Thursday 1st August 2013
	Seabirds stole the headlines today with a Bulwer's Petrel passing west at Galley Head, County Cork the standout sighting; constituting only the second record for Ireland. In Cornwall a Fea's Petrel and a Great Shearwater both passed Porthwgwarra, off the Isles of Scilly a Wilson's Petrel was seen from a pelagic, a Sabine's Gull moved past County Waterford, and extras in County Cork included a Wilson's Petrel at sea, three Cory's Shearwaters and 17 Great Shearwaters passing Galley Head. Rarities comprised at least 14 Two-barred Crossbills on the Shetland Isles, a Two-barred Crossbill on the Orkney Isles, Long-billed Dowitcher and Lesser Yellowlegs together in Carmarthenshire, and Bonapartes's Gulls in both Kent and Lancashire. Scarcities included Marsh Warbler (Shetland Isles), Spotted Crake (Northumberland), Cattle Egret (Kent), Night Heron (Leicestershire and South Yorkshire), and Pectoral Sandpiper (Cheshire, Devon and West Sussex).
-  Chris Batty, RBA