Wednesday 11th May 2016
	Another cracking day for rare birds was headlined by the finding of a Semipalmated Plover at Tacumshin in Co Wexford. A strong supporting cast of new discoveries included Blyth's Pipit in Gwynedd, Franklin's Gull in Essex, two Caspian Terns in Somerset and Pacific Golden Plover in Co Donegal, along with Black Kites (Cumbria and Argyll), Black-winged Stilt and Western Bonelli's Warbler (Dorset), Alpine Swift and Bee-eater (Norfolk), subalpine warbler species (Isles of Scilly), Great Reed Warbler (Cleveland), Citrine Wagtail (East Yorkshire) and Two-barred Crossbill (Northumberland). Lingering rarities included Dalmatian Pelican (Cornwall), Caspian Stonechat (Hampshire), Calandra Lark (Shetland), Western Rufous Turtle Dove (Kent), Whiskered Terns (Cleveland), Snowy Owl and Red-rumped Swallows (Isles of Scilly), White-billed Diver (Aberdeenshire), Red-footed Falcon (South/East Yorkshire), Eastern Subalpine Warbler (Shetland), Thrush Nightingale (Northumberland) and Citrine Wagtail (Fife). The best of the rest included Ortolan Bunting (Shetland), Hoopoe (Highland), Purple Heron (Devon), Spotted Crake (Isles of Scilly), Richard's Pipit (Norfolk), two Serins, two Melodious Warblers, two Woodchat Shrikes, two White-winged Black Terns, two Bluethroats, four Wrynecks, at least four Grey-headed Wagtails and six Red-backed Shrikes.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA