Thursday 14th April 2016
	The headlines today concerned two significant items of late news: an Alpine Accentor present yesterday in Hampshire at Brownwich, and a Pallid Harrier on Tuesday at Marshfield, Gloucestershire, although neither bird could be relocated today. Rarities today comprised a new King Eider in Highland at Achiltibuie, a Spotted Sandpiper reported in Dorset at Middlebere, territorial Iberian Chiffchaffs in both Cornwall and Shropshire, Savi's Warbler in Suffolk, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on Fair Isle, King Eider still in Fife, Long-billed Dowitcher in Hampshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, White-billed Divers on the Orkney Isles and the Western Isles, and Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan. Scarcities included Pallas's Warbler (Dorset), Yellow-browed Warbler (London), Wryneck (Gwynedd), Ring-necked Duck (Somerset), American Wigeon (West Sussex), Montagu's Harrier and Rough-legged Buzzard (both Norfolk), two each of Purple Heron, Shorelark and Glossy Ibis, three Hoopoes, four Cattle Egrets and seven Surf Scoters.
-  Chris Batty, RBA