Wednesday 19th October 2011
	There's little doubt as to what the highlight of the day was, for a male Siberian Rubythroat must be near the top of most birders' desires. This stunning bird was watched late afternoon and early evening at Gulberwick, Mainland Shetland, and joins Siberian Blue Robin and Rufous-tailed Robin on this autumn's extraordinary list of eastern vagrants. Lesser discoveries today included a Red-eyed Vireo at Mizen Head, County Cork, Long-billed Dowitcher at Tacumshin, County Wexford, Glossy Ibis at Bintree Mill, Norfolk and American Golden Plover at Truska Marsh, County Galway. Lingering rarities included Northern Waterthrush, Upland Sandpiper, two Olive-backed Pipits, Red-throated Pipit and Lesser Yellowlegs on the Isles of Scilly, Upland Sandpiper in County Mayo, Northern Harrier, Baird's Sandpiper, at least three Semipalmated Sandpipers and two Glossy Ibises in County Wexford, Red-flanked Bluetail in County Durham, Red-breasted Goose in Dorset, Blue-winged Teal in County Clare, Lesser Scaup in Northumberland, two Long-billed Dowitchers in Somerset, White-rumped Sandpiper in Leicestershire, Spotted Sandpiper in Devon and Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall.
-  Will Soar, RBA