Monday 14th May 2018
	An exceptional day for the Shetland Isles with three mega rarities discovered during the afternoon and evening. First to be found was the seventh British record of Marmora's Warbler on Unst at Baliasta that was quickly followed by the seventh British record of Black-faced Bunting at Norwick, just four miles away. Later in the evening the eleventh British record of Crag Martin was located on Fair Isle. Additional notables around the Shetland Isles today included Red-breasted Flycatcher, Marsh Warbler, two Red-backed Shrikes and a total of six Bluethroats. Elsewhere new rarities comprised a Rustic Bunting on the Farne Islands, Northumberland, two Bee-eaters briefly in East Yorkshire at Spurn and fly-over Black Kites in both Pembrokeshire and Suffolk, whilst lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Laughing Gull on the Isles of Scilly, Semipalmated Sandpiper on the Western Isles, Iberian Chiffchaff on the Wirral and Savi's Warbler in Norfolk. Further scarcities included Red-spotted Bluethroat (Dorset), Red-breasted Flycatcher and Red-backed Shrike (both East Yorkshire), Kentish Plover (Essex), Ring-necked Duck (Western Isles), four Glossy Ibises and five migrant Dotterel.
-  Chris Batty, RBA