RBA Round-up: 23 - 29 Oct
Not one, but two named storms during the past week, one coming hot on the heels of another. For northern Scotland it didn’t really feel like there was a pause for breath between them. Alas nowhere in Britain or Ireland did they deliver a late running American passerine, but nobody was paying that absence much attention – Norfolk was commanding everyone’s gaze in recent days.
Eventually it had to happen. The straws had been blowing in the wind for weeks, though that wind maddeningly didn’t swing into the east and extend towards our shores for much of the preceding course of October. We finished last week’s Round Up suggesting our now deeply overdue Nutcracker may already have arrived in Britain, and was simply waiting to be stumbled upon… and as the week just gone began, this appeared to have been bang on the money.
News of a bird seen at Paston (Norfolk) on 21st was belated in coming to light, as was news of a bird (surely though not inevitably the same individual) present at nearby Mundesley for two hours on 23rd – news broke of the latter early in the morning of 24th. The tension wasn’t set to build much longer for, an hour or so later, the news came that the bird was still present at Mundesley. A great way to start a Saturday, though arguably somewhat inconvenient for those twitchers who’d headed north for the omnipresent Rufous-tailed Robin in East Yorkshire – more of which shortly.
A bird like a Nutcracker was always going to exert some rapid and profound gravitational pull – while the last century finished with a flurry of records of the species, since the turn of the century it’s been strictly off the menu for anyone wishing to see one in Britain. While there’ve been reports - Nutcracker is a perennial favourite of non-birders who’ve seen a ‘funny bird’ – none apart from a one-day bird in Highland & Caithness at Castletown on 10th November 2021 came to anything.
For our last vaguely twitchable bird, we need to go back to 1998 and the individual that interrupted a warm, sunny day of early autumn in Kent when it was found at Kingsdown on 6th September. For those of us of that birding generation who’d been unable to get to Stoke-on-Trent (Staffordshire) for the famous, long-staying and highly confiding bird that haunted Cocknage Wood on 14th October – 9th November 1991, this was all the excuse we needed to drop everything and hustle down to the Kent coast. While views were generally rather distant – at least, while I was there – it was, nonetheless, a bona fide Nutcracker. And one that, while seen again in Kent on 7th September 1998, was all set to be the last twitchable bird for decades to come.
And so to this week, and yet another mounting blocker for subsequent generations of birders that had fallen in the remarkable course of autumn 2026. The Mundesley bird proved to be generally a star, showing at times at point blank range, and doing its level best to denude Norfolk of drowsy, irritable autumn wasps throughout the week, still present and showing well to all-comers until first thing in the morning of 28th... after which point it wasn’t seen again, leading the more excitable elements of our tribe to speculate it had been shot by a local resident aggrieved at the ongoing attention it was bringing to the area.
And sure, there were reports of heightened tensions between locals and visiting birders, starting with some thoughtlessly parked cars during the week that blocked the road for the local bus, and some locals not being delighted at the daily presence of birders with optics and cameras outside their houses, all of which is completely understandable – come on, it really is - and Norfolk does have some previous when it comes to shooting birds*, but really? It seems like a pretty wild accusation that won’t do birder / non-birder relations any good whatsoever. Eventually every rare bird moves on, usually of its own volition, after all.
And whether the same bird or not, another sighting came from Norfolk on 29th, an individual seen heading southeast over Hempstead; while there was a report of a bird in Co.Antrim that morning too, at Dunseverick. Huge bird for Ireland should that firm up in the coming days…
https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/Little_Bustard_shot_in_Norfolk_Police_and_RSPB_appeal_for_information.aspx
*Apart from a tediously long litany of wildlife crimes perpetrated against birds of prey in the vicinity of shooting estates, Norfolk also has the dubious distinction of being where a Little Bustard was shot back in 2015, so there’s some form in this regard after all. And if raptor persecution, or people killing birds for ‘fun’ in England gets your dander up, now’s a good time to express your views to DEFRA. There’s an official call for evidence that expires this coming Sunday, 1 November. Do let them know your feelings.
https://consultations.defra.gov.uk/call-for-evidence-on-gamebird-release-shooting-and-welfare-during-rearing-in-england
Of all dates in the autumn rarity-finders’ calendar, October 23rd has become particularly freighted with significance over the past quarter century. A couple of notable British firsts owe themselves to the day – Siberian Blue Robin and Rufous-tailed Robin – and we can add two Siberian Rubythroat to that lustrous group chat too. And keeping it Sibe, we’ve Britain’s second Chestnut-eared Bunting too… and, just to spice things up with a little western zing, Britain’s second Cape May Warbler.
While not all of the above roll call owe themselves to the northern isles, a lot of them do. Mainly, Shetland, to be fair. But this week it was Orkney’s turn to shine, and it did so with some style when, on 23rd, a cracking male Dusky Thrush was found by North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory’s warden, George Gay, on his birthday. As birthday presents go, this was a pretty good one…
The magical 23rd strikes again! This Dusky Thrush pitched up on dyke about 4ft from me and gave me a bit of a shock! What a stonking bird! Not a bad birthday present either! #OrkneyBirding
— George Gay (@georgenorthron.bsky.social) 24 October 2026 at 02:03
[image or embed]
With just 17 accepted British records to date, Dusky Thrush remains a rarity of some heft – and, from an Orcadian perspective, even more so for this was the first record for Orkney. The bird went missing after 23rd but that wasn’t the end of the story – North Ron, as anyone who’s birded it can attest, isn’t short of cover for a bird to lose itself in, and on 26th the thrush of the moment was relocated on the island.
Great fun relocating the DuskyThrush on North Ronaldsay this morning. https://t.co/yYUNn15Q4C
— John Gale (@JohnGale8) October 26, 2026
While not new in this week, a rarity of the calibre of the first-winter Chestnut Bunting found on Unst (Shetland) during the preceding week cannot reasonably be supplanted from the headlines, not least when during the last week it was still attracting admirers from the south of England to make the journey north to pay their due respects, and remained present in its favoured area of the island until 29th.
The bird appears very settled around the farm buildings at Buness and, while it could at times prove elusive, on occasion observer patience would be duly rewarded when it showed outrageously well.
Speaking of birds that required a modicum of patience, few rarities of recent years have caused some observers to rack up quite so many fruitless hours of waiting for a glimpse as the Rufous-tailed Robin that stayed put, quite unbelievably given the species’ track record in Britain, at Flamborough (East Yorkshire) this week on 23rd-27th.
And again, patience was a virtue where this bird was concerned – in the course of the week some photos stood testament to the hours put in by wannabe observers, and a dash of good fortune when the bird truly gave itself up.
Star of the seabirds this week was the magnificent adult Pacific Diver still present at Crookhaven (Co.Cork) on 23rd-28th; another probable was reported from Cornwall’s Gerrans Bay on 27th; and an adult seen on 29th at Derrynameel (Co.Mayo).
A probable White-billed Diver was logged passing Newbiggin Point (Northumberland) on 23rd.
Numbers of Little Auk picked up a little, with some 30 birds noted over the course of the week, and a single site high of eight birds noted passing Bridges of Ross (Co.Clare) on 27th.
Again this past week a mere dozen Balearic Shearwater were seen across the region. Large shearwaters continued their fade into total absence, with solitary Great Shearwater seen at Brandon Point (Co.Kerry) on 27th, and Cory’s Shearwater at Llandudno (Conwy) on 23rd.
On the other hand, Leach’s Petrel continued to be recorded in some volume – around 75 were logged nationwide during the week.
And last of all, skuas – numbers of both the scarcer species plummeted, with around 35 Pomarine Skua and barely double figures of Long-tailed Skua seen around Britain and Ireland in recent days.
With no notable long-legged beasties, we move straight into the short stuff. On Scilly, the juvenile Sora remained present on St Mary’s on 23rd-29th. And that is all.
The honkers and quackers kept things more varied and interesting, as we expect at this juncture. We’ll start with Ross’s Goose and, this week, both recent birds remained in their respective areas – one still in Highland & Caithness around Dingwall Bay on 23rd-28th and on the Conon Estuary again on 27th; and the other in Lancashire & North Merseyside at Pilling Lane Ends again on 23rd.
