Sunday 13th October 2013
	Once again a superb day to be out on the east coast, but still without the outstanding mega headline bird. Highlights were single Red-flanked Bluetails at Crail, Fife and Happisburgh, Norfolk and a lovely male Pied Wheatear on Bardsey Island, Gwynedd (which was killed by a Sparrowhawk not long after its discovery). A small influx of Coues's Arctic Redpolls involved birds in Lincolnshire and Norfolk (at Theddlethorpe in the former, and at Morston [two], Warham Greens, Wells Woods and Blakeney Point in the latter), whilst Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls were at Port Nis, Western Isles and Mid Yell and Quendale, Shetland. A male Two-barred Crossbill was in Hemsted Forest, Kent, and the four Parrot Crossbills remained in Gunners Park, Essex. Radde's Warblers were seen at Andover, Hampshire, Chapel St Leonards, Lincolnshire and Buckton, Yorkshire, and Dusky Warblers were at Kilnsea, Yorkshire (two), Theddlethorpe, Lincolnshire and Fair Isle, Shetland. A Red-throated Pipit was recorded at Flamborough Head and three Little Buntings were at Spurn, both Yorkshire. The Bonaparte's Gull reappeared at Teignmouth, Devon, a Cackling Goose was at Malin Head, County Donegal and an Azorean Yellow-legged Gull was at The Gearagh, County Cork. Lingering rarity highlights included the Sora and Grey-cheeked Thrush on the Isles of Scilly, Wilson's Phalarope on Shetland, Laughing Gull on Orkney and Sardinian Warbler in Borders.
-  Will Soar, RBA