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Black-winged Pratincole Titchwell July99
Always a welcome sight, a mid-summer rarity. Although not quite the extreme rarity it once
was, this bird attracted numerous admirers, partly because it was the third Norfolk record
and the first in the county for 25 years.
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Paddyfield Warbler Lee Valley October99
Just when you thought it was safe to go back to work, after the tremendous autumn of this
year, a superb find for Greater London. Lured off the Isles of Scilly and Cornwall by several
Pallid Swifts, many birders connected with this one as well.
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Booted Eagle St.Buryan area November99
Appropriately named considering the BOU's decision on this record, I'm sure many birders still
include it on their list. This is a less widely published shot, the underwing photo has
appeared in everything from British Birds to the Chew Valley Times!
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Ivory Gull Aldeburgh/Southwold December99
What a fabulous end to the year for Suffolk birders, and many others who travelled to see it.
Even more approachable than most, just after I took this shot a small boy rode past on a
bike and almost hit it! The bird just ignored him and stayed on the boating pool wall.
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Gyrfalcon Cape Cornwall March 2000
What can I say? Surely one of the most sought-after rarities and far more obliging than
the previous readily twitchable one, sadly it moved around a bit and frustrated some people's
efforts as a new location was suppressed for several days.
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Blackpoll Warbler Seaforth N.R. June 2000
Although the commonest American Warbler to grace these shores, it has only been seen once
in this plumage. Sadly it only stayed a day, probably due to lack of suitable habitat
at Seaforth, although it must have been better than the ship!
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Yellow-billed Cuckoo St.Levan October 2000
Millenium year was never going to live up to the previous autumn, but a sprinkling of American
goodies included this obliging bird which actually stayed alive a few days for a change.
Equally against the norm. was a Radde's Warbler at the same site which showed excellently.
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Red-eyed Vireo with Bush Cricket Cot Valley October 2000
Having tried on several occasions to get a really good shot of one of these, I think I
finally succeeded with this obliging bird, which however still disappeared for long periods
like most of its species .
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Short-toed Treecreeper Dungeness March 2001
Kent continued its virtual monopoly on this species with this early record. Keeping to a small area
of small trees it showed extremely well, also climbing concrete posts and walls on occasion.
Maybe a real Wallcreeper here next?
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Pallas' Grasshopper Warbler Blakeney Point September 2001
For the first afternoon of this bird's stay I was stuck at work- seven miles away! I made it on
the way home and expected it to be gone the following day. However, to the delight of many,
it remained throughout the weekend and into the next week. Another Fair Isle speciality unblocked!.
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Bobolink Prawle Point October 2001
A relatively quiet October this year, one of the highlights being this bird which showed well
for over a week, unlike many of its kind. Being a mainland record made it even more popular,
and a personal bonus was my finding a Monarch butterfly at the site.
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Snowy Egret Balvicar November 2001
Although long-predicted, the first record was always expected in Cornwall somehow. Indeed, if Bill
Jackson hadn't recently moved to the area from Shetland, it might never have been found, but the
beautiful location and its length of stay made it the twitch of the year for many people.
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