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 25th November 2006  
  There was very little to shout about during a quiet late November Saturday, the only fresh discovery of note being a juvenile American Golden Plover at Newbiggin, Northumberland.

The Barrow's Goldeneye continued to frequent the River Eas Gobhain in Callander, Forth and the adult drake Black Scoter reappeared off Llanfairfechan, Conwy. Long-stayers included the juvenile Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall, pair of Red-breasted Geese in Lincolnshire, Glossy Ibis in Lancashire, White-rumped Sandpiper in Norfolk and Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent. The Little Bunting once again put in a brief early morning appearance at Benacre.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 24th November 2006  
  The only new rarities of the day were a Ferruginous Duck reported in Suffolk, and an American Wigeon reported in Hampshire. An additional Ferruginous Duck was reported yesterday in Northumberland. Hopefully these individuals will all be confirmed and available to the crowds over the weekend.

The drake Barrow's Goldeneye continued to draw observers to Forth, and most other long staying rarities were also seen again during the day. The pick of these were the Bufflehead on Shetland, the Dusky Warbler at Spurn, the Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall and the Cattle Egret in Devon. There were however no confirmed sightings of the Black-eared Kite in Lincs, or the Falcated Duck in Devon and no news either way on the long-staying Red-breasted Geese in Lincs.
-  Simon Mitchell, RBA
Thursday 23rd November 2006  
  The highlight of a quiet day was the finding of a first-winter Bonaparte's Gull at Marazion, Cornwall. The only other new rarity was a Great White Egret near Bournemouth, Dorset.

Dapper drake Barrow's Goldeneyes continued to delight in Forth and County Down and the Falcated Duck remained on the Exe Estuary, Devon. Other long-staying rarities included the two Red-breasted Geese in Lincolnshire, Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall and Bufflehead on Unst, Shetland.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 22nd November 2006  
  The only new rarity of the day was a grey morph Gyr Falcon reported in off the sea at Hermaness, Unst. An exceptionally late Swift sp. over Wells, Norfolk unfortunately evaded specific identification.

Remaining rarities included the Black-eared Kite reported still in Lincolnshire, the Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth and the Falcated Duck in Devon. Other species still lingering for long stays included the exceptionally late Woodchat Shrike, the Spotted Sandpiper and Cattle Egret in Devon, the Red-breasted Geese in Lincolnshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent, Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall and the Bufflehead on Shetland.
-  Simon Mitchell, RBA
Tuesday 21st November 2006  
  A very late Red-rumped Swallow in Staffordshire was the only new rarity of the day; the 2nd latest ever record for Britain. Other interesting news was of a Falcated Duck seen on the Exe Estuary on Saturday, and apparently present previously for several weeks. As with previous individuals thought of as good candidates as wild birds, the bird was present with Eurasian Wigeon, which could potentially act as a carrier species.

The top remaining rarities were the Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth, the Black-eared Kite in Lincolnshire and the re-appearing Bufflehead on Shetland, with Red-breasted Geese, Grey Phalaropes, Yellow-browed Warblers and a few American waders as a supporting cast.   
-  Simon Mitchell, RBA
Monday 20th November 2006  
  A Wilson's Phalarope discovered at St John's Point, Co Down was, like the continuing Woodchat Shrike in Devon and Purple Heron in Buckinghamshire, an exceptionally late record.

The adult male Barrow's Goldeneyes continued to show well at both Callander, Forth and Quoile Ponadge, Co Down, the Black-eared Kite remained near Holbeach St Marks, Lincolnshire as did the Dusky Warbler at Spurn Point, East Yorkshire and the Bonaparte's Gull in Lunan Bay, Angus.

Several American waders remained in place with Spotted Sandpipers in both Cornwall and Devon, American Golden Plovers in Cambridgeshire and Co Cork, Lesser Yellowlegs in Co Cork and White-rumped Sandpipers in Co Down, Co Wicklow and Norfolk.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 19th November 2006  
  The outstanding find of the day was an adult male Barrow's Goldeneye on the River Teith in Callander, Forth. Until 2005 Barrow's Goldeneye was one of the great 'blockers' with just one accepted record, in Ayrshire in November and December 1979. However, with a male in Aberdeenshire during May and June last year and another - or the same - in Co Down from November 2005 until April 2006 and again in November 2006, everyone has now had a chance to see this superb duck.

An adult Laughing Gull located in the large evening gull roost at Grafham Water was the first Cambridgeshire record whilst an adult Bonaparte's Gull at Lunan Bay, Angus is presumably a returning individual.

The Black-eared Kite showed again at Holbeach Marsh, Lincolnshire and other long-stayers including the Forster's Tern in Co Louth, Glossy Ibis in Lancashire, Red-breasted Geese in Dorset and Lincolnshire (2), Cattle Egret in Devon and both Siberian Stonechat and Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall. Continuing American waders were represented by American Golden Plover in Cambridgeshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent and four scattered White-rumped Sandpipers.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 18th November 2006  
  The new discoveries today were all typical November fare; a Dusky Warbler at Sladesbridge, Cornwall, American Golden Plover on the Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire, White-rumped Sandpiper at Cantley, Norfolk and Ferruginous Ducks in Staffordshire and Co Armagh.

The main highlight was the Black-eared Kite that continued to delight a large audience at Holbeach Marsh, Lincolnshire with the two Red-breasted Geese remaining up the coast at Saltfleet.

The Dusky Warbler remained at Spurn, East Yorkshire as did the Woodchat Shrike at Soar, Devon whilst the Siberian Stonechat was seen again at Goonhilly Downs, Cornwall. The elusive Little Bunting put in another at Benacre, Suffolk and the late Purple Heron continued to show well at Latimer, Buckinghamshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 17th November 2006  
  New rarities were few and far between but included a Lesser Scaup on North Uist, Western Isles and an adult Black Kite reported over North Walsham, Norfolk.

The Black-eared Kite at Holbeach Marsh, Lincolnshire continued to perform, although luck was often required to obtain good views of it. Other remaining rarities included the Dusky Warbler at Spurn Point, East Yorkshire, Red-breasted Geese in Lincolnshire, Purple Heron in Buckinghamshire, Gyr on St Kilda, Western Isles, Cattle Egret on the Otter Estuary, Devon and Spotted Sandpiper on the Hayle Estuary, Cornwall. The debated female Aythya - previously suspected as being a Redhead - remained on the Loch of Spiggie, Shetland but is now believed to be a hybrid Ring-necked Duck x Pochard.

Reports of the reappearance of the Long-billed Murrelet in Dawlish, Devon raised the hopes of those unable to make it until Wednesday, but information received later this evening suggests that they may refer to a Guillemot.
-  Simon Mitchell and Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 16th November 2006  
  The Black-eared Kite proved to be a popular attraction today, as many took the opportunity to study this eastern form of Black Kite. The best new rarity was a white morph Gyr, but unfortunately it was found on St Kilda rather than a more accessible location.

In Shetland the probable female Redhead remained on Loch of Spiggie; this bird is thought by some to be the same individual that was on Barra, Western Isles during the winter of 2003/04 and Tiree, Argyll for the winter of 2005/06.

Otherwise it was a quiet day, but several of the long-staying rarities, such as the two Red-breasted Geese, Glossy Ibis, Cattle Egret and Dusky Warbler remained at their respective sites.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA