Thursday 7th September 2017
	The highlight of the day, and the autumn so far, was an American Redstart discovered on Barra at Eoligarry - the same site that last year hosted the first British record of Eastern Kingbird. This is the sixth British record and the first here since 1985. Canadian waders today comprised Semipalmated Sandpipers on the Isles of Scilly, in County Kerry (2) and County Wexford, single Baird's Sandpipers in both Cornwall and County Wexford, Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent, White-rumped Sandpiper in Lincolnshire, Buff-breasted Sandpipers in both County Wexford and the Shetland Isles, and a total of nine Pectoral Sandpipers. The only other rarity was an Arctic Warbler on North Ronaldsay, Orkney Isles, but scarcities included Woodchat Shrike (Somerset), Bluethroat and Common Rosefinch (both Shetland Isles), Purple Heron (Lancashire), Spotted Crake (Isles of Scilly), two each of both Hoopoe and Glossy Ibis, three of Barred Warbler, Red-backed Shrike and Lapland Bunting, and seven Wrynecks. Seabirds included a Wilson's Petrel at sea off the Isles of Scilly, and totals of four Sabine's Gulls, 73 Cory's Shearwaters and 128 Great Shearwaters.
-  Chris Batty, RBA