Another BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD evades the masses

With four additional birds to add to the list of birds recorded in Britain and Ireland in 2010, the total now increases to 361.

Two of these species are particularly frustrating for the high listers, with yet another male BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD going by the way in an unannounced garden (this time a backyard visitor to a Seaburn, County Durham, garden on 10 May) and an advertising male NORTH ATLANTIC LITTLE (BAROLI'S) SHEARWATER on the island of Lundy, North Devon, that can only be heard but not seen (present since Friday 4 June and still present today).

In addition, a singing first-summer male MARMORA'S WARBLER on a Welsh moor at Blorenge (SO 269 107), Monmouthshire/Gwent border, was totally unexpected (present since 3 June) and a GULL-BILLED TERN was seen briefly at Titchwell and Holme, North Norfolk, on 6 June.