Daily news summaries

Catch up with RBA's daily birdnews summaries. Browse ten days at a time, or choose a date to read summaries from that day backwards.

Daily summaries are available from 13 April 2006. For earlier weekly reviews, visit our articles.

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Wednesday 13th September 2006  
  A relatively quiet day with the only new rarities reported being a popular juvenile White-winged Black Tern at Long Eaton GPs (Derbys), a Great White Egret at Humberston Fitties (Lincs) and another Bonaparte's Gull, this time an adult at Inch (Co. Kerry). Passerine migration was typically non-visible in generally clear conditions with the best being male Serin in East Sussex, Red-backed Shrikes in Norfolk, East Sussex, Aberdeenshire and Co. Cork, two Common Rosefinches on North Ronaldsay (Orkney), juvenile Rose-coloured Starling on Cape Clear Island (Co. Cork), a probable Tawny Pipit at Criccieth (Gwynedd) and a Golden Oriole at Portland (Dorset). A Corncrake was at Huntspill (Somerset). The only new waders were a couple of fresh Pectoral Sandpipers while remaining rarities included the Bonelli's Warbler on Tresco, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Hampshire, and Baird's Sandpiper in Cornwall. In Norfolk, a probable Black-headed Bunting present at Holme NOA (and previously at Hunstanton) may refer to an escaped weaver species that has been present in the area for the last few weeks. There was no sign today of the adult dark morph Eleonora's Falcon in Scilly.
-  Richard Moores, RBA
Tuesday 12th September 2006  
  Talking point of the day was an adult dark morph Eleonora's Falcon on Tresco, Isles of Scilly, seen well in flight by a single observer over Old Grimbsy at 3pm. Elsewhere on Scilly an unidentified Bonelli's warbler species was found on Tresco with, around the archipelago, Subalpine Warbler, Woodchat Shrike, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Spotted Crake, Red-backed Shrike, three Wrynecks, Pectoral Sandpiper and Lapland Bunting.

Yet more American waders were discovered in Ireland with a new Baird's Sandpiper at Annagh, Co Mayo and lingering elsewhere were three Semipalmated Sandpipers, Spotted Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, White-rumped Sandpiper, two Pectoral Sandpipers and ten Buff-breasted Sandpipers (including eight together at Tacumshin, Co Wexford).

On Shetland the highlights were the Great Snipe lingering on Unst and the Citrine Wagtail still on Fair Isle.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 11th September 2006  
  In what appeared relatively unfavourable conditions Shetland scored with two classic 'early' autumn rarities in the form of a Yellow-breasted Bunting on Whalsay and a brief Great Snipe on Unst. Indeed quality rather than quantity was the order of the day with a Fea's Petrel past Galley Head (Co. Cork) during the evening, juvenile Baird's Sandpipers at Hanningfield Reservoir (Essex) and Inch Strand (Co. Kerry), and Semipalmated Sandpiper at Ferriter's Cove (Co. Kerry) maintaining the tempo of the last couple of weeks. Other new birds grabbing the headlines today included an Ortolan Bunting at Spurn (E.Yorks), three new Pectoral and two new Buff-breasted Sandpipers, Spotted Crake in Scilly and Icterine Warbler in Glamorgan. There was no sign of yesterdays Wilson's Phalarope in Co. Derry.
-  Richard Moores, RBA
Sunday 10th September 2006  
  Sundays star bird was undoubtedly Gloucestershires first ever record of Bonaparte's Gull. Found early in the morning at Slimbridge WWT it continued to show on and off throughout the day. In Northumberland the adult Bonaparte's Gull continued its stay in Newbiggin Bay. Other new rarities included a Wilson's Phalarope in Co. Derry, Baird's Sandpiper in Co. Kerry,  two brief Great White Egrets in Glamorgan and East Sussex while one of the White Pelicans continued its journey as it appeared in Angus on the north of side of the Firth of Tay. 

A couple of new juvenile Rose-coloured Starlings were discovered (in Devon and Shetland) and a Serin flew over Grain (Kent) but otherwise new passerine action was fairly limited with a Melodious Warbler and Woodchat Shrike at Land's End (Cornwall) and a handful of Wrynecks (mainly in the south-west). Remaining rarities worthy of mention include Citrine Wagtail on Fair Isle, Snowy Owl on The Mullet (Co. Mayo), as well as a few Semipalmated Sandpipers and a brace of Baird's Sandpipers. A female Surf Scoter flew past Flamborough Head and a drake King Eider reappeared at Blackdog (Aberdeenshire).
-  Richard Moores, RBA
Saturday 9th September 2006  
  A brisk early autumn day with the highlight a Paddyfield Warbler which was trapped and ringed on St Mary's (Scilly), but as is often the case it could not be found again after its release. A Snowy Owl found the remote rocky habitat of The Mullet (Co.Mayo) to its liking and showed well throughout the day. Two Cattle Egrets at Stanpit Marsh/Hengistbury Head (Dorset) may well have been the same individuals present in north Kent on Thursday. A Red-rumped Swallow was reported amongst large numbers of hirundines at Jockey Shield (Cumbria) in the evening and a White-winged Black Tern flew past East Tilbury (Essex). What was presumed to be the White Pelican seen previously in Kent and Essex made a surprise reappearance at Nosterfield (N.Yorks). At this rate it may eventually meet up with the other roaming individual in Northumberland!

The adult Bonaparte's Gull continued to show well at Newbiggin (N'berland) and American waders continued to be well represented by five Semipalmated Sandpipers, one Baird's Sandpiper, two White-rumped Sandpipers, a Lesser Yellowlegs, a Long-billed Dowitcher and seven Buff-breasted Sandpipers, but the only new arrival was an adult American Golden Plover on Lewis (W.Isles). Remaining rarities included Subalpine Warbler on Bryher (Scilly) and Red-footed Falcon at Minsmere (Suffolk)

Inland birders had a lively day with Pectoral Sandpipers turning up at several reservoirs and gravel pits, while what was presumably the same Long-tailed Skua moved from Pitsford Reservoir (Northants) to Queen Mother Reservoir (Berks), but the most unusual inland report was a Barred Warbler at Sewardstone Marsh (Essex).
-  Andy Symes, RBA
Friday 8th September 2006  
  Nearctic waders continued to delight many with yet another Semipalmated Sandpiper found in Ireland, this individual at Rosslare Backstrand (Co. Cork), whilst in Cornwall a mobile juvenile Baird's Sandpiper was found at the Hayle Estuary (Cornwall). Other new waders of noted included a Red-necked Phalarope at Bittell Reservoirs (Worcs), Pectoral Sandpipers at Blacktoft Sands RSPB (E.Yorks), Coedbach Marsh (Carmarthens) and Ballycotton (Co. Cork), and White-rumped Sandpiper at Blennerville (Co. Kerry). The latter county also hosted its' record count of Buff-breasted Sandpipers as the flock at Carrahane Strand increased to five birds. 

Tiree continued its' hot streak with a Bonelli's Warbler species at Ben Hynish during the evening. Other passerines of note included a Red-throated Pipit reported from Porthgwarra, Tawny Pipit reported from Nanquidno Valley (both Cornwall) while the Citrine Wagtail remained on Fair Isle. In Northumberland the adult Bonaparte's Gull turned up at Newbiggin during the afternoon where it performed admirably in return for fried potato payment. 

In Dorset the Glossy Ibis was at Radipole Lake RSPB reserve during the early morning at least while an ibis species was reported flying over Woolacombe (Devon) during the evening.
-  Richard Moores, RBA
Thursday 7th September 2006  
  The star find today was a Glossy Ibis at Radipole Lake RSPB, Dorset. Only the second ever Wilson's Petrel to be recorded in the North Sea flew north past Hartlepool Headland, Cleveland early evening, whilst another was reported from a fishing boat off the Devon coast. Other new rarities came in the form of a White-rumped Sandpiper at Ballycotton, County Cork, a Baird's Sandpiper at Ferriter's Cove, County Kerry and two Cattle Egrets on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent.

Many of yesterday's major rarities were still present, including the Citrine Wagtails in Scilly and Shetland, Red-footed Falcon in Suffolk, Spotted Sandpiper in County Wexford and two Semipalmated Sandpipers in County Kerry. On Bryher, Scilly the Subalpine Warbler reappeared in the afternoon.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 6th September 2006  
  Hot news today came in the form of a first-winter Citrine Wagtail on St.Mary's, Isles of Scilly, juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper at Newport Wetlands, Gwent, American Golden Plover over Beachy Head, East Sussex and a Greenish Warbler on Bressay, Shetland.

Ireland continued to create headlines with four Semipalmated Sandpipers, five Buff-breasted Sandpipers, White-rumped Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, two Lesser Yellowlegs, along with a juvenile Rose-coloured Starling and a Wilson's Petrel making up the end-of-day tally.

A report of a possible dark morph Eleonora's Falcon at Amble Marshes, Cornwall will have raised a few eyebrows and elsewhere the Citrine Wagtail remained on Fair Isle, Red-rumped Swallow on Mainland Shetland and two Buff-breasted Sandpipers were on South Uist, Western Isles.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 5th September 2006  
  Southern Ireland once again produced the goods today, with two more Semipalmated Sandpipers being found in County Kerry, at Smerwick Harbour and Blennerville. Add to this an adult White-rumped Sandpiper at Trabeg, also County Kerry, the first Spotted Sandpiper of the autumn at Nethertown and a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Tacumshin, County Wexford and the Greenish Warbler on Brownstown Head, County Waterford; it wasn't a bad day at all over the Irish Sea.

On Scilly Bryher hosted both Greenish and Subalpine Warblers and a in Hampshire the juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper continued to show well at Keyhaven Marshes. In Suffolk the female Red-footed Falcon remained at Minsmere RSPB, as did the Citrine Wagtail on Fair Isle and Red-rumped Swallow at Hoswick, Shetland.

There was some late news from Shetland that will have made many a British twitcher take a sharp intake of breath; the Hippolais warbler present on 16th August, which was initially identified as an Icterine Warbler, then reidentified as an Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, as been reidentified again from photos by Killian Mullarney, Hadoram Shirihai and Lars Svensson as the first Olive-tree Warbler for Britain and Northwest Europe.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 4th September 2006  
  The highlights of the day were a mobile adult Bonaparte's Gull at East Chevington and Cresswell, Northumberland and a fine juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper at Keyhaven Marshes, Hampshire. Other Semipalmated Sandpipers remained at Smerwick Harbour, Co Kerry and on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly. Other Scilly rarities included a Subalpine Warbler on Bryher and the White-rumped Sandpiper on Tresco.

In East Anglia the female Red-footed Falcon showed well at Minsmere, Suffolk but a first-winter Citrine Wagtail at Stiffkey Fen, Norfolk only made a brief appearance.
-  Chris Batty, RBA