Sunday 25th August 2013
	Exceptional birding today along the coast between Kent and the Shetland Isles, where highlights included a Western Bonelli's Warbler in Norfolk at Happisburgh, a brief Black-headed Bunting in Aberdeenshire at Girdle Ness, an Ortolan Bunting in East Yorkshire at Buckton, a Booted Warbler still on the Shetland Isles, and 21 Greenish Warblers located, including six each in Aberdeenshire and the Shetland Isles, and two each in East Yorkshire, Norfolk, Northumberland and Suffolk. Associated scarce migrants comprised 88 Wrynecks (including 27 at Spurn, East Yorkshire), 29 Icterine Warblers, 10 Red-backed Shrikes, nine Barred Warblers (five on the Shetland Isles), eight Common Rosefinches, and single Short-toed Lark, Bluethroat and Marsh Warbler. Nearctic waders comprised a Baird's Sandpiper in County Donegal at Blanket Nook, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cornwall at Wadebridge, White-rumped Sandpiper on the Isles of Scilly, Lesser Yellowlegs in both Carmarthenshire and County Wexford, two Buff-breasted Sandpipers and three Pectoral Sandpipers. Other rarities reported were a flyby Franklin's Gull in Lincolnshire at Freiston Shore, a Glossy Ibis new in Somerset at Shapwick Heath, Snowy Owl still in County Donegal, seven Two-barred Crossbills together in South Yorkshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Lancashire, White-winged Black Terns in both Essex and County Louth, and Citrine Wagtails in Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and County Wexford (2).
-  Chris Batty, RBA