Friday 20th October 2023
	An Eastern Olivaceous Warbler was discovered at Skibberhoull, Whalsay, Shetland this afternoon, and a Great Snipe was seen briefly at Gunton, Suffolk. Other new rarities today included a Pied Wheatear at Montrose, Angus, a Grey-cheeked Thrush on Inishbofin, County Galway, a Gull-billed Tern off Seasalter, Kent and a Coues's Arctic Redpoll at Houbie, Fetlar, Shetland. Lingering rarities included the Yellow Warbler in Shetland, Black-and-white Warbler in County Galway, Lesser Grey Shrike and Red-breasted Goose in Argyll, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Cork, Long-billed Dowitcher in Sussex, single Pallid Harriers in Dorset and Devon and Blue-winged Teal in Yorkshire. Seawatching on the Scottish east coast and north-east England provided much of the news today. Around 128 Leach's Petrels were reported, including high counts of at least 70 off South Queensferry, Lothian and ten off Isle of May, Fife, 215 Storm Petrels, including 58 off Fisherrow, Lothian and 42 off Kinghorn and 27 off Isle of May, both Fife and 70 Grey Phalaropes, including 21 off South Queensferry, Lothian and ten at Newbiggin, Northumberlan, along with 48 Little Auks, two Sabine's Gulls, 23 Long-tailed Skuas, 53 Pomarine Skuas, whilst in Scilly at least 377 Cory's Shearwaters and 48 Great Shearwaters were recorded. Other scarcity totals included a Red-breasted Flycatcher, a Barred Warbler, a Wryneck, two Richard's Pipits, two Northern Treecreepers, three Little Buntings, four Great Grey Shrikes, eight Lapland Buntings, 18 Yellow-browed Warblers, around 205 Waxwings, a Black-bellied Dipper, a Purple Heron, eight Glossy Ibises, a Rough-legged Buzzard, a Surf Scoter, two American Wigeon, three Ring-necked Ducks and two American Golden Plovers.
-  Will Soar, RBA