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 December 2006  
  As would normally be expected in  for a weekday in late December there were no new true rarities, although a Snow Goose was found in Aberdeenshire and the White-rumped Sandpiper was seen again in Norfolk.

The majority of rarities from previous days were seen again including the Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth, the Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Aberdeenshire, the Ivory Gull in Ayrshire and the Ross's Gull in Argyll. Other rarities which also continued included the Bonaparte's Gull on Scilly and the Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall. However there were no sightings of the Black-eared Kite in Norfolk nor of the incredibly long-staying Little Auk at Snettisham.
-  Simon Mitchell, RBA
Thursday 14th December 2006  
  Two new rarities were found during an otherwise quiet day. A 1st-winter Ross's Gull was at Lochgilphead, Argyll and a Black Duck was found on The Mullet, Co.Mayo. The Ivory Gull continued to be seen in Ayrshire, as did the Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth. Three very good rarities in a fairly small area means that a weekend trip to Scotland may prove tempting for many. Also in Scotland the Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler was still in Aberdeenshire.

Further south it was an exceptionally quiet day, although the Long-billed Dowitcher, Kent, Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall and Black-eared Kite in Norfolk were all seen again, as was the Bonaparte's Gull on the Isles of Scilly
-  Simon Mitchell, RBA
Wednesday 13th December 2006  
  The undoubted highlight of an otherwise quiet day was an excellent 1st-winter Ivory Gull found at Greenan Ayrshire. The bird performed well throughout the afternoon, and looks set to draw a fair crowd over coming days if it remains in the area. Also in Scotland the Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler was confirmed at Donmouth.

The two Barrow's Goldeneyes were both seen again in Forth and County Down, as was the Falcated Duck in Devon, and the Black-eared Kite in Norfolk. Elsewhere several long-staying rarities were either not reported or appeared to have gone missing, but this may have been due, in part at least, to seemingly few birders in the field.
-  Simon Mitchell, RBA
Tuesday 12th December 2006  
  A probable Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler at Donmouth, Aberdeenshire