Saturday 3rd February 2018
	The first Taiga Merlin (nominate form columbarius) for Britain was photographed at Thurso, Highland today, the photograph showing the diagnostic tail pattern. A drake Lesser Scaup was found at Blashford Lakes, Hampshire, where the Thayer's Gull also reappeared. Other lingering rarities included the Horned Lark in Surrey, Penduline Tit in Gloucestershire, Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Suffolk, Spotted Sandpiper in Nottinghamshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent, Pacific Diver and Lesser Scaup in Cornwall, King Eider and White-billed Diver in Shetland and another White-billed Diver in Orkney.
-  Will Soar, RBA