UNDATED FIRST RECORDS FOR OCTOBER:

UNDATED FIRST RECORDS FOR OCTOBER:

Black-and-white Warbler - Mniotilta varia

The first record was of a juvenile male that was found dead at Vatster, Tingwall, Shetland in mid-October 1936. It is now held at The National Museums of Scotland.

A 1st winter male from Pool Lane, Tresco, Isles of Scilly - October 2020 - Paul Miller

Rock Bunting - Emberiza cia

Two birds were captured alive from of a mixed flock that included Chaffinch, Linnet and Yellowhammernear at Shoreham-by-Sea, W. Sussex at the end of October 1902. One of the individuals was preserved and placed in The Dyke Road Museum, Brighton.

Adult - Craig Brelsford

Marsh Sandpiper - Tringa stagnatilis

The individual 'obtained' at Tring Reservoirs, Hertfordshire in October 1887 and considered to be the first British record was later classified in some more modern reviews as unproven due to specimen or documentation uncertainties.

A juvenile from Musselburgh Lagoons, Lothian - September 2025 - Mark Wilkinson

Sora - Porzana carolina

The first officially recorded sighting (formerly Carolina Crake) in Britain was of an adult that was 'obtained' near the R. Kennet near Newbury, Berkshire in October 1864. The specimen was preserved and is currently held at The Natural History Museum, Tring, Hertfordshire.

A 1st winter from St Mary's, Isles of Scilly - September 2005 - Bryan Thomas

Sooty Tern - Onychoprion fuscatus

The October 1852 record 'obtained' on the R. Dove, near Tutbury, on the border between Staffordshire and Derbyshire marks the first documented occurrence of Sooty Tern in the UK.

From the Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire - August 2018 - Robert Dowley

Egyptian Vulture - Neophron percnopterus

Two immature birds, one of which was 'obtained' in October 1825, near the village of Kilve, overlooking Bridgwater Bay, Somerset.

Immature from Kota, Rajasthan, India - Sunil Singhal

Cattle Egret - Ardea ibis

An immature female was 'obtained' at South Allington, near Kingsbridge, Devon in late October 1805 and is now held at The Natural History Museum, Tring.

Breeding adult - Christoph Randler

Long-billed Dowitcher - Limnodromus scolopaceus

A 1st winter male was 'obtained at a coastal locality in Devon in October 1801 and is now held at The  Natural History Museum, Tring.

An adult from Exminster, Devon - February 2025 - Richard Tyler

* * * * * *

Every effort is made to use a photograph of the bird in question and the records listed above cover the period up to the end of 2024.

RECORDS FOR OCTOBER 2nd:

Details of the most recently accepted:

Alpine Swift    1960:    Somerset: Portishead.

American Pipit    2021:    Western Isles: Hirta, St Kilda.

Aquatic Warbler    1976:    Devon: Dawlish Warren.

Arctic Warbler    2012:    Shetland: Wester Lother, Fair Isle.

Baikal Teal    2010:    Essex: Chigborough Lakes, juvenile male.

Baikal Teal - Adrian Kettle

Baillon's Crake    1912:    Yorkshire: East Harsley, near Northallerton.

Baird's Sandpiper    2016:    Cornwall: Davidstow Airfield, juvenile.

Baltimore Oriole    1958:    Devon: Lundy, immature female.

Belted Kingfisher    1979:    Cornwall: Sladesbridge, 1st winter male.

Black Kite    1990:    Cornwall: Buryas Bridge.

Black-and-white Warbler    2019:    Isles of Scilly: Vineyard, St Martin's, 1st winter male/ adult female.

Black-headed Bunting    1988:    Gwynedd: Bardsey, male.

Blackpoll Warbler    1984:    Isles of Scilly: St Agnes.

Black-throated Thrush    2010:    Highland: Melvich, adult female.

Black-winged Pratincole    1992:    Cornwall: Davidstow Airfield, 1st winter.

Blyth's Pipit    2015:    Norfolk: Stiffkey, 1st winter.

Blyth's Reed Warbler    2009:    Shetland: Lower Voe, 1st winter.

Bonaparte's Gull    2000:    Angus: Lunan Bay, adult.

Booted Warbler    2003:    County Durham: Whitburn.

Canada Goose    2019:    Lothian: Aberlady Bay, adult.

Citrine Wagtail    2010:    Shetland: Out Skerries, 1st winter.

Cliff Swallow    2017:    Isles of Scilly: Great Pool, Tresco, juvenile.

Cliff Swallow - Ian Williams

Common Yellowthroat    1984:    Isles of Scilly: Bryher, 1st winter male.

Cream-coloured Courser    1886:    Ceredigion: Ynyslas, Dyfi Estuary.

Crested Lark    1996:    Suffolk: Landguard.

Dusky Warbler    1992:    Shetland: Whalsay, 1st winter.

Eastern Yellow Wagtail    2022:    Shetland: Brae.

Eyebrowed Thrush    2020:    Orkney: Waterhouse, North Ronaldsay, 1st winter.

Eyebrowed Thrush - George Gay

Ferruginous Duck    1993:    Pembrokeshire: Lleithyr Reservoir, male.

Glossy Ibis    2009:    Wiltshire: Dean Valley.

Great Snipe    2020:    Lincolnshire: Sandilands.

Greater Spotted Eagle    1872:    Berkshire: Wokingham.

Isabelline Wheatear    2019:    Conwy: Llandudno.

Kentish Plover    2020:    Dorset: Ferrybridge, juvenile.

Lanceolated Warbler    2022:    Orkney: North Ronaldsay.

Laughing Gull     2001:    Cheshire: West Kirby, 1st winter.

Little Bittern    1912:    Northamptonshire: Naseby, adult male.

Long-billed Dowitcher    2022:    Cornwall: Hayle Estuary, juvenile.

Nutcracker    1968:    E. Sussex: Beachy Head.

Olive-backed Pipit    2011:    Shetland: Law Lane/ Helendale, Lerwick.

Pacific Golden Plover    2000:    Shetland: Fair Isle, juvenile.

Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler    2008:    Shetland: Punds, Foula.

Pallid Harrier    2023:    Wiltshire: Morgan's Hill, Calne, juvenile male.

Pallid Swift    2011:    Yorkshire: Flamborough Head.

Pechora Pipit    2016:    Shetland: Shirva, Fair Isle.

Pied Wheatear    1998:    Yorkshire: Spurn, male.

Red-breasted Goose    1991:    Dumfries & Galloway: Caerlaverock, 1st winter.

Red-eyed Vireo    2023:    Yorkshire: Spurn, 1st winter.

Red-eyed Vireo - Ian Howard

Red-flanked Bluetail    2016:    Shetland: Dog Geo, Fair Isle, 1st winter male.

Red-footed Falcon    1987:    Suffolk: Cavenham Heath, immature male.

Red-headed Bunting ●    2010:    Shetland: Housay, Out Skerries.

● UK first record: A 1st winter male spent seven days at Housay, Out Skerries, Shetland from October 2nd - 8th 2010.

Red-headed Bunting - Stephen Dunstan

Red-rumped Swallow    1990:    Essex: Hadleigh.

Red-throated Pipit ●    2016:    Shetland: Shirva, Fair Isle.

● UK first record: An immature female was present on Fair Isle, Shetland for two days where it was both seen and heard on October 2nd 1908 and 'obtained' on October 3rd 1908. It is now held at The National Museum of Scotland.

Red-throated Pipit from Sumburgh, Shetland - May 2026 - Andrew Russell

Roller    1983:    Lincolnshire: near Woodhall Spa, 1st winter.

Ross's Gull    1997:    Orkney: North Ronaldsay, 1st winter.

Rufous-tailed Robin    2010:    Orkney: North Ronaldsay, 1st winter.

Rustic Bunting    2000:    Norfolk: Stiffkey.

Sandhill Crane    2011:    Suffolk: Kessingland, adult.

Sardinian Warbler    2003:    Lincolnshire: Skegness, male.

Semipalmated Sandpiper    2024:    Devon: Dawlish Warren, juvenile.

Siberian Blue Robin    2001:    Orkney: North Ronaldsay, 1st winter male.

Siberian Stonechat    2023:    Shetland: Hamnavoe/ Lunna Ness, 1st winter male.

Solitary Sandpiper    2011:    Lancashire: Humblescough Farm, Nateby, juvenile.

Sora    2016:    Isles of Scilly: Great Pool, Tresco, juvenile.

Swainson's Thrush    2012:    Western Isles: Northbay House, Morgan, Barra, 1st winter.

Tawny Pipit    1982:    Somerset: Chew Valley Lake.

Thrush Nightingale    1965:    Northumberland: Low Hauxley, 1st winter.

Two-barred Greenish Warbler    2024:    Yorkshire: Whitestone Point, Whitby, 1st winter.

Veery    2009:    Shetland: Whalsay, 1st winter.

Western Bonelli's Warbler    1996:    Suffolk: Landguard, 1st winter.

White-crowned Sparrow     1995:    Lancashire: Seaforth, 1st winter.

White's Thrush    2013:    Isles of Scilly: Covean, St Agnes.

White-winged Black Tern    2003:    Norfolk: Snettisham, juvenile/ 1st winter.

Wilson's Petrel    1999:    Somerset: Burnham-on-Sea.

Wilson's Phalarope    2010:    Norfolk: Welney, 1st winter.

Yellow Warbler    2004:    Western Isles: Brevig, Barra, 1st winter.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo    2019:    E. Sussex: Seaford, adult.

Yellow-breasted Bunting    2000:    Shetland: Skelberry, female/ juvenile male.

SUBSPECIES/ UNDERTERMINED

American Horned Lark ●    2001:    Isles of Scilly: Periglis, St. Agnes.

● UK first record: One spent thirty days on the Isles of Scilly in 2001. It was first found at Periglis, St. Agnes on October 2nd 2001 then commuted between St. Agnes and Tresco until October 31st 2001.

American Horned Lark from Staines Reservoir, Surry - April 2018 - Andrew Brown

Bonelli's Warbler Ssp    2000:    Shetland: Foula.

Eastern Stonechat Ssp    2010:    Cornwall: Nanquidno Valley, 1st winter male.

Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll    2022:    Shetland: Gulberwick, 1st winter.

Isabelline Shrike Ssp    2018:    Western Isles: Traigh Sgurabhal, Barra, juvenile.

* * * * * *

Every effort is made to use a photograph of the bird in question and the records listed above cover the period up to the end of 2024.

RECORDS FOR OCTOBER 1st:

Details of the most recently accepted:

Alpine Swift    2001:    Devon: Berry Head.

American Pipit    2018:    Shetland: Ham, Foula.

Aquatic Warbler    1979:    Isles of Scilly: Lower Moors, St Mary's.

Arctic Warbler    2013:    Shetland: Baltasound, Unst, 1st winter.

Baird's Sandpiper    2023:    Northumberland: Goswick, Holy Island, juvenile.

Bay-breasted Warbler ●    1995:    Cornwall: Land's End.

● UK first record: A 1st winter male was seen at Land's End, Cornwall on October 1st 1995. It was seen by two observers for around 45 minutes who photographed and videoed it before a violent storm forced the bird to hide in a dry stone wall. It could not be relocated.

Bay-breasted Warbler from Ramsey Island, Pembrokeshire - September 2023 - Andrew Jordan

Black Kite    1983:    Cornwall: Hayle.

Black-headed Bunting    2024:    Shetland: Burkle, Fair Isle, 1st winter.

Black-throated Thrush    1995:    Shetland: Sumburgh/ Grutness, 1st winter female.

Blyth's Reed Warbler    2011:    Shetland: South Haven, Fair Isle, 1st winter.

Booted Warbler    2019:    Yorkshire: Spurn, 1st winter.

Brown Shrike    2024:    Shetland: South Raeva, Fair Isle, 1st winter.

Citrine Wagtail    2011:    Shetland: Quendale, 1st winter.

Cliff Swallow    2000:    Hampshire: Titchfield Haven.

Daurian Shrike    2021:    Shetland: Observatory, Fair Isle, adult male.

Dusky Warbler ●    1992:    Shetland: Noness.

● UK first record: One was 'obtained' at Auskerry, Orkney on October 1st 1913 and is now held at The National Museum of Scotland.

Dusky Warbler from Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire - December 2022 - Dan Philpott

Eyebrowed Thrush    2001:    Western Isles: Hirta, St Kilda, 1st winter.

Ferruginous Duck    2023:    Cambridgeshire: Redmere Middle Reservoir, male.

Glossy Ibis    2009:    Cambridgeshire: Paxton Pits.

Great Snipe    2010:    Suffolk: Covehithe.

Greenish Warbler    1985:    Dorset: Hengistbury Head, 1st winter.

Gull-billed Tern    1987:    Cornwall: Stithians Reservoir.

Gyr Falcon    1954:    Norfolk: Blakeney Point.

Isabelline Wheatear    2000:    Norfolk: Blakeney Point, 1st winter.

Lanceolated Warbler    2022:    Orkney: North Ronaldsay.

Lesser Grey Shrike    2007:    Norfolk: Holkham, 1st winter.

Lesser Scaup    2009:    Warwickshire: Draycote Water, adult male.

Little Bittern    1896:    Norfolk: Horsey Broad, immature female.

Little Bustard    1914:    Norfolk: Barton Bendish.

Northern Parula    1983:    Isles of Scilly: Tresco, 1st winter.

Nutcracker    1968:    Somerset: Ilminster.

Olive-backed Pipit    2011:    Shetland: North Light/ Furse, Fair Isle.

Paddyfield Warbler    2000:    Hampshire: Titchfield Haven, 1st winter.

Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler    2020:    Shetland: Burrafirth, Unst, 1st winter.

Pallid Harrier    2023:    Orkney: Sanday, juvenile.

Pechora Pipit ●    2012:    Shetland: Shirva, Fair Isle.

● UK first record: A male was 'obtained' at Auskerry, Orkney on October 1st 1913 and is now held at The National Museum of Scotland.

Pechora Pipit from Levenwick, Shetland - October 2013 - Dave Hutton

Penduline Tit    1988:    Berkshire: Brimpton GP, female.

Pied-billed Grebe    1975:    Dumfries & Galloway: Carlingwark Loch, Castle Douglas.

Radde's Warbler ●    2004:    Suffolk: Orfordness.

● UK first record: One was 'obtained' at North Cotes, Lincolnshire on October 1st 1898.

Radde's Warbler from Southwold, Suffolk - October 2020 - Brian Anderson

Red-breasted Goose    1978:    Lincolnshire: Covenham Reservoir, adult.

Red-flanked Bluetail    2007:    Gwynedd: Bardsey Island, adult male.

Red-rumped Swallow    2005:    Suffolk: Covehithe.

Red-throated Pipit    2023:    Anglesey: South Stack.

River Warbler    2018:    Shetland: Houlland, Unst, 1st winter.

Roller    1891:    Highland: near Mey, male.

Ross's Goose    2002:    Norfolk: Holkham, 2nd winter.

Rustic Bunting    2023:    Shetland: Durigarth.

Sandhill Crane    2011:    Norfolk: Snettisham, adult.

Sandhill Crane from Boyton, Suffolk - October 2011 - Jon Evans

Siberian Blue Robin    2011:    Shetland: Ham, Foula, 1st winter female.

Siberian Thrush ●    2022:    Shetland: Mid Yell, Yell, 1st winter male.

● UK first record: An adult male was present on the Isle of May, Fife for four days from October 1st - 4th 1954.

A 1st winter male Siberian Thrush from Asta, Shetland - October 2025 - Rebecca Nason

Snowy Owl    1858:    Orkney: Sanday.

Stilt Sandpiper    2023:    Western Isles: Loch Paible, North Uist, juvenile.

Tawny Pipit    1982:    Dorset: Portland BO.

Tengmalm's Owl    1863:    Yorkshire: Flamborough, adult female.

Veery    2009:    Shetland: Ham, Foula, 1st winter.

Western Bonelli's Warbler    2012:    Isles of Scilly: Higher Town, St Martin's.

White-billed Diver    1984:    Orkney: Birsay, adult.

White's Thrush    2020:    Shetland: Wirvie Burn, Fair Isle.

White-winged Black Tern    2004:    Lincolnshire: Covenham Reservoir, juvenile/ 1st winter.

Wilson's Petrel    1891:    Argyll & Bute: Jura.

Wilson's Phalarope    1996:    Warwickshire: Draycote Water, juvenile/ 1st winter.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo    1980:    Isles of Scilly: Gugh, St Agnes, 1st year.

Yellow-breasted Bunting    1998:    Orkney: North Ronaldsay, female/ juvenile male.

SUBSPECIES/ UNDERTERMINED

Arctic Redpoll    2024:    Shetland: Plantation, Fair Isle.

Ashy/ Black-headed/ Iberian Wagtail    2022:    Shetland: Bakkasetter/ Brake/ Quendale.

Black-eared Wheatear Ssp    1971:    Cornwall: Porthgwarra.

Bonelli's Warbler Ssp    2013:    Norfolk: Hunstanton.

Caspian Stonechat    1985:    Cornwall: Porthgwarra, male.

Dowitcher Ssp    1977:    Cornwall: Stithians Reservoir.

Eastern Stonechat Ssp    2013:    Suffolk: Trimley Marsh, 1st winter.

Isabelline Shrike Ssp    2024:    Shetland: Utra, Fair Isle, 1st winter.

Northern Treecreeper    1998:    Shetland: Easter Lother, Fair Isle.

Subalpine Warbler Ssp    2023:    Shetland: Wester Quarff, 1st winter.

* * * * * *

Every effort is made to use a photograph of the bird in question and the records listed above cover the period up to the end of 2024.