Thursday 22nd October 2015
	New discoveries comprised an Arctic Warbler in Co Mayo and a White-rumped Sandpiper in Co Kerry, whilst Siberian Stonechat (Norfolk), Blyth's and Olive-backed Pipits (Isles of Scilly), Lesser Scaup (Glamorgan), Ferruginous Duck and Long-billed Dowitcher (Hampshire), Pallid Harrier (Co Mayo), American Herring Gull (Cornwall), Gull-billed Tern (Co Kerry), Richardson's Cackling Geese (Argyll) and Northern Harrier (Orkney) all lingered. The best of the rest included Short-toed Lark, Common Rosefinch and Ortolan Bunting (Isles of Scilly), Shorelark (Suffolk), Red-backed Shrike (Co Cork), Temminck's Stint (Somerset), Pallas's Warbler (North Yorkshire), two American Golden Plovers, two Rose-coloured Starlings, seven Richard's Pipits and at least 21 Great Grey Shrikes. Significant late news concerns potentially the first Chestnut Bunting for Britain, present on Papa Westray, Orkney Isles on 19th-20th October, but unfortunately not identified until after it had departed. There are nine accepted records in the Western Palearctic: in the Netherlands in 1937, Norway 1974 and 2010, Malta 1983, Slovenia 1987, Finland 2002, France 2009 and 2014, and Hungary 2011. All of these records fell between 24th September and 12th November, with six in October. Chestnut Bunting is currently only on Category E of the British List, with eight rejected records of presumed escapes; on Foula (Shetland Isles) on 9th-13th June 1974, Isle of May (Fife) 11th June 1985, Fair Isle (Shetland) 15th-16th June 1986, Bardsey Island (Gwynedd) 18th-19th June 1986, Out Skerries (Shetland Isles) 2nd-5th September 1994, Salthouse (Norfolk) 30th May-1st June 1998, Whitburn (County Durham) 17th-20th May 2000, and Fair Isle (Shetland) 4th-7th September 2002.
-  Stuart Piner and Chris Batty, RBA