Saturday 8th November 2008
	Bird of the day was undoubtedly the first-winter Steppe Grey Shrike at Grainthorpe Haven, Lincolnshire. The bird showed superbly throughout the day, at times flying to within a few feet of the gathered admirers. Nearby, a Desert Wheatear was found at Saltfleet, and yet another Red-flanked Bluetail, possibly the twelfth of the autumn, was trapped and ringed at Saltfleetby, also Lincolnshire. Also in the North-east, the adult drake Canvasback was re-found, again at Nosterfield, North Yorkshire. A Pied Wheatear was near Filey, at Reighton Sands Holiday Camp all day, and the male Two-barred Crossbill continued to visit the feeder near Stokesby, although it could go missing for several hours between visits. New Olive-backed Pipits appeared on Fair Isle, Shetland and North Ronaldsay, Orkney, where a Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler was also found. Another was in Wells Wood, Norfolk, and the St Mary's Island, Northumberland bird remained, both for their second day. Lingering rarities included the long staying Green Heron in Kent, King Eider in Devon, Radde's Warbler in East Yorkshire, Ferruginous Duck in Buckinghamshire, Desert Wheatear in Kent and Lesser Scaup in Nottinghamshire, with a new bird at Helston, Cornwall.
-  Will Soar, RBA