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| Saturday 16th September 2006 | ||
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| Two Blyth's Reed Warblers were located during what turned out to be a
relatively exciting autumn day by recent standards; one was trapped and ringed
at Gibraltar Point NNR, Lincolnshire and another was found at Auchmithie, Angus.
Mainland Shetland produced a female or immature Black-headed Bunting and Fair Isle continued to host both Yellow-breasted Bunting and Pechora Pipit and an Aquatic Warbler was found. In County Wexford a Citrine Wagtail was discovered at Tacumshin, along with an adult White-rumped Sandpiper. This honey-pot for rarities also continued to host a Baird's Sandpiper and six Buff-breasted Sandpipers. In County Cork Cape Clear Island also fared well, holding the Greenish Warbler, Rose-coloured Starling, Wryneck and Barred Warbler. Intensive coverage of the North Norfolk coast yielded a Great Grey Shrike, Yellow-browed Warbler, five Red-breasted Flycatchers, four Wrynecks, three Red-backed Shrikes, Barred Warbler and a Richard's Pipit. In Cornwall the Wilson's Phalarope remained at the Walmsley Sanctuary, Semipalmated Sandpipers continued their stay at Keyhaven Marshes, Hampshire and Smerwick Harbour, County Kerry and in Aberdeenshire the Lesser Yellowlegs continued to show well at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB. Donna Nook, Lincolnshire hosted a Buff-breasted Sandpiper and a decent number of Honey Buzzards were on the move, with six individuals reported from Lincolnshire. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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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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| Friday 15th September 2006 | ||
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| The 'Fair Isle season' kicked off in style today, with the Magic Isle hosting
two Lanceolated Warblers, Pechora Pipit and Yellow-breasted
Bunting, amongst a plethora of scarce migrants. Elsewhere there were also
plenty of new rarities on offer, including a Semipalmated Sandpiper on
South Uist, Western Isles, Wilson's Phalarope at the Walmsley Sanctuary,
Cornwall, American Golden Plover at Pagham Harbour, West Sussex,
Citrine Wagtail on Out Skerries, Shetland, Lesser Yellowlegs at Loch
of Strathbeg RSPB, Aberdeenshire and Black Kite near West Linton,
Borders.
Norfolk produced three different Red-breasted Flycatchers (at Kelling, Great Yarmouth and Burnham Overy), and the Isles of Scilly continued to host a fine selection of scarcities, along with the long staying Subalpine Warbler on Bryher. Bonaparte's Gulls remained in Northumberland and County Kerry, the long-staying Semipalmated Sandpiper continued to frequent Keyhaven Marshes, Hampshire and in Lancashire the adult drake Lesser Scaup remained at Pine Lake. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 14th September 2006 | ||
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| Newly discovered rarities today comprised a Lesser Scaup at Pine Lake, Lancashire,
Greenish Warbler on Cape Clear, Co Cork and a Baird's Sandpiper at Tacumshin, Co Wexford. Other notable finds included
Tawny Pipit on Blakeney Point, Norfolk, five Buff-breasted Sandpipers on South Uist, Western Isles,
Melodious Warbler Carnsore Point, Co Wexford, Kentish Plover Pagham Harbour, West Sussex and
Sabine's Gull inland at Audenshaw Reservoir, Greater Manchester. Popular long stayers included the Snowy Owl on The Mullet, Co Mayo, Semiplamated Sandpipers at Keyhaven, Hampshire and Smeriwck Harbour, Co Mayo (2), Subalpine Warbler on Bryher and the juvenile Long-tailed Skua at Queen Mother Reservoir, Berkshire for its sixth day. The arrival of Black Terns continued with 573 reported from 54 sites during the day including peak counts of 70 Shell Ness, Kent, 61 Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon, 39 Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire and 31 Upper Bittell Reservoir, Worcestershire. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 13th September 2006 | ||
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| 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 | ||
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| Tuesday 12th September 2006 | ||
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| 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. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Monday 11th September 2006 | ||
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| 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 | ||
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| Sunday 10th September 2006 | ||
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| 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). |
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| - Richard Moores, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 9th September 2006 | ||
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| 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). |
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| - Andy Symes, RBA | ||
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| Friday 8th September 2006 | ||
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| 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. |
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| - Richard Moores, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 7th September 2006 | ||
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| 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. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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