Monday 20th January 2020
	The highlight of the day was news that the Eastern Stonechat present at Ashton's Flash, Cheshire since 23rd December has been identified as a Siberian Stonechat through DNA analysis, whilst the absence of white at the base of the tail indicates that it is of the nominate form maurus; West Siberian Stonechat. Elsewhere, lingering rarities comprised the Black-throated Thrush in Bedfordshire, Blue-headed Eastern Yellow Wagtail in Norfolk, Black Scoter in Northumberland, Blue-winged Teal in Devon, Lesser Yellowlegs in North Yorkshire, Bonaparte's Gull in County Wexford, Lesser Scaup in Cornwall and Ferruginous Duck in West Yorkshire. Scarcities included Purple Heron (Lancashire), Ring-billed Gull (Cornwall), two each of Richard's Pipit, Yellow-browed Warbler, Glossy Ibis and Lapland Bunting, three of Rough-legged Buzzard and Green-winged Teal, five Great Grey Shrike, six Shorelarks and seven Ring-necked Ducks.
-  Chris Batty, RBA