TODAY'S IMAGES
Plates 1-2: The long-staying female Snowy Owl on North Uist, where it favours sheltering behind rocks on Aird an Runair headland, adjacent to Balranald RSPB reserve (Outer Hebrides). These superb shots were taken by resident birder Steve Duffield.
Plates 3-4: Juvenile Grey Phalarope, Farmoor II Reservoir, Oxfordshire (Stephen Burch)
Plates 5-8: selection of rarities from the Isles of Scilly, all taken by Robin Mawer - first-winter Citrine Wagtail (5 & 8), adult Curlew Sandpiper, juvenile Dotterel and juvenile Red Knot
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S SIGHTINGS
GREAT NORTHERN DIVER - one inland at Chasewater (Staffs)
*WHITE-BILLED DIVER - the long-staying adult in full breeding plumage remains off Knockhall Point on South Ronaldsay (Orkney) (at ND 453 946)
BLACK-NECKED GREBE - two remain on Collards Lake, Stodmarsh (Kent), with singles at Stanwick GP (Northants), Covenham Reservoir (North Lincs) and Tophill Low 'D' Reservoir (East Yorks).
SLAVONIAN GREBE - the only freshwater sighting involves that still at Fresiton Shore RSPB (Lincs)
MANX SHEARWATER - inland, the mobile individual remains on Grafham Water (Cambs)
LEACH'S PETREL - 1 off the Old Nab, Staithes (North Yorks) this morning.
EUROPEAN SHAG - inland, 3 juveniles remain at Draycote Water (Warks), with further singles at Carsington Water (Derbyshire) and on Clifford Hill GP (Northants).
GREAT WHITE EGRET - The colour-ringed bird remains on The Mere at Ellesmere (Salop)
GLOSSY IBIS - the beautiful adult relocated to Fairburn Ings today (West Yorks), where it showed well during the morning.
EURASIAN SPOONBILL - the family party of 5 birds remain on the River Dee at Kirkcudbright (Galloway), whilst elsewhere, 6 remain in Poole Harbour at Middlebere (Dorset), 3 at Titchwell RSPB (Norfolk), 2 at Orfordness (Suffolk) and singles on the Alaw Estuary (Anglesey) and at Coombe Hill Meadows GWT (Gloucs). A further adult flew south over Slimbridge WWT, New Passage and Oldbury Power Station (Gloucs/Avon).
*RUDDY SHELDUCK - a party of 6 flew north over Sammy's Point, Kilnsea (East Yorks) on 5th, with two today on Hornsea Mere (East Yorks). Elsewhere, presumed escapes remain at Hoveringham GP (Notts) and Cliffe RSPB Black Barn Pools (North Kent).
COMMON CRANE - the two adults remain at Dungeness ARC Pit (Kent), with another at Welney WWT (Norfolk).
DOTTEREL - a noticeable passage this week with a juvenile from the Holden Tower at Slimbridge WWT (Gloucs) from 1-5, a juvenile on the 13th fairway at the north end of St Mary's Golf Course (Scilly) from 1-5, one with European Golden Plovers near the entrance to the Ouse Washes RSPB (Cambs) on 6th and another on the grass just south of Church Point, Newbiggin (Northumberland) on 6th.
*PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER - a moulting adult was with 300 European Golden Plovers and a single Ruff in a field to the west of Dornock (Dumfries & Galloway) (between Battlehill and Backfoot) but was flushed by a Sparrowhawk and later relocated on the beach (Colin & Angela Bushell, Chris Baines).
AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER - an adult remains for a third day with European Golden Plover on Tiree, on the west side of Loch Bhasapol.
***HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL - the first for Scilly was on Porthloo Beach, St Mary's, from 0700-0755 hours before being flushed by walkers.
GREY PHALAROPE - the large displacement continues with at least 24 birds recorded today (total in last few days now exceeding 80 individuals), including 9 inland at Shustoke Reservoir (Warks), Farmoor II Reservoir (Oxon), Prescot Reservoirs (Lancs), Sidlesham Ferry Pool (West Sussex), Covenham Reservoir (Lincs), Chasewater (Staffs), Carsington Water (Derbyshire), Chew Valley Lake (Avon) and at Weir Wood Reservoir (East Sussex). Elsewhere, birds (mainly juveniles) were noted at Stanpit Marsh (Dorset) (2), Keyhaven Marshes Fishtail Lagoon (Hants), Shoreham-by-Sea (West Sussex), Church Norton, Pagham Harbour (West Sussex), Pottington (North Devon), Lligwy Bay (Anglesey) (4), Frodsham Marsh (Cheshire), Hengistbury Head (Dorset), Lodmoor RSPB (Dorset), Chesil Cove, Portland (Dorset) and off Berrow (Somerset).
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE a very confiding juvenile was on Mersea Island (Essex) all day, at Cooper's Beach Park.
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER - the juvenile was reported again from Pumphouse Pit, Diddington (Cambs) this morning.
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER - the elusive adult reappeared briefly on Titchwell Marsh RSPB (Norfolk) mid-morning.
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER - the juvenile showed well over the high tide period on the beach at Dawlish Warren (South Devon) before moving to The Bight as the tide ebbed.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER - surprisingly scarce this September although the discovery of 6 juveniles in Spain today will presumably see more arrive in the next few days. Three were seen today, with a juvenile at Annesley Top Pit (Notts) and single adults at Hickling Rush Hills scrape (Norfolk) and at Stanpit Marsh (Dorset).
LONG-TAILED SKUA - a juvenile lingered in Chesil Cove, Portland (Dorset) for over two hours today, whilst seawatching produced four juveniles off Strumble Head (Pembs) and singles off Dungeness (Kent), Goldcliff Point (Gwent), Torness (Lothian), Pendeen Watchpoint and Tintagel (Cornwall) and Selsey Bill (West Sussex). Inland, a juvenile flew south over Slimbridge WWT, Sharpness, Oldbury Power Station and Severn Beach.
RING-BILLED GULL - an adult remains at Kinneil Lagoon, Grangemouth (Forth).
CASPIAN GULL - a juvenile roosted at Farmoor Reservoir (Oxon).
SABINE'S GULL - 3 juveniles flew west off Pendeen Watchpoint (Cornwall) today, with three also past Point of Ayre (Isle of Man), 2 past Whitburn CP (Durham) and Hartlepool Headland (Cleveland) with others past Flamborough Head (East Yorks), North Ronaldsay (Orkney), Selsey Bill (West Sussex) and Hannafore Point, Looe (Cornwall).
WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN - single juveniles remain at Dungeness ARC Pit (Kent) and Blithfield Reservoir (Staffs).
SNOWY OWL - the female remains on North Uist (Outer Hebrides).
WRYNECK - with SE winds and heavy rain, a small fall took place of this species in NE England today.
SHORE LARK - the bird present since July remains at Spurn Point (East Yorks).
CITRINE WAGTAIL - single first-winters remain on Fair Isle and on Porthellick Beach, St Mary's (Scilly).
BLUETHROAT - One at Hawthorn Dene (Durham) this evening.
BARRED WARBLER - 6 reported today, with singles at Otterswick, Yell, Fair Isle and Scatness (Shetland) and at Tynemouth (Northumberland), Dawdon Blast Beach (Durham) and Walney Island (Cumbria).
AQUATIC WARBLER - the very elusive juvenile remains for a third day at Rainham Marshes RSPB (London) with a further juvenile briefly at Weston Sewage Works (Somerset).
ICTERINE WARBLER - a noticeable fall on the NE coast, with two at South Gare (Cleveland) and singles at Hartlepool Headland (Cleveland), Tynemouth, Whitburn Steel, Druridge Bay CP and at Kettleness Point (North Yorks). Elsewhere, one was at Thorpeness (Suffolk).
MELODIOUS WARBLER - the long-staying bird remains elusively in 60 foot cover at Porthgwarra (Cornwall).
RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER - an adult male was at South Gare (Cleveland), with a juvenile at Tynemouth (Northumberland).
ORTOLAN BUNTING - one remains on Fair Isle.