Sunday 8th October 2006
	Just as many where beginning to think autumn 2006 was doomed to be remembered for it's distinct mediocrity, the first Canada Warbler to be recorded in Britain and Ireland was found in Kilbaha, County Kerry this afternoon; this first-winter bird constitutes only the second record for the Western Palearctic, following an individual in Iceland in 1973. An superb adult Roller in Northumberland was rather upstaged by the warbler, but was undeniably still a mega find. Initially located on Holy Island, it quickly found the mainland and was mobile in the Goswick and Beal are till dusk. A Black-throated Thrush on Foula continued the island's fabulous autumn and a probable Pechora Pipit was on Unst. In Devon, Upper Tamar Lake scored a superb double in the form of Spotted Sandpiper and Long-billed Dowitcher. New White-rumped Sandpipers were found at Tyninghame Bay, Lothian, Freiston Shore, Lincolnshire and another remained at Dungeness RSPB for its second day. In Lincolnshire a Great White Egret flew over Saltfleetby NNR and Cruisetown Strand, County Louth, hosted a Forster's Tern. A Pacific or American Golden Plover was found in Cleveland at Bowesfield Marsh.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA