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 6th October 2006  
  Shetland once again produced the bird of the day in the form of an Upland Sandpiper on Unst. Elsewhere an adult American Golden Plover was located near Deeping High Bank, Lincolnshire, probably the same individual that was near Epworth on Monday. In County Cork Ballycotton hosted not only a White-rumped Sandpiper, but also a Buff-breasted Sandpiper and a possible American Golden Plover. Back in Shetland, an eclipse drake King Eider was located off West Burra.

The Foula 'birdfest' continued, with the Lanceolated Warbler, Coues's Arctic Redpoll and two Olive-backed Pipits all being logged. In County Mayo the Red-eyed Vireo and Snowy Owl remained on The Mullet and the Pallid Harrier made another brief appearance at Winterton, Norfolk. Seawatchers began to log the odd Leach's Petrel; given the strong westerly winds due overnight, these may be the first of many seen this weekend.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Thursday 5th October 2006  
  The second Red-eyed Vireo of the autumn was discovered this morning, this time on The Mullet, County Mayo; hopefully there will be more Nearctic landbirds to follow. Other new rarities included an Alpine Swift in Ipswich, Suffolk and Olive-backed Pipit on Lewis, Western Isles. In Shetland Foula continued to produce the goods, this time with a Lanceolated Warbler; the Coues's Arctic Redpoll also remained on the same island.

In Hampshire the American Golden Plover was still at Keyhaven and another remained on Tresco, Scilly. The Long-billed Dowitcher was at Oare Marshes, Kent and in Shetland Rustic Buntings remained on Unst and Fair Isle.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 4th October 2006  
  New discoveries today included a Rustic Bunting on Unst, Shetland Isles, an Arctic Redpoll on Foula, Shetland Isles and American Golden Plovers at Pennington Marshes, Hampshire and Myroe Levels, Co Londonderry; the latter accompanied by five Buff-breasted and a Pectoral Sandpiper.

Rarities remaining from previous days were headlined by the River Warbler on Foula, Shetland, Pallid Harrier at Winterton, Norfolk, Red-eyed Vireo at Nanquidno, Cornwall, Snowy Owl on The Mullet, Co Mayo and Rustic Bunting on Fair Isle, Shetland Isles. Elsewhere the Bonaparte's Gull lingered in Northumberland, Lesser Scaup in Lancashire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent, Lesser Yellowlegs in Co Mayo and American Golden Plovers on both the Isles of Scilly and Shetland Isles.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 3rd October 2006  
  The star find was a River Warbler on Foula, Shetland Isles. This was the first British record since September 2002 and the eleventh autumn record for Shetland. Following a spate of records in the mid 1990s this species has reverted back to gross rarity status and the next mainland record will attract quite a crowd. Elsewhere on the Shetland Isles a Rustic Bunting appeared on Fair Isle.

Lingering from yesterday the Red-eyed Vireo remained at Nanquidno, Cornwall as did the Long-billed Dowitcher at Oare Marshes, Kent. The Lancashire Glossy Ibis put in another brief appearance at Martin Mere and on Orkney the Isabelline Shrike was seen again on Eday.

Otherwise long staying rarities included Pallid Harrier in Norfolk, Red-rumped Swallow on Shetland Isles, Long-billed Dowitcher in Worcestershire, Bonaparte's Gull  in Co Kerry and both Western Bonelli's Warbler and American Golden Plover on the Scilly Isles.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 2nd October 2006  
  The star find today was a Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler on the Shetland Isles at Skaw, Whalsay with an American Golden Plover new in on the same island. On Orkney a White's Thrush was glimpsed on North Ronaldsay

The first North American passerine of the autumn was a Red-eyed Vireo discovered at Nanquidno, Cornwall.

Other discoveries included yet more North American waders with a Long-billed Dowitcher at Oare Marshes, Kent, an American Golden Plover at Castlemaine Harbour, Co Kerry and five Buff-breasted Sandpipers at Myroe Levels, Co Derry.

In Lancashire the Glossy Ibis roosted overnight at Brockholes Quarry before departing to the southwest during the morning.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 1st October 2006  
  The most popular find today was a Glossy Ibis at Brockholes Quarry in Lancashire, a truly excellent record. Photographs show it to be the same individual as that present at Radipole Lake, Dorset on 7th-8th September. In County Durham an adult American Golden Plover was a notable discovery at Whitburn, and another was on Fetlar, Shetland.

In Ireland a fine selection of rarities included Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Snowy Owl, three Lesser Yellowlegs, three Long-billed Dowitchers, two American Golden Plovers, ten Buff-breasted Sandpipers, a Baird's Sandpiper, a Red-necked Phalarope and a Purple Heron.

The Pallid Harrier retuned to Winterton, Norfolk in the afternoon, the Isabelline Shrike remained on Barra, Western Isles, as did two Rustic Buntings on Foula, Shetland. In Worcestershire the Long-billed Dowitcher was still at Upper Bittell Reservoir and the Bonaparte's Gull remained in Newbiggin Bay, Northumberland.
-  Stuart Piner and Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 30th September 2006  
  The best finds today included a 1st-winter Isabelline Shrike on Barra, Western Isles (presumably the bird previously on Lewis), a new Rustic Bunting on Foula, Shetland and a flyover American Golden Plover at Middle Hope, Somerset. Another Isabelline Shrike was reported on Eday, Orkney. In Ireland new birds came in the form of a juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher in County Cork and Baird's Sandpiper in County Kerry. Five American Golden Plovers were also seen; two in County Kerry and singles in County Cork, County Galway and County Tipperary.

Long staying rarities continuing to create the headlines included the Pallid Harrier in Norfolk, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler in County Cork, Long-billed Dowitcher in Worcestershire and Marbled Duck in Dorset. On Shetland Thrush Nightingale, Arctic Warbler and Red-rumped Swallow remained on Mainland and in Conwy, Great Ormes Head hosted both Short-toed Lark and Woodchat Shrike, an impressive duo in the Northwest.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 29th September 2006  
  New rarities comprised of a Thrush Nightingale in Mainland Shetland, Baird's Sandpiper in Co. Derry and no less than three American Golden Plovers, with two in Ireland and one in Scilly. Otherwise it was more of the same, popular remaining rarities included the Pallid Harrier in Norfolk, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler in Cork,  Long-billed Dowitcher in Worcestershire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Aberdeenshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Northumberland, Turkestan Shrike on Lewis, Rustic Bunting on Foula and Subalpine Warbler in Scilly all staying put for another day.
-  Richard Moores, RBA
Thursday 28th September 2006  
  Another slow day considering the time of year with just a trio of new rarities discovered. A Red-rumped Swallow flew west over Beeston Bump, Sheringham (Norfolk) but despite the news being broadcast quickly no other birders down the coast managed to connect. Co. Kerry continued its' excellent September with a juvenile American Golden Plover briefly at Smerwick Harbour. Also in Kerry, the Azorean Yellow-legged Gull was on show again at Carrahane Strand, the two adult Bonaparte's Gulls (at Inch Strand and  Kilshannig) again put in appearances, but there was no sign of the Citrine Wagtail at Derrymore. The final new rarity was in Scilly where a Red-throated Pipit pitched up on St. Mary's during the early evening. Scilly also turned up a new Tawny Pipit and Common Rosefinch while lingering birds on the isles include the Bonelli's Warbler species, Subalpine Warbler, Hoopoe, Rose-coloured Starling, Ortolan Bunting, Yellow-browed Warbler and a couple of Red-backed Shrikes amongst other species. 

Lingering rarities included the Rustic Bunting on Foula, Blyth's Reed Warbler on North Ronaldsay, Pallid Harrier in Norfolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in Worcestershire, Turkestan Shrike in Western Isles, Snowy Owl in Co. Mayo, while in Co. Cork the Eastern Olivaceous Warbler showed up again on Cape Clear. Meanwhile the Dorset Marbled Duck decided to change behaviour completely and frustrate would be watchers and photographers by becoming elusive for the majority of the day. 

Other new birds worthy of note included a Red-breasted Flycatcher in Dorset, Wryneck in London, Sabine's Gulls off Norfolk and Bardsey Island and two Little Buntings on North Ronaldsay. 

Intriguing news from France where both a Swainson's Thrush and Grey-cheeked Thrush were found on Ouessant island today. Are these the forerunner for some quality Yanks in the south-west?
-  Richard Moores, RBA
Wednesday 27th September 2006  
  Shetland produced a brace of quality new rarities in the shape of a Rustic Bunting on Foula and an Olive-backed Pipit on Out Skerries. Newbiggin (N'berland) continued its' fine run of form with a White-billed Diver close inshore during the early afternoon followed by a juvenile White-winged Black Tern in the evening. The days other new rarities comprised of a Lesser Yellowlegs in Co. Mayo and a Bee-eater reported in Lothian. 

In Norfolk the juvenile Pallid Harrier continued to show well near Winterton throughout the day while in Dorset the controversial Marbled Duck continued its' stay in Christchurch Harbour. the Long-billed Dowitcher remained in Worcestershire, with other remaining rarities including Bonaparte's Gull at Inch (Co. Kerry), Lesser Yellowlegs in Aberdeenshire and Co. Cork and Arctic Warbler on Mainland Shetland.
-  Richard Moores, RBA