Tuesday 8th October 2019
	Breaking news from County Kerry today of a Least Bittern found yesterday at Farranfore although moribund and it soon died it is the first Irish record of this species. Elsewhere in Ireland in County Antrim the Common Nighthawk showed well all day at Galgorm (were it has reportedly been present for two weeks) as did the nearby King Eider, in County Wicklow a Chimney Swift flew over near Wicklow, the Baltimore Oriole remained in County Mayo on Achill Island, and in County Cork discoveries included Red-eyed Vireo at Firkeel and Semipalmated Sandpiper at The Gearagh. On the Isles of Scilly a Red-eyed Vireo was discovered on St Mary's where the Blue-winged Teal was was relocated and Blue Rock Thrush remained along with Dotterel, Red-backed Shrike and Wryneck, with a Short-toed Lark on Tresco and Red-backed Shrike on Bryher. On the Shetland Isles on Out Skerries the Isabelline Wheatear continued, on Unst an Eastern Stonechat species, Pallas's Warbler and two Coues's Arctic Redpolls were logged, on Mainland there was an Eastern Stonechat species, Olive-backed Pipit and Short-toed Lark, on Bressay a Coues's Arctic Redpoll with around island totals of American Golden Plover, Bluethroat, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Pectoral Sandpiper, Great Grey Shrike, two Little Buntings and three Waxwings. Rarities elsewhere comprised a Red-eyed Vireo still in Cornwall, Snowy Owl and Subalpine Warbler species on the Western Isles, American Black Tern still in Dorset, Blyth's Reed Warbler new in Lothian at Barns Ness, Greenish Warbler in Northumberland, Dusky Warbler in Norfolk, Kentish Plover in Merseyside, Blue-winged Teal in Clyde, and Black-winged Stilt in Berkshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA