Friday 13th October 2006
	Another busy autumn day produced a fine selection of rarities. Fresh birds included a Red-flanked Bluetail on Unst, where a Bonelli's warbler species was also found, but unfortunately not heard. A Booted Warbler was located on Bryher, Isles of Scilly, and nearby an Arctic Warbler was on St Mary's. In Norfolk a juvenile Whiskered Tern showed exceptionally well at Titchwell RSPB, after initially being located yesterday at nearby Brancaster. A Subalpine Warbler on Lundy, Thrush Nightingale on South Ronaldsay and Red-rumped Swallow at Porthgwarra, Cornwall were also new discoveries. Yesterday a pair of adult Red-breasted Geese were briefly at Covenham Reservoir, Lincolnshire, and today they were relocated with Dark-bellied Brent Geese at Donna Nook, before heading south along the coast. Surely these birds have got to be considered genuine vagrants. Interestingly, a pair of adult Red-breasted Geese recently arrived together in The Netherlands. The Canada Warbler remained at Kilbaha and the Baltimore Oriole was on Cape Clear Island, but extremely elusive. Popular rarities included the Least and Spotted Sandpiper partnership on the Hayle Estuary, Cornwall, American Robin on Scilly, Roller in Northumberland and Glossy Ibis in Lancashire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA