Tuesday 3rd October 2017
	A red-letter day for Nearctic landbirds was headlined by the arrival of a Cedar Waxwing on the Isles of Scilly on St Agnes. Nearby the Cliff Swallow transferred from Tresco to St Mary's where the Isabelline Wheatear remained with elsewhere around the islands Pectoral Sandpiper, Lapland Bunting, two Wrynecks and three Bee-eaters. Meanwhile in Ireland a Red-eyed Vireo discovered at Mizen Head, County Cork was surpassed by a Scarlet Tanager found at the same place late in the afternoon. On the Shetland Isles more Parrot Crossbills arrived with 19 individuals present in four flocks including eight on Mainland at Sand. The Red-throated Pipit lingered on Unst as did the two Isabelline Shrike species on Foula with around archipelago totals of American Golden Plover, Bluethroat, Great Grey Shrike, Lapland Bunting, two Olive-backed Pipits, four Red-breasted Flycatchers and six Little Buntings. Rarities elsewhere comprised the Scops Owl showing again in County Durham at Ryhope with a brief Arctic Warbler at nearby Whitburn, a Wilson's Phalarope joined the Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent at Oare, the Roller remained in Highland as did both Stilt Sandpiper and Spotted Sandpiper in Dorset.
-  Chris Batty, RBA