Friday 7th October 2022
	The first Least Bittern for Britain was discovered in Shetland mid afternoon, in Scousburgh Sands car park. It soon moved into nearby grass, where it remained until early evening at which point it was deemed too weak to survive without assistance, and was taken into care. Nearby, at Bigton, a second Myrtle Warbler was found (by the same birder) a few hundred yards from the lingering bird. New Olive-backed Pipits were at Brae and on Fair Isle, whilst lingering rarities in the archipelago included the Eastern Stonechat species, another Olive-backed Pipit, three Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls, probable Homeyer's Great Grey Shrike and the King Eider. New discoveries elsewhere included a Swainson's Thrush on The Mullet, County Mayo, an American Buff-bellied Pipit and three Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls on North Ronaldsay and a Pallid Harrier near Wideford, Mainland, Orkney, a Baird's Sandpiper and a Dowitcher species at Kilmore, County Kerry, a Spotted Sandpiper and a Blyth's Reed Warbler in Western Isles (the former on St Kilda, the latter on Lewis), two Lesser Yellowlegs on the Hayle Estuary, Cornwall and a Wilson's Petrel flew past Bridges of Ross, County Clare. Other lingering rarities seen today included the Swainson's Thrush and Greenish Warbler in Scilly, Kentish Plover in Somerset, Lesser Yellowlegs in Cleveland, Black Scoter in Northumberland and Red-footed Falcon in Kent.
-  Will Soar, RBA