Thursday 5th March 2020
	Rarities today comprised the White-winged Scoter still in Lothian, Black-throated Thrushes in both Bedfordshire and Lincolnshire, West Siberian Stonechat in Cheshire, American Herring Gulls in both County Cork and County Sligo, Lesser Yellowlegs North Yorkshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in County Wicklow, Ferruginous Duck in the West Midlands, and a White-billed Diver on the Orkney Isles where recently a Snowy Owl has been present on Eday. Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starling (Anglesey), Yellow-browed Warbler (London), Ring-billed Gull and Kumlien's Gull (Cornwall), two each of Rough-legged Buzzard, Surf Scoter, American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck and Glossy Ibis, three Green-winged Teals, five Shorelarks, and a total of six Great Grey Shrikes. Spring migrants included the second Wheatear of the spring (Gloucestershire), the second Sand Martin (Isles of Scilly), and a Garganey; the latter one of nine logged so far this year of which at least six had over-wintered. Other apparent migrant arrivals since the middle of February include Swallow (2), Willow Warbler (2), House Martin (3) and White Wagtail (4).
-  Chris Batty, RBA