Monday 13th October 2008
	This autumn is becoming more like 1985 by the day - Irish headlands have already produced the first American Redstart and Scarlet Tanager since '85 and today a Philadelphia Vireo was discovered on Loop Head, Co Clare. The two previous records of Philidelphia Vireo relate to birds on Galley Head, Co Cork in 1985 and on Tresco, Isles of Scilly in October 1987. Elsewhere new discoveries included a Red-eyed Vireo in Wembury, Devon (other Red-eyed Vireos included three on Isles of Scilly and one in Cornwall), White's Thrush on Mainland Shetland, Lesser Yellowlegs at Port Clarence, Cleveland and Penduline Tit at Sandwich Bay, Kent. Other new rarities consisted of a flyover Olive-backed Pipit in Dorset, White-rumped Sandpiper on Isles of Scilly and Semipalmated Sandpiper in Co Galway. The Isles of Scilly hosted the Sociable Plover for its second day, as well as Blackpoll Warbler and the aforementioned Vireos. Lingering rarities elsewhere in the country included the Red-footed Falcon in East Yorkshire, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on North Uist, King Eider in Devon, Wilson's Phalarope in Norfolk and on Orkney the American Buff-bellied Pipit reappeared on North Ronaldsay. Across the Irish Sea, both the Little Blue Heron in Co Galway and White-throated Sparrow in Co Cork were still on show and the Radde's Warbler was retrapped on Copeland Island, Co Down.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA