Tuesday 17th April 2018
	Exciting new rarities today comprised a brief Great Spotted Cuckoo in Kent between Ringwould and Kingsdown, a Long-billed Dowitcher in Northumberland at Grindon Lough and a Laughing Gull on St Martin's, Isles of Scilly. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the American Bittern in Suffolk, American White-winged Scoter in Lothian, Iberian Chiffchaff in Oxfordshire, Penduline Tit in Hertfordshire, Black-headed Wagtail in Lancashire, both Pacific Diver and King Eider in County Cork and Bonaparte's Gull in Dorset. Scarcities included Hoopoe (Dorset), Ring-billed Gull (Hampshire), Dotterel (Norfolk), two each of Woodchat Shrike, American Wigeon and Glossy Ibis, three of both Cattle Egret and Lapland Bunting, four Ring-necked Ducks and a total of seven Surf Scoters.
-  Chris Batty, RBA