A Snow Goose was seen in Northumberland at Budle Bay on 24th, and another again on Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 24th and 29th.
Islay also pulled in a Red-breasted Goose once more on 22nd-28th.
A Black Brant was seen in Norfolk at Cley NWT on 28th.
A little over half a dozen American Wigeon were seen during the week, with several now familiar faces represented again – birds at Newshot Island (Clyde) still on 24th; Old Moor RSPB (South Yorkshire) on 24th-29th; on Orkney at Loch of Ayre still on 29th; and at Bishop Middleham (Co.Durham) on 23rd-29th; while on Anglesey one settled on Dulas Estuary on 25th-29th. Further birds this week were found at Banks Marsh NNR (Lancashire & North Merseyside) on 23rd; Mid-Fearn Mere (Highland & Caithness) on 23rd; and at Cley NWT (Norfolk) on 25th. On 28th a further flurry – one still in Shetland at Loch of Spiggie; and one in Cornwall at Walmsley Sanctuary CBWPS, the latter being seen on 29th at Dinham Flats.
A Green-winged Teal was present at Chew Valley Lake (Somerset) on 25th-27th.
Cambridgeshire this week gave us female Ferruginous Duck at Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB on 24th, and Earith GPs on 25th; while a drake was again seen at Wilston Reservoir (Hertfordshire) on 23rd; the drake again in Norfolk on Filby Broad on 28th; and a first-winter drake on Abberton Reservoir (Essex) again on 29th.
Numbers of Ring-necked Duck climbed a little this week, with just under 20 birds logged – doubtless they will be joined by plenty more in Britain and Ireland in the next month or two. This week single birds were seen at Loch Eye (Highland & Caithness) still on 23rd-26th, and Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 25th; on Lewis (Western Isles) on 23rd; on Tiree (Argyll & Bute) on 28th; at Martin Mere WWT (Lancashire & North Merseyside) on 23rd-29th still; at Clifton Pits (Worcestershire) on 27th-29th again; at Titchmarsh LNR (Northamptonshire) on 24th still; at Filby Broad (Norfolk) again on 24th and 28th, and Rollesby Broad on 28th; at Rescobie Loch (Angus) on 28th; at Lisselan (Co.Waterford) on 25th; on Colgagh Lough (Co.Sligo) on 26th-27th; at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 26th; on Lough Ennell (Co.Westmeath) on 26th; and on 28th at Cloghaun Lough (Co.Clare) and outside Cashel (Co.Tipperary); on 28th at Lough Yganavan (Co.Kerry) where two birds were present; and on 29th near Limerick (Co.Limerick).
The recent drake White-winged Scoter remained in Lunan Bay (Angus) on 26th-28th, with a second drake again there on 28th; and a drake was seen off Gullane Point (Lothian) on 29th.
Drake Surf Scoter remained off Old Colwyn (Conwy) on 26th-27th; one off Roseisle (Moray) on 24th-29th; another seen from East Chevington NWT (Northumberland) on 28th, followed by a bird on the sea off Druridge Pools NR on 29th; and a possible juvenile in Scilly off St Mary’s on 25th followed by a confirmed bird off Tresco on 29th.
Sightings of female King Eider in Shetland this week came from Lerwick harbour again on 24th and 28th, and off Gutcher on Yell on 25th.
Suddenly, much slimmer pickings on the weekly wader front. That is, apart from Grey Phalarope, which were again seen in their hundreds lately. Over 700 birds were noted around Britain and Ireland again this week, with a peak count of 229 from Bridges of Ross (Co.Clare) on 25th. A Red-necked Phalarope was reported from Elveden (Suffolk) on 28th.
Back on land, the putative Wilson’s Snipe remained on St Mary’s (Scilly) at Lower Moors on 24th.
Last week’s Lesser Yellowlegs remained at Holland Haven CP (Essex) on 23rd; another was found in Cornwall on 27th at Walmsley Sanctuary CBWPS; and an Irish bird at Rogerstown Estuary (Co.Dublin) on 26th.
In West Yorkshire the juvenile Spotted Sandpiper was still settled and happy at Nostell Priory on 23rd-29th.
We moved from feast to famine for White-rumped Sandpiper in recent days, with just five birds seen during the week – two present at Myroe Levels (Co.Derry) on 26th-28th; and singletons on South Uist (Western Isles) still on 24th, Montrose Basin (Angus) still on 27th-29th, and Smerwick Harbour (Co.Kerry) again on 28th-29th.
Just two Baird’s Sandpiper were noted lately – one on North Uist (Western Isles) still on 23rd-28th; and one in Essex at Abberton Reservoir on 27th-29th.
A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was once again seen at Siblyback Lake (Cornwall) on 29th.
And only four Pectoral Sandpiper provided further Nearctic sandpiper action – one still present at North Cave Wetlands YWT (East Yorkshire) on 23rd-25th; and additional birds seen at Aldeburgh Town Marshes (Suffolk) on 27th-28th, up on Fetlar (Shetland) on 23rd-24th, and at Blanket Nook (Co.Donegal) on 29th.
The recent paucity continued with American Golden Plover, with just three of their number seen during the week. One remained at Cemlyn Bay (Anglesey) on 23rd-29th; and further birds were seen on 26th-28th on the Ythan Estuary (Aberdeenshire), and on 26th at Myroe Levels (Co.Derry).
Around 40 Sabine’s Gull were quite a drop on the previous week’s tally of just shy of 100 birds, but still represented a good haul for Britain and Ireland as a whole.
A first-winter Bonaparte’s Gull was seen in Co.Clare at Coolsiva Pier on 25th, and an adult at Ferryden (Angus) on 29th.
A second-winter Ring-billed Gull was seen in Co.Fermanagh at Enniskillen on 23rd, while another was reported from the ferry in Belfast Lough (Co.Antrim) on 27th.
On Orkney the regular Glaucous Gull was again seen on Mainland at Stenness on 26th, while further sightings this week came from Barra (Western Isles) on 25th and 27th, Tory Island (Co.Donegal) on 28th, and reported from Benbecula (Western Isles) on 29th.
An Iceland Gull was seen on South Uist (Western Isles) on 26th.
Finally, in Ireland sightings of the recent juvenile surinamensis American Black Tern came from Blackrock and Dun Laoghaire (Co.Dublin) on 23rd-27th.
In Wales the adult female Pallid Harrier was still to be seen at Llanrhidian Marsh (Glamorgan) on 23rd-26th and once more on 29th, and National Wetlands Centre WWT (Carmarthenshire) again on 27th-28th. Another female was found in Kent on 28th at Pegwell Bay.
A probable Black Kite was seen on 28th at Bangor (Gwynedd).
Like a very lovely hangover, a handful of rare wheatears lingered into the week just gone, and continued to delight their pilgrims. An Isabelline Wheatear remained at Donna Nook (Lincolnshire) on 23rd-25th, with further sightings coming from Redcar (Cleveland) on 23rd-24th, and Sandilands (Lincolnshire) on 24th.
The first-winter male Desert Wheatear remained in Norfolk at Cley on 23rd-27th, while the first-winter female was still in Co.Durham at Whitburn on 23rd-25th.
The recent Siberian Stonechat sp, thought probably to be a form maurus, was still present on St Abb’s Head (Borders) on 24th; and another was seen on 25th at Sennen (Cornwall).
The recent Red-flanked Bluetail remained at Swining on Shetland Mainland on 23rd-29th; and another was found on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 24th.
Just five Bluethroat were seen during the week, all of them in Scotland – in Shetland at Hillwell on 24th-26th and Fair Isle on 27th; on Orkney on Westray on 23rd-26th, and North Ronaldsay on 24th; and on Isle of May (Fife) on 24th.
Shetland landed Red-breasted Flycatcher on Mainland at Skellister and Hillwell on 23rd; while a fine adult male was found in Northumberland at Warkworth on 26th-29th; and one remained on Cape Clear (Co.Cork) on 28th-29th.
Numbers of Yellow-browed Warbler continued to slide, with barely 60 birds logged during the week. On the rise, however, were Hume’s Warbler - seven birds were seen during the week, Shetland enjoying a small fall of their kind – on Whalsay on 24th; trapped and ringed on Bressay on 25th; on Mainland at Levenwick on 25th-29th and Hoswick on 26th; and on Fetlar on 26th-29th. Away from Shetland, the week began with a bird in Kent still at South Foreland on 23rd-25th, and ended with one in Norfolk at Great Yarmouth Cemetery on 29th.
Three Pallas’s Warbler lingered into the week – at Balcomie (Fife) still on 23rd-24th; in East Yorkshire at Bempton Cliffs RSPB still on 23rd-29th; and at Scarborough (North Yorkshire) on 23rd-24th still. Additional birds were found at Bockhill (Kent) on 24th, on St Mary’s Island (Northumberland) on 24th also, and on 29th at The Naze (Essex).
An Arctic Warbler was present on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 25th.
A Radde’s Warbler was seen in Norfolk at Stiffkey on 24th and 27th, and another on Mizen Head (Co.Cork) on 29th. Norfolk’s Holkham Pines retained a Dusky Warbler on 23rd-29th, with two present there on 24th; additional birds were seen in recent days at Kilnsea (East Yorkshire) still on 23rd-24th; at Low Newton (Northumberland) on 23rd-27th still; near Wildford Bridge (Suffolk) on 23rd; trapped and ringed on Shetland Mainland at Swining on 27th; on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 28th; on Westray (Orkney) on 29th; and heard only at Warkworth (Northumberland) on 26th.
The Western Bonelli’s Warbler remained on Shetland Mainland at Frakkafield on 24th-25th.
A possible Paddyfield Warbler was seen on 24th at Whitburn CP (Co.Durham).
A late-running Melodious Warbler was found on North Uist (Western Isles) on 23rd.
Just five Barred Warbler showed up, a sure sign autumn migration was waning. They were birds seen at Spurn (East Yorkshire) still on 23rd-24th; on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 24th; on 25th-29th at Scalloway (Shetland); on 26th-28th at Nybster (Highland & Caithness); and at Whitburn (Co.Durham) on 28th-29th.
Two Zitting Cisticola remained in Suffolk at Walberswick on 29th.
The Isabelline Shrike sp, thought probably to be Daurian, remained at Out Newton (East Yorkshire) on 23rd-29th, Whitburn (Co.Durham) on 29th, and at Knockadoon Head (Co.Cork) on 25th.
Red-backed Shrike were far apart this week, one present on Whalsay (Shetland) on 23rd, and another down on Scilly on St Mary’s on 25th-28th.
A dozen Great Grey Shrike were seen during the week, including one back on the traditional wintering ground of Thursley Common (Surrey) on 25th-27th.
Late autumn Hoopoe added welcome colour – one remained at ALverstone on the Isle of Wight on 24th, having been present there for around a fortnight beforehand; and additional birds were found during the week at Quendale Mill and nearby Hillwell (Shetland) on 24th-26th; at Flamborough (East Yorkshire) on 24th-27th; at Southrepps (Norfolk) on 24th; on 28th at Macduff (Aberdeenshire) and Culver Down (Isle of Wight); and on 29th on Unst (Shetland).
A late Wryneck was on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 29th.
A dozen or so Waxwing were seen nationwide during the week, with a couple of sites enjoying small multiples – four at Flamborough (East Yorkshire) on 25th, and three on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 25th-26th.
The juvenile Rose-coloured Starling remained in Norfolk at Happisburgh on 23rd-29th.
A Short-toed Lark was also in Norfolk this week, found at Snettisham CP on 23rd.
Orkney landed another good thrush this week – either a Black-throated, or a Black-throated x Dusky Thrush hybrid, on Mainland at Finstown on 24th-25th.
A Red-throated Pipit was on Westray (Orkney) on 26th.
The week began with an Olive-backed Pipit on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 24th-28th; on 25th duos were found in Shetland in Lerwick, and on Scilly on Tresco; one flew over Flamborough (East Yorkshire) on 26th; another flyover bird was seen on 28th at Hastings CP (East Sussex); and a mobile probable was ranging St Mary’s (Scilly) on 27th.
