Yorkshire ROLLER continues top billing

In East Yorkshire, the adult EUROPEAN ROLLER continues to delight large numbers of admirers in its favoured tilled field east of the coastal B1242 about half a mile north of Aldbrough village. It is a spectacular bird and repeatedly perches on a white post about 65 yards in from the road. The views can be outstanding and of all of the hundreds of shots which have been taken, few are as evocative and challenging as those taken by Rebecca Nason. Special parking arrangements have been offered nearby at Bewick Hall.
A second individual first seen on Sunday was also seen today in Hornsea (East Yorks), on roadside wires about six miles further north than Aldbrough.

Not that far away at Flamborough Head (East Yorks), a singing male RED-BACKED SHRIKE remains on gorse clumps in fields south of the lighthouse.
Another popular bird is always a vagrant RED-FOOTED FALCON with today's first-summer male at Willington GP (Derbyshire) performing well SW of the pits by the River Trent. From Wellington village, take Wellington Road south, cross the bridge and then follow the footpath SW for at least 20 minutes about 200 yards beyond the small wood (1.5 miles walk).
Although some BLACK-WINGED STILTS have now settled to breed, odd first-years such as today's female at Cley NWT Reserve (North Norfolk) are still on the wander. Typically mobile, at teatime the bird was viewable from hides overlooking North Scrape whilst earlier on, it frequented Cricket Marsh and Pat's Pool. A first-summer female WOODCHAT SHRIKE also continues in East Norfolk today, favouring bushes and scrub close to the fence about half a mile north of the beach car park.

It has been an excellent year for singing MARSH WARBLERS and today is no exception with birds still singing and occasionally showing at Harbridge Water Meadows, north of Ringwood (Hants) (at SU 149 897; in the hedgerow and weeds bordering the roadside literally yards NW of the bridge), at Rainham Marshes RSPB (London) in weeds below the 'Serin Mound' 1.2 miles west of the information centre along the seawall, in the Old Fall Hedgerow at Flamborough Head (East Yorks) and another 1.5 miles NE of Hadston (Northumberland) in reeds close to the road at Togston Links

After numerous false starts earlier this spring, we are now seeing some 'genuine' IBERIAN CHIFFCHAFFS occur with a male for its 7th day at Kenidjack Valley (Cornwall) and a newly located male at Porlock (Somerset) at the bottom end of Porlock toll road by the logpile on the left opposite the bench close to the first bend

GREAT WHITE EGRETS have bred for the first time in Britain at Shapwick Heath NNR (Somerset), whilst a first-summer PURPLE HERON has moved from Church Norton's Severalls (West Sussex) to Denge Marsh Reedbeds, Dungeness RSPB (Kent), where it is performing this afternoon from Springfield Bridge at TR 055 182. A GREAT WHITE EGRET is also on the Isle of Wight for a second day at Brading Marshes RSPB viewable from Mill Farm along the footpath to Bembridge Windmill, whilst the GLOSSY IBIS touring Hampshire and West Sussex is currently favouring Farlington Marsh Main Lagoon.

Continuing its good run of recent records, the Isle of May (Fife) today attracted a GREENISH WARBLER, whilst Fair Isle has both ICTERINE WARBLER and COMMON ROSEFINCH. Bardsey island (Gwynedd) has also had an excellent recent run of overshooting vagrants with a GOLDEN ORIOLE new in there today as well as a COMMON ROSEFINCH. A EUROPEAN BEE-EATER flew north over Winterton North Dunes (Norfolk) at 1503

On North Uist (Outer Hebrides), the stunningly beautiful male SNOWY OWL continues its summer sojourn at Sollas and Grenitote, sheltering from the wind and rain besides the fencing. Please respect this bird and do not approach to within 100 yards. If not approached too closely, this bird will stay for a protracted period.

In IRELAND today, a GLOSSY IBIS is at Timoleague (County Cork), whilst Tacumshin Pools (Wexford) continue to harbour the adult FORSTER'S TERN, 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, a WOOD SANDPIPER and a first-year MONTAGU'S HARRIER. A male WOODCHAT SHRIKE remains on Sherkin Island (County Cork) in scrub and bushes on the west side of Horseshoe Bay.