Friday 27th December 2024
	Incredible news today from Kent of a Scops Owl in song at Broadstairs where it was first seen yesterday and has probably been present for at least five days. Rarities elsewhere comprised the Yellow Warbler still in Kent, Grey-headed Lapwing still in Northumberland, Canvasback in Essex, American Coot in Shetland, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, Pacific Diver in County Clare, White-rumped Sandpiper in Suffolk, Long-billed Dowitchers in both Devon and County Wexford, Ferruginous Ducks in Hertfordshire and London, and Lesser Scaups in Cambridgeshire, Somerset, and County Wexford (2). Scops Owl is the 440th species to be reported in Britain and Ireland during 2024; 408 of which have been twitchable.
-  Chris Batty, RBA