On Shetland the recent Richard’s Pipit remained on Out Skerries on 24th; another was present at Flamborough (East Yorkshire) on 24th-27th; and a bird settled on Paulton Golf Course (Hampshire) on 27th-29th. A final bird was reported over Pendeen (Cornwall) on 29th.
Best pipit of the lot was the American Pipit still in Northamptonshire at Clifford Hill GPs on 23rd.
There was a small arrival of exilipes redpolls into Shetland this week, with at least 10 birds found across the isles. Away from there, one was also seen on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 23rd.
Just one Common Rosefinch was seen during the week, at Swining on Shetland Mainland on 25th.
A Serin was at Kilnsea (East Yorkshire) on 24th, and another on St Agnes (Scilly) on 28th was joined there by a second bird the following day.
Little Bunting were almost Shetland’s exclusive preserve this week – on Mainland at Sumburgh on 23rd, and Hillwell on 24th-26th; on Out Skerries still on 23rd-25th; and on Fair Isle on 26th-27th. The birds that broke the mould were both found on 29th – one trapped and ringed in Dorset at Chickerell, and one at sea off Scilly that paused a moment on board RV Cefas Endeavour before heading on north.
On St Agnes (Scilly) the Red-eyed Vireo was still to be seen on 23rd.
In Lancashire & North Merseyside the adult male Great-tailed Grackle remained at Garston Coastal Reserve on 27th-29th – singing at times, for good measure.
And in a final counterpoint to the week’s headlining corvid, in Co.Galway the Pied Crow remained near Galway on 25th.
Continuing to ignore the largesse of Nutcracker on the near continent – send some more of them this way, please – there was other tempting news coming out of the Netherlands this week. Of an owlish persuasion. Nobody would complain about a Tengmalm’s Owl like the one the Dutch enjoyed at Schiermonnikoog on 23rd-27th should one arrive in England any day soon… but that would be as nothing compared to the red carpet we’d roll out for a Hawk Owl - one was present in the Netherlands around Heerenveen on 24th-25th.
Fifth Northern Hawk Owl for the Netherlands and the first since the longstayer in 2013/14. Just a couple of days after the Tengmalm's Owl at Schiermonnikoog. Have the Lemmings run out up North? https://t.co/t8YXQRCUug https://t.co/pnPoVga3GQ
— Louis van Oort (@LouisvanOORT) October 24, 2026
In France an American Robin was found on Île de Sein on 24th.
Up on Faroe, a Blackpoll Warbler was found on Vágar on 25th.
In Poland a Siberian Accentor was found on 29th at Szczecin Bay.
Down to Spain next, where a Sociable Lapwing was present at Monzon on 29th.
In the east, a Pied Bushchat was seen in Israel on 27th-28th at Eilat.
And onwards to the Azores. On Pico a Belted Kingfisher remained present on 25th. And Corvo? Loads of stuff still. On 23rd alone, five Red-eyed Vireo, two Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a Blackpoll Warbler, and a Semipalmated Plover; on 23rd-24th, two Bobolink and a Northern Waterthrush; and on 24th a Northern Parula.
At last, a Nutcracker. We can stop banging on about their imminence now, and start to get comfortable for the early winter ahead. But first, the dying embers of autumn as say goodbye to a memorable October, and dust off a new November in the week ahead.
The coming week seems set to be dominated by a big dollop of high pressure, which will at the very least bring some respite from the wind and rain that’s beset some of us in recent days.
The last two days of October are no slouch for rare passerines, from either of the principle points of the compass – two historic Eastern Crowned Warbler stand testament to eastern promise, while four past Myrtle Warbler offer a ray of sunshine from the west. And then the first five days of November – they lead up to November 5th, but will they deliver birding fireworks?
They certainly have in the past. Co.Cork enjoyed a Grey Catbird back on 4th November 1986 on Cape Clear; while the east continues to deliver top drawer birds, the Masked Shrike on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 1st November 2006 being a case in point. What has 2026 in store for us?
Probably a Desert Wheatear or two. The coming week is a classic for them, with almost 20 accepted records on the books.
Jon Dunn
30 Oct 2026
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos.
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