BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS IN DORSET !!

Bird of the day was undoubtedly the BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS that flew east past Portland Bill (Dorset) at 7am then east past Durlston Country Park (Dorset) at 8.30am. Martin Cade photographed the bird as it glided past the Bill. Also in Dorset, a HOOPOE was seen in the grounds of the Sandford Lane Industrial Estate in Wareham, whilst in neighbouring Hampshire, a male RED-BACKED SHRIKE was at Pig Bush, New Forest.

 

In County Durham, Chris Bell relocated the BLACK-WINGED PRATINCOLE that had been touring the Northeast since June at Hurworth Burn Reservoir, 2.5 miles east of Trimdon. It was consorting with a small flock of post-breeding Lapwings and was present throughout the day.

Black-winged Pratincole, Hurworth Burn Reservoir, County Durham, 5 July 2014 (Mark Newsome/Whitburn Birds)

The SHORT-TOED SNAKE EAGLE was seen again briefly, drifting over Denny Lodge Inclosure (New Forest) at 10am (Wayne Purcey).

 

Elsewhere, the first-summer ROSS'S GULL remained in situ at Bowling Green Marsh RSPB, Topsham (South Devon) but there was no sign all day of the Bridled Tern on Inner Farne (Northumberland) - presumably on a fishing trip again. Up to 170 Roseate Terns are now present on Coquet Island. The drake LESSER SCAUP remains at Blagdon Lake (Somerset), as does the ROSE-COLOURED STARLING near Burnley (Lancs) in the parkland opposite 40 Middlesex Avenue. The PECTORAL SANDPIPER was present at Cley NWT Reserve (Norfolk) until mid-afternoon, with 22 EURASIAN SPOONBILLS still feeding. Plenty of GLOSSY IBISES still to be seen (9 in all) with 3 adult BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS and 2+ LITTLE BITTERNS in the Shapwick Heath area (Somerset) and the 2 adult BLACK-WINGED STILTS still at Bracklesham Bay (West Sussex). A couple of singing male MARSH WARBLERS remain on Fair Isle.

 

A WILSON'S STORM PETREL - the first of the year - was seen from a pelagic SW of Galley Head (Co. Cork) on 29th June, while the first-summer LAUGHING GULL has returned to Ballycotton Pier.