Recent reports

This summary of unchecked reports covers early January to early February 2018.

Headlines In a period with few new rarities there were plenty of long-staying wintering birds to bolster the nation’s year-lists. Among the new arrivals, the highlights included a ‘Taiga Merlin’ in Caithness, potentially the first for Britain (see p. 127) and a ‘Thayer’s Gull’ in Hampshire, together with Co. Cork’s first Pacific Diver, a popular Spotted Sandpiper in Nottinghamshire, an American Herring Gull in Cornwall and a Pine Bunting in Norfolk.Also noteworthy was the reappearance of the ‘North American Horned Lark’ in London and a returning Northern Harrier in Orkney.