Wednesday 20th September 2023
	Today was an unprecedented day for North American landbirds with utmost quality amongst the six individuals discovered. In Pembrokeshire a Magnolia Warbler at St Govan's Head and a tyrant flyatcher species - probably an Alder Flycatcher - on Skokholm were both firsts for Wales, in County Kerry the first Irish Blackburnian Warbler was on Skellig Michael with the second Irish Cliff Swallow in County Clare at Kilbaha, a further Cliff Swallow was new on the Isles of Scilly on St Mary's, along with the Cliff Swallow found yesterday still present in Kent at North Foreland, and in Devon a Red-eyed Vireo arrived on Lundy. There have now been 10 Nearctic landbirds of seven species located in Britain and Ireland so far this this month. Discoveries elsewhere included a Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler on the Shetland Isles on Foula, a Baird's Sandpiper on the Wirral at Hoylake, a Fea's Petrel species in County Kerry passing Brandon Point, Blue-winged Teal in Lincolnshire at Frampton Marsh, Lesser Yellowlegs in Pembrokeshire on Skokholm briefly, Greenish Warbler on the Orkney Isles on North Ronaldsay, and at least two Wilson's Petrels seen from land in Cornwall. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Brown Booby in Cleveland, Black-headed Bunting in County Waterford, Western Bonelli's Warbler in County Cork, Pallid Harrier in Essex, Red-flanked Bluetail in East Yorkshire, Red-footed Falcon in Northumberland, Semipalmated Sandpipers in both County Cork and the Western Isles, Long-billed Dowitchers in County Cork and Norfolk, Blyth's Reed Warblers on Orkney and Shetland, King Eider in Lothian, Bonaparte's Gull in County Down, and Lesser Yellowlegs in County Cork, County Donegal, and Lincolnshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA