MORE TWO-BARRED CROSSBILLS AND A JUVENILE BLACK STORK

In County Durham, a juvenile BLACK STORK (present since at least 1st August) has been showing very well 2.5 miles WSW of Blaydon and 0.25 miles south of Greenside in the pasture field just north of Reeley Mires Farm at NZ 145 619. DIRECTIONS: From Lead Road, turn south on Barlow Lane.

A bare minimum 18 TWO-BARRED CROSSBILLS have now gathered at Sumburgh Head (Shetland) (per Steve Minton) with a further 9 juveniles still present on Fair Isle, with the MELODIOUS WARBLER still showing intermittently in the bushes by the lighthouse. In Aberdeenshire, a drake SURF SCOTER is again off Blackdog Beach, whilst the summer-plumaged adult WHITE-BILLED DIVER remains in St Margaret's Hope Bay on South Ronaldsay. A very confiding adult BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER remains for a third day at Doonfoot Beach just SW of Ayr (Ayrshire) feeding with Dunlin just south of the river mouth at cNS 321 194 (easily viewed from the adjacent car park), with an adult ROSE-COLOURED STARLING at garden feeders at Bunessan on Mull (Argyll).

In North Kent, an AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER in partial breeding plumage was again at Elmey Marshes RSPB, showing from Wellmarsh Hide, whilst in Dorset, the first-summer female LESSER GREY SHRIKE continues on Hartland Moor, east of Middlebere, SE of Wareham (see detailed directions below). A TAWNY PIPIT remains for a second day on Blakeney Point (Norfolk), favouring the Docks within the shingle on the flat area just east of the Seawatching Hide.

An adult Sabine's Gull has been showing very well this afternoon at Heysham Power Station inner stage II Outfall (Lancashire) (SD 401 591) (1600-1800 hours at least) whilst strong winds in the southwest saw Great Shearwaters off Berry Head, Brixham (South Devon) and Porthgwarra (Cornwall).

A Honey Buzzard flew ENE over Venus Pool NR (Salop) at 1440

In Avon, the drake Ferruginous Duck remains at Chew Valley Lake (in Herons Green Bay), with the first-summer drake Hooded Merganser still at Radipole Lake RSPB (Dorset)

In IRELAND, the first-summer drake KING EIDER remains at Lady's Island Lake (Co. Wexford) west of Scarabhean Island, with an adult Ring-billed Gull still at Nimmo's Pier, Galway Harbour (Co. Galway).

HIGHLIGHTS 6-8 AUGUST

A summer-plumaged SPOTTED SANDPIPER was present on the Camel Estuary at Amble Dam sluice on 6-7, with the WHITE STORK again in the Avon Valley (Hants/Dorset border) and an adult LESSER GREY SHRIKE briefly at Balephuil on Tiree (Argyll) on 6th. A MELODIOUS WARBLER and Red-backed Shrike were at Sumburgh Head (Shetland), with a juvenile Red-backed Shrike and Woodlark on Inner Farne (Northumberland) and an ICTERINE WARBLER on Fair Isle (6th), with another at Landguard NR (Suffolk) on 7th.

Summer-plumaged WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERNS made appearances at Crosby Marine Lake (Merseyside) on 7th and Slapton Ley (South Devon) on 8th, with a Dotterel briefly at Weston, Portland (Dorset) on 8th and a BARRED WARBLER new in on Inner Farne on 8th.