Arctic Plover causes some controversy

This is the UK400 Club Rare Bird Alert issued at 2100 hours on Friday 17 July 2009

A spanking full breeding-plumaged AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER remains for a second day in the vicinity of Cley Marshes NWT (Norfolk) favouring the west end of Pope's Marsh and the Sea Pool (just east of Arnold's Marsh) throughout much of the day. It flew up and joined two adult European Golden Plovers late afternoon and flew strongly west. John Miller obtained an outstanding selection of images of this bird (see his website) as it afforded observers views down to 75 yards.

The NWT Reserve also continued to host up to 7 EURASIAN SPOONBILLS, a Little Stint, an impressive 36 Common Greenshanks, whilst offshore, a surprise movement of 92 Manx Shearwaters took place this afternoon and evening.

At the opposite end of the country in Orkney, the near adult FRANKLIN'S GULL continues to moult at Howes Wick just west of the old church, with the long-staying GREAT WHITE EGRET still resident on Graemeshall Loch. In Aberdeenshire, a 'winter-plumaged' GREY PHALAROPE was present on the Starnafin Farm Visitor Centre Pools early afternoon, with an adult ROSEATE TERN still lingering on the Ythan Estuary.

In Somerset, the summering male LITTLE BITTERN continues at Loxton Marsh on Walton Heath, with the GREAT WHITE EGRET nearby on the second lagoon at Shapwick Heath NNR. A further GREAT WHITE EGRET remains at Hen Reedbeds SWT (Suffolk) with up to 4 ROSEATE TERNS at nearby Minsmere scrape

Inland, a 3rd-summer NORTHERN GANNET remained for a second day at Foremark Reservoir (Derbyshire), constituting the 34th occurrence for that county and performing well from the main visitor's car park, whilst the COMMON CROSSBILL invasion continues in earnest.

Adult CURLEW SANDPIPERS began to appear today, with 3 at Oare Marshes NR (North Kent) and a few at scattered sites in North Norfolk, with a handful of WOOD SANDPIPERS scattered throughout the country. An adult PECTORAL SANDPIPER was a new arrival at Dungeness ARC Pit (Kent) this afternoon

In Norfolk, an adult and three 2nd-summer CASPIAN GULLS was present at Blackborough End Landfill Site.