Sunday 8th October 2017
	The highlight of the day, and probably of the year, was the discovery of an adult male Siberian Blue Robin on North Ronaldsay, Orkney. Initially found inside a building, it was caught and processed for ringing, before being released into a crop field, where there was no further sign of it by dusk. This is the fourth record for Britain, but the second for North Ronaldsay, following a first-winter male on 2nd October 2001. Further north, the sixth White-crowned Sparrow for Britain was found on Foula, Shetland, with a Pechora Pipit and Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll also new in on the island, and a Thrush Nightingale, Eastern Stonechat, Coues's Arctic Redpoll, Blyth's Reed Warbler and a Radde's Warbler discovered elsewhere in the archipelago. Nearby, a Red-eyed Vireo was in Deerness and a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll was on North Ronaldsay, both Orkney, and, further south, an Olive-backed Pipit and Arctic Warbler were at Spurn, a Richardson's Cackling Goose was at Budle Bay, Northumberland and a White-billed Diver flew past Blakeney, Norfolk. Lingering rarities included the Cedar Waxwing and Isabelline Wheatear in Scilly, Blackpoll Warbler in County Mayo, Red-eyed Vireos in County Galway and County Cork, Isabelline Shrike, two Red-throated Pipits, Rustic Bunting, Red-flanked Bluetail and two Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls in Shetland, Stilt Sandpiper in Dorset, Wilson's Phalarope and Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent, further Long-billed Dowitchers in Lincolnshire and County Wexford (two), single Lesser Yellowlegs' in Dorset, County Wexford and County Galway, White-rumped Sandpiper in Western Isles, Spotted Sandpiper in Dorset, Spotted Sandpiper and Pallid Harrier in County Cork and Forster's Tern in County Louth.
-  Will Soar, RBA