Monday 18th February 2013
	A stunning drake Harlequin Duck was found today on the west coast of the Western Isles at Balranald on North Uist. This represents the first Harlequin Duck since a brief drake on St. Kilda in 2007 and the first twitchable one since 2004, with smart drakes at a premium in British waters. A White-billed Diver was found off North Lewis, also on the Western Isles. The Pine Grosbeak continued its stay on Mainland Shetland and the Pied-billed Grebe was still to be found in Somerset. Other long staying rarities included the Penduline Tit in Kent, Bonaparte's Gull in East Sussex, Desert Wheatear in Aberdeenshire, Ferruginous Duck in Bedfordshire, Lesser Scaup in Cornwall, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon and Black-bellied Dipper in Norfolk. Amongst scarcities, the Pallas's Warbler remained on the Berkshire/Hampshire border, a White-tailed Eagle was seen around the Anmer area in north west Norfolk and American Wigeons were in Lincolnshire and Devon.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA