Thursday 19th April 2012
	The highlight of the day was the discovery of more Black-winged Stilts; two together in the West Midlands at Clayhanger Marsh, and one in Lincolnshire at Frampton Marsh, brought the total of British and Irish sites to have hosted the species so far this spring to nine. Rarities elsewhere comprised a new Long-billed Dowitcher in Belfast, County Antrim, confirmation of an Ashy-headed Wagtail in Cheshire at Burton Mere Wetlands, whilst two White-billed Divers were noted together in Moray, two Long-billed Dowitchers remained in Somerset, a Glossy Ibis in Dorset, and the Thayer's Gull was reported again in Lincolnshire. Scarcities included Hoopoes in Hamphire and Kent (2), the Purple Heron in County Waterford, Yellow-browed Warbler in Worcestershire, Surf Scoters in both Highland and the Orkney Isles, and Ring-necked Ducks in Cornwall and the Western Isles.
-  Chris Batty, RBA