Wednesday 10 June 2009







Much has happened since my last update in May, with a further wave of exceptional vagrants, including the first AFRICAN ROYAL TERN for Ireland. The total of species recorded has now increased to 365.

One species (Stilt Sandpiper, reported at Grove Ferry, Kent, in May) is removed; the bird was a misidentified Curlew Sandpiper.

The new additions are as follows -:

352) BLACK STORK - at least one confirmed brief flyover

353) ORIENTAL PRATINCOLE (after being seen twice at Otmoor, Oxfordshire, it was relocated at the Breach Pool, Pagham Harbour, West Sussex, on 28-29 May and at Dungeness Hookers Pit, Kent, on 3 June)

354) WESTERN SANDPIPER (long-staying non-breeding plumaged bird at Dawlish Warren, South Devon, from 8 April to at least 28 May)

355) BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER (single adults at Hatfield Moors, South Yorkshire, on 23-24 May, Alkborough Flats, North Lincs, on 24 May and at Attenborough NR Tween Pond, Notts, on 4 June)

356) HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL (Uisead Point, Argyll, on 11 May)

357) SOLITARY SANDPIPER (Foula, Shetland, on 6-9 May)

358) TEREK SANDPIPER (Patrington Haven, East Yorks, on 23 May)

359) GULL-BILLED TERN (mobile adult on Exe Estuary, South Devon, on 23 May and from 31 May to 1 June)

360) AFRICAN ROYAL TERN (adult in breeding plumage present for three hours in Inchydoney bay, County Cork, on 7 June)

361) BLACK-EARED WHEATEAR (of form melanoleuca) - first-summer male at Little Porth Askin, St Agnes, Scilly, on 2-3 June - see Robin Mawer's photographs above

362) WHITE'S THRUSH (trapped and ringed on Isle of May, Fife, on 2 June)

363) RIVER WARBLER (Fair Isle on 31 May)

364) RADDYFIELD WARBLER (on Hilbre Island, Cheshire, from 5-9 June)

365) IBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF (singing male at South Glendale, South Uist, on 31 May)