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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Saturday 23rd September 2006  
  There was something of an electric atmosphere today with the major attractions being a juvenile Pallid Harrier that lingered all day at Winterton, Norfolk and an Isabelline Wheatear (actually first seen yesterday) that showed well at Carmel Head, Anglesey.

Other notable discoveries included a brief Pallid Swift over Portland, Dorset, an Arctic Warbler on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, a Citrine Wagtail at Scatness, Shetland Isles, a Wilson's Phalarope at Loop Head, Co Clare and a White-winged Black Tern at William Girling Reservoir, London.

Rarities found yesterday that remained overnight included the Isabelline Shrike on Western Isles, Western Bonelli's Warbler on Isles of Scilly, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Gloucestershire and Black-winged Stilt in Co Wexford whilst long staying rarities included both Least Sandpiper and Wilson's Phalarope in Cornwall and Pechora Pipit and Arctic Warbler on Shetland Isles.

Reports of a probable Eleonora's Falcon over Plymstock, Devon and a Marbled Duck at Stanpit Marsh, Dorset are likely to be treated with an equal degree of intrigue and skepticism.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 22nd September 2006  
  Slimbridge WWT (Glos) was the place to be today as the counties first Semipalmated Sandpiper was found on The Dumbles at high tide in the morning. The bird showed well from the Holden Tower but then moved to the Severn Estuary as the tide receded where it became more distant. During its time on The Dumbles it was joined by a brace of Buff-breasted Sandpipers, which, along with the three juvenile Pectoral Sandpipers already present combined to complete an astonishing day for the county. On Lewis (W.Isles) a 1st-winter Isabelline Shrike was found at Brue, while other new rarities consisted of a Western Bonelli's Warbler on St. Agnes, Black Kite on the Isle of Wight, and both Black-winged Stilt and Semipalmated Sandpiper in Co. Wexford. The Black-winged Stilt was at Tacumshin and continues an astonishing run of form at the site since the start of September. The roll of honour is truly mouth-watering for a single site and is comprised of Citrine Wagtail, American Golden Plover, Baird's Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, two Pectoral Sandpipers, up to eight Buff-breasted Sandpipers, Tawny Pipit, and Melodious Warbler. Other notable sightings today include a Little Bunting on Fair Isle, Kentish Plover in Gloucestershire, a couple of new Melodious Warblers, three Hoopoes, Ortolan Buntings in Cornwall and Dorset, Rose-coloured Starling in Norfolk, and a plethora of Pectoral Sandpipers and Wrynecks. 

Top drawer remaining rarities included both Pechora Pipit and Olive-backed Pipit on Fair Isle, Arctic Warbler on Mainland Shetland, both Least Sandpiper and Wilson's Phalarope in Cornwall, both Black-headed Bunting and Booted Warbler on Fetlar, and Lesser Yellowlegs in Aberdeenshire. A 1st-winter Black-eared Wheatear was also reported from Zennor (Cornwall). On the local front, Little Stint numbers continue to build across the country and Black Terns continue to be widespread
-  Richard Moores, RBA
Thursday 21st September 2006  
  The Shetland Isles continued to hog the limelight with Fetlar hosting Pechora Pipit, Black-headed Bunting, Booted Warbler and Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Fair Isle still holding Pechora Pipit, Aquatic Warbler and Buff-breasted Sandpiper and on Shetland Mainland Arctic Warbler, Black-headed Bunting and Red-rumped Swallow.

Cornwall also produced star birds with a Little Shearwater passing Mousehole, the Least Sandpiper remaining on the Hayle Estuary and the Wilson's Phalarope at Stithians Reservoir.

Discoveries elsewhere included at Semiplamated Sandpiper in Pagham Harbour, West Sussex briefly and a Lesser Yellowlegs at Rosslare Back Strand, Co Wexford.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 20th September 2006  
  Highlight of the day, at least for the lucky two who found it, was Hampshire's first record of Western Sandpiper. Unfortunately there was no further sign of the juvenile bird after the initial mornings sighting. Hampshire listers will be hoping that this extreme rarity re-appears over the next few days. Other new rare waders comprised of a Baird's Sandpiper at St. John's Lake (Cornwall), American Golden Plover on Lewis (W.Isles) and a Lesser Yellowlegs in Co. Cork. The wandering Glossy Ibis continued its' journey north, appearing briefly at Martin Mere WWT during the afternoon, although its' presence was not appreciated by the local gull population and was promptly harassed off the reserve. Otherwise it was again fairly quiet with the best of the rest including a Red-necked Phalarope in Dorset, Wryneck in Solihull (W.Mids) while the Pectoral Sandpiper totals at both Slimbridge WWT (Glos) and Lissagriffin (Co. Cork) has increased to three. Remaining rarities included the Pechora Pipit on Fair Isle, Wilson's Phalarope and Least Sandpiper in Cornwall, and White-winged Black Tern in Northumberland.
-  Richard Moores, RBA
Tuesday 19th September 2006  
  A reasonably quiet day compared to days of late with the only new rarities being an American Golden Plover and Bonaparte's Gull in Co. Kerry and a White-winged Black Tern at Whittle Dene Reservoirs (Northumberland). In Scilly the Arctic Warbler remained on St. Agnes with other remaining popular rarities included the Least Sandpiper and Wilson's Phalarope in Cornwall, Black-headed Bunting in Shetland, Lesser Yellowlegs in Aberdeenshire and Bonaparte's Gull in Northumberland. Other new birds worthy of mention include a Short-toed Lark on Bardsey Island (Gwynedd), Ortolan Bunting on Noss (Shetland), Tawny Pipit at Tacumshin (Co. Wexford) and Spotted Crake at Marton Mere LNR (Lancs).
-  Richard Moores, RBA
Monday 18th September 2006  
  Another busy day with the star birds on the Shetland Isles: Pechora Pipit and Booted Warbler were both discovered on Fetlar whilst on Fair Isle the lingering Pechora Pipit was joined by both Olive-backed Pipit and Red-throated Pipit and on Fetlar a Siberian Stonechat was found.

Meanwhile, the Scilly Isles held attention with an Arctic Warbler on St Agnes and another brief view of the suspected Eleonora's Falcon on St Mary's; the fourth such sighting in a week.

The Glossy Ibis at Swadlincote, Derbyshire was confirmed but then promptly flew off over Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire and a juvenile Red-footed Falcon was reported at Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire.

Lingering Nearctic waders included both Least Sandpiper and Wilson's Phalarope in Cornwall whilst a Spotted Sandpiper at Sutton Bingham Reservoir, Somerset and a Baird's Sandpiper at Cross Lough, Co Mayo were new discoveries.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 17th September 2006  
  A juvenile Least Sandpiper on the Hayle Estuary RSPB, Cornwall was the star find during another busy autumn day. In Buckinghamshire a remarkable report came in the form of a male Lesser Kestrel over farmland north of Little Marlow for forty five minutes early afternoon. Other new rarities included a Blyth's Reed Warbler at Skateraw, Lothian, Greenish Warbler on Noss, Shetland and American Golden Plover at Tacumshin, County Wexford. In Cornwall the Wilson's Phalarope was relocated at Stithians Reservoir and in Aberdeenshire the Lesser Yellowlegs moved to Meikle Loch.

In County Wexford, Tacumshin continued to host a mouth watering list of rarities; as well as the American Golden Plover, White-rumped, Baird's, Buff-breasted and Pectoral Sandpipers and a Citrine Wagtail were on offer. On Shetland Pechora Pipit, Black-headed Bunting, Citrine Wagtail and Red-rumped Swallow were distributed across the archipelago and in Angus the Blyth's Reed Warbler continued to show on and off in Auchmithie.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 16th September 2006  
  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.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 15th September 2006  
  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.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Thursday 14th September 2006  
  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.
-  Chris Batty, RBA