Thursday 3rd October 2019
	The highlight of the day was news of a Black-and-white Warbler on the Isles of Scilly on St Martin's where yesterday it had been photographed and momentarily caught in netting but today it was only glimpsed once. Elsewhere on that archipelago Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Melodious Warbler and Dotterel were all on St Mary's, with Short-toed Lark, Ortolan Bunting, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Corncrake and two Lapland Buntings around the islands. On the Shetland Isles two Olive-backed Pipits, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Greenish Warbler and Bee-eater were all on Mainland, Dusky Warbler and Red-flanked Bluetail were both on Unst (although the latter died), with around island totals of Little Bunting, Short-toed Lark, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Waxwing, two each of Red-backed Shrike and Lapland Bunting, and six Barred Warblers. Elsewhere, an adult male Red-flanked Bluetail was new in Cleveland at Brotton, whilst lingering rarities confirmed as still present were Red-eyed Vireo in Cornwall, Booted Warbler in East Yorkshire, Pacific Golden Plover and Greenish Warbler together in Northumberland, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on the Orkney Isles, Long-billed Dowitchers in both Devon and West Yorkshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Ayrshire and Black-winged Stilt in Berkshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA