Thursday 28th September 2017
	Today's most significant news related to a Sykes's Warbler at Skirza (Highland), the first record of mainland Scotland; having first been seen briefly on Tuesday, the bird finally gave itself up this afternoon, although it remained elusive. Elsewhere in Scotland a Paddyfield Warbler arrived at St Abb's Head (Borders) and the Lesser Yellowlegs lingered in Angus. In Co Durham the Scops Owl was relocated roosting at Ryhope, whilst rarity sightings elsewhere comprised Red-throated Pipit (Suffolk), Bee-eaters (Isles of Scilly), Long-billed Dowitchers (Kent and Lincolnshire), Olive-backed Pipit (Fife), two Arctic Warblers (East Yorkshire), Stilt Sandpiper (Dorset), Spotted Sandpipers (Dorset and Cornwall), Eastern Stonechat (Cornwall) and Semipalmated Sandpiper (Co Cork). The best of the rest included Richard's Pipit (Suffolk), American Wigeon (Leicestershire), Rose-coloured Starling (East Yorkshire), White-winged Black Tern (Northumberland), Melodious Warbler (Pembrokeshire), Icterine Warbler (Co Wexford), two each of Red-backed Shrike, Spotted Crake, Dotterel and Common Rosefinch, three Great Grey Shrikes, four each of Little Bunting and American Golden Plovers, five Wrynecks and seven Barred Warblers and eight Red-breasted Flycatchers.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA