Eastern Crowned Warbler....

23 October - A trip to South Shields for a first for Britain - after a short wait, a fantastic view of the Eastern Crowned Warbler in the scope as it was very obliging - quite a striking bird with a crown stripe, grey mantle,green upperparts, wing bar, whitish underparts with yellow undertail coverts, longish bill and vireo-like movements. A large crowd in attendance and quite a media star! Photos - upper, copyright Jim Lawrence - lower, copyright Dougie Holden.

Lesser Yellowlegs at Aberlady Bay

17 October - a quick look at Aberlady en route to climbing Schiehallion, and the Lesser Yellowlegs was showing well in its usual spot, on the river by the car park - an elegant bird, long-legged and with a fine, straight bill. It was loosely associating with Redshanks. Now in winter plumage, with very little streaking and rather pale underparts (upper photo, copyright Brendan Doe - lower photo, copyright Chris Thomas). The masses of Pink-footed Geese present were flying off in noisy groups, very evocative in the low sunlight. Curlew, Lapwing and Golden Plover were also seen on the estuary.
The Schiehallion area north of Perth looked stunning in the autumn sunlight - birds included a couple of groups of Crossbills calling in flight, and several Red Grouse calling and seen in flight on the lower slopes of the mountain. One Twite flew over calling.

Azorean Yellow-legged Gull....

16 October - a poor flight view of the Azorean Yellow-legged Gull near Appleford, with a heavy dark head mask and distinctive primary tips and bill shape.

Brown Shrike at Stanwell Moor

15 October - an afternoon visit to Stanwell Moor, between the M25 and Heathrow, and good views of the first-winter Brown Shrike. Overall darker red-brown tones, longer tail, whitish underparts, pale-based bill and prominent mask. My second in the UK in 2 years (the previous bird being the adult at Flamborough). Photo, copyright Mike Lawrence.

Long-billed Dowitcher in Hampshire

11 October - a late afternoon visit to Ibsley Lakes in the Avon valley, and good views of the juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher found this afternoon. It was initially very close, then flew round calling, showing the white back, and then fed on a more distant island. Rufous crown, prominent eye stripe, yellow-green legs, medium size, v slight decurve towards the tip of the bill. The first in Hampshire for 21 years! Photo copyright Robert Chapman, Blashford lakes blog.

Steppe Grey Shrike at Lound

8 October - a morning visit to Lound in Notts to see the Steppe Grey Shrike, a first-winter, my second in the UK and showing very well in the sunshine. Overall rather pale, with a brownish wash in certain lights, a pale bill and indistinct mask. Quite a striking bird. Lower record shot, JM - upper 2 photos, copyright Tony Tomlinson.

Slimbridge

4 October - a quick look at Slimbridge before Lars Jonnson's lecture - a Grey Plover, 6 Curlews, 35 Redshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, 26 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Ruff, 3 Snipe and a Dunlin - most birds seen from the Zeiss hide. Dabbling duck numbers are also building up.

Glossy Ibis on the Levels

3 October - an afternoon trip down to the Somerset Levels - first stop Catcott, and after a short wait the 4 Glossy Ibis were seen preening and then flying down into the channel to feed. Noticeably pale on the head and neck, apparently indicating first winter birds, confirmed by rings seen during the current influx and traced to Spanish breeding colonies. Lower photo, copyright James Packer.
Then on to Meare Heath - the 2 Pec Sands from last week still present, another 1st winter Glossy Ibis seen here (upper photo, copyright Steve Carey), also a Cattle Egret - other waders included 5 Ruff, 12+ Snipe, a Ringed Plover and c100 Lapwings. The Great White Egret still eludes me!