Sunday 30th December 2012
	Rarities today comprised both Laughing Gull and Desert Wheatear in Aberdeenshire, Subalpine Warbler in Cornwall, Red-breasted Geese in Hampshire and Suffolk, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, Lesser Scaup in Somerset, Ferruginous Duck in Nottinghamshire, Dark-breasted Barn Owl in Cambridgeshire, and Glossy Ibis in both Hampshire and Pembrokeshire. Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starling (Devon), Temminck's Stint (Somerset), Surf Scoter (County Waterford), American Wigeon (Aberdeenshire, Norfolk and West Yorkshire), Ring-necked Duck (County Westmeath, Pembrokeshire, Isles of Scilly (3), and Somerset), Ring-billed Gull (County Cork, County Down and Hampshire), Kumlien's Gull (County Cork), Cattle Egret (County Donegal and Somerset), Great Grey Shrike (Derbyshire and Hampshire), and Rough-legged Buzzard (Norfolk). Waxwings were recorded across 38 counties between Highland, Aberdeenshire, Devon and Kent, and including maximum flocks of 110 in South Yorkshire, 100 in Greater Manchester, 84 in London, 80 in Nottinghamshire, and 76 in both Berkshire and Essex.
-  Chris Batty, RBA