Friday 22nd February 2013
	A drake Hooded Merganser on the Staffordshire /Derbyshire birder was discovered today, at the River Trent /River Dove confluence, where it showed for much of the day. A Ferruginous Duck in Hampshire, at Blashford Lakes HWT, was the only other new rarity. Lingering Megas included the Harlequin Duck on North Uist, Western Isles, Pine Grosbeak at North Collafirth, Shetland, Pacific Diver in Mount's Bay, Cornwall and Pied-billed Grebe at Ham Wall RSPB, Somerset. Other rarity highlights included the Desert Wheatear and a King Eider in Aberdeenshire, two Black Ducks in County Cork, White-billed Diver in Orkney, Black-bellied Dipper in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gull in Sussex, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon and Long-billed Dowitcher in Pembrokeshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA