Wednesday 1st August 2018
	In Aberdeenshire the Sooty Tern was seen at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB mid morning, before being relocated 8 miles to the south-east at Peterhead in the evening. Also in Aberdeenshire, a Marsh Sandpiper was on the Ythan Estuary late morning, whilst further south the Franklin's Gull visited Hurworth Burn Reservoir, Cleveland. The first Greenish Warbler of the autumn was found at Norwick, Unst, Shetland. Other lingering rarities included the Snowy Owl in the Western Isles, Lesser Yellowlegs in Norfolk, Baltic Gull in Yorkshire and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent. Scarcity highlights included a Red-backed Shrike, a Pomarine Skua, a Honey Buzzard, two Rose-coloured Starlings, two Red-necked Phalaropes, two Cory's Shearwaters, two Surf Scoters, two Purple Herons, two Cattle Egrets, three Glossy Ibises, three Pectoral Sandpipers, seven Roseate Terns, 18 Balearic Shearwaters and 29 Great Shearwaters.
-  Will Soar, RBA