2008 TOTAL FOR BRITAIN AND IRELAND HOLDING FIRM AT 445 SPECIES - A NEW RECORD

With just two weeks remaining before the year end, the last two additions (IVORY GULL on SHETLAND and NORTH AMERICAN BLACK TERN in the OUTER HEBRIDES) saw the 2008 total rise to 445 species - the new record total to beat. This does not include a further five pending species, including two Hooded Mergansers of unknown provenance (both still under review).

The only real surprise is the complete lack of ISABELLINE SHRIKE records this year, and perhaps the failure of a NUTCRACKER to cross from Holland to the east coast. Sadly, none of the 160 irrupting TENGMALM'S OWLS in Sweden/Norway made it this far either and yet another year goes by without either Siberian or Black-throated Accentor, Dusky Thrush (twitchable) or Eastern-crowned Warbler.