Tuesday 29th September 2009
	A Buff-bellied Pipit arrived on Foula, Shetland today, whilst the Taiga Flycatcher remained nearby on Fetlar. A Booted Warbler was an unexpected find in Marsden Quarry, County Durham (considering the recent weather conditions), whilst other new arrivals included a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on Orkney, Long-billed Dowitcher in County Cork, Baird's Sandpiper on the Western Isles and a White-winged Black Tern in Hampshire. On Orkney, the Sandhill Crane was present in its usual stubble field after it left its roost early morning, before flying high south-west, out to sea. What followed was a remarkable day for two visiting birders, as they tracked the bird for forty miles over an hour and a half as it followed the east Highland coast down to Brora, before it was lost in cloud as it headed inland. A further independent sighting was made a few hours later just south of Tain.
-  Will Soar, RBA