Thursday 23rd October 2014
	An outstanding day for Nearctic landbirds was headlined by a Black-billed Cuckoo on North Ronaldsay, Orkney Isles - the first anywhere in the British Isles since 10th October 1990. Only seen briefly, with attempts to relocate it revealing a Grey-cheeked Thrush. Meanwhile, in Cornwall a Yellow-billed Cuckoo showed for most of the day at Porthgwarra, whilst on the Western Isles a Chimney Swift arrived at the Butt of Lewis, a Grey-cheeked Thrush was found on Barra, and the Hermit Thrush remained on North Uist. Other rarities comprised the Booted Warbler still in Lothian, Siberian Stonechat in Hampshire, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler and two Little Buntings on the Shetland Isles, Spotted Sandpiper in Aberdeenshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall, King Eider in Highland, a Lesser Scaup in Argyll, and an Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in County Kerry. On the Isles of Scilly Ortolan Bunting, Rose-coloured Starling, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Corncrake and two American Wigeons were logged, with in Cornwall American Golden Plover, Rose-coloured Starling and Wryneck beinge seen, White-winged Black Tern and Red-breasted Flycatcher remained in East Sussex, single Surf Scoters were in both Lothian and Norfolk, Barred Warbler in Fife and Red-backed Shrike in Suffolk.
-  Chris Batty, RBA