Saturday 13th September 2008
	A Fan-tailed Warbler at Swalecliffe in Kent and Western Sandpiper in Co Galway headlined an exciting September day. In Aberdeenshire, yesterday's Mega Alert, the Greater Sand Plover on the Ythan Estuary remained on show all day. A Great Snipe on Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire and Yellow-breasted Bunting, Lanceolated Warbler, Paddyfield Warbler and Thrush Nightingale on Shetland were all top class discoveries, and in Ireland new waders included a couple of Semipalmated Sandpipers. Northern Ireland's first Citrine Wagtail was at Lough Beg, Co Londonderry and a Red-eyed Vireo was in Co Mayo. Other new birds included Gull-billed Tern off Swalecliffe, Kent (a consolation prize for those who dipped the Fan-tailed Warbler due to its early afternoon disappearance) and Red-rumped Swallow on Isles of Scilly. In Co Durham the Subalpine Warbler continued its stay in South Shields. The highlight of the day for many was the major influx of Honey Buzzards on the east coast. Sightings were reported from Aberdeenshire to Hampshire, but Northumberland, Cleveland, Yorkshire and East Anglia enjoyed the lion's share of the action. The most notable counts included at least 18 over Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk, seven over Breydon Water, Norfolk and seven over Bawdsey, Suffolk. This is only the second such influx of this species into Britain, following the well documented arrival of Honey Buzzards in September 2000, when an estimated 500 individuals were logged migrating through Britain.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA