Friday 4th November 2016
	An exciting day with two mega rarities discovered on the English mainland in the late afternoon: an Eyebrowed Thrush in Northumberland at Bolam Lake, and a Cliff Swallow in Suffolk at Minsmere. Other new rarities comprised a Pallid Harrier identified at Buckton, East Yorkshire, a Dusky Warbler in Devon at Broadsands, and the Forster's Tern returned to Nimmo's Pier, County Galway. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Isabelline Wheatear in Norfolk, two Eastern Black Redstarts in Cleveland, Western Purple Swamphen in Lincolnshire, Dalmatian Pelican and Hudsonian Whimbrel in Cornwall, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset and Somerset, Ferruginous Duck in Hertfordshire, and Richardson's Cackling Goose in County Sligo. Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starling (Norfolk), Red-breasted Flycatcher (Dorset), Little Bunting (Western Isles), American Golden Plover (Cornwall) and Surf Scoter (Lothian and Shetland Isles). Waxwing aggregations included 120 in Norfolk, 105 in Lothian, 30 in the Borders, 24 on the Western Isles, 24 in Cleveland, 15 in Kent and 13 in Forth.
-  Chris Batty, RBA