Thursday 10th October 2024
	A pale morph Booted Eagle discovered today in Cornwall at Nanquidno is made all the more remarkable by being at effectively the same location as a dark morph Booted Eagle was photographed on 20th May 2024 and reported again on 2nd September, as well an earlier pale morph present in the same area on 25th October-28th November 1999. Discoveries elsewhere inluded a Little Crake in Pembrokeshire at Bosherston, on the Isles of Scilly a South Polar Skua at sea north of the islands and two Olive-backed Pipits together on St Agnes, two Olive-backed Pipits together on the Shetland Isles on Unst, and in County Dublin a Blyth's Reed Warbler at Howth Head. Continuing rarities confirmed as still present were the Wilson's Snipe on Scilly, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, Isabelline Shrike species in East Yorkshire, Booted Warbler on the Orkney Isles, Greenish Warbler on Shetland, two Eastern Stonechat species in Northumberland, Pallid Harrier in Pembrokeshire, Canvasback in Essex, Spotted Sandpiper in Fife, Long-billed Dowitcher in Devon, Lesser Scaup in Staffordshire, and Ferruginous Ducks in Leicestershire (2) and Warwickshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA