Sunday 2nd October 2011
	The wandering adult Sandhill Crane arrived in East Anglia today, choosing Suffolk to call home for the day. Initially seen over Kessingland late morning, it spent a few minutes at North Warren RSPB, before frustrating those en-route by flying off south. Thankfully, it was relocated nearby, and was still present at dusk at Boyton Marshes RSPB. Further north, the first Solitary Sandpiper for north-west England was discovered near Garstang by an RBA team member. This bird also remained in-situ until dusk. Other discoveries today were headlined by an Isabelline Shrike in Shetland, which proved popular with the ever increasing numbers of birders on the archipelago. At least two Olive-backed Pipits were also new in Shetland, with other arrivals including a Red-eyed Vireo, a Subalpine Warbler and two Glossy Ibises in County Cork, a Long-billed Dowitcher in Moray, a Pallid Swift in Yorkshire, single Little Buntings in Scilly and Western Isles, Tawny Pipit in Cornwall and two White-rumped Sandpipers in County Kerry. Other rarity highlights today included the Semipalmated Plover and Least Sandpiper in County Kerry, Northern Waterthrush in Scilly, American Black Tern in Lincolnshire, Black-headed Bunting, Alpine Swift and Citrine Wagtail in Shetland, single Long-billed Dowitchers in Lincolnshire, Carmarthenshire and Clyde and also seven Glossy Ibises, seven Semipalmated Sandpipers, four Lesser Yellowlegs, four Pallid Harriers and two Spotted Sandpipers.
-  Will Soar, RBA