean Geese were logged across 14 counties between the Shetland Isles, County Donegal, Shropshire and Kent.
-  Chris Batty, RBA