Friday 3rd August 2018
	The most significant news of the day was the re-appearance of the Sooty Tern on the Ythan Estuary in Aberdeenshire late in the evening. The Pacific Golden Plover at Findhorn Bay in Moray also made a re-appearance. There was a female type Hooded Merganser at Errol in Perth and Kinross but it was not clear whether or not it was the same escaped bird that was in Fife earlier in the year. Two Wilson's Petrels were seen from a pelagic off the Scillies in the evening and lingering rarities included the Lesser Yellowlegs in Norfolk, Bonaparte’s Gull in Kent and King Eider in Ceredigion. Two White Pelicans that arrived at Tacumshin in County Wexford in the afternoon were found to be ringed escapees. Spotted Crakes were in Cheshire and Norfolk (now 2 at Potter Heigham), the Red-necked Phal remained in Kent, a Pectoral Sandpiper was still in Cornwall and an American Golden Plover was briefly on the Kent Estuary in Cumbria. There was a notable early autumn influx of Pied Flycatchers along south and east coasts.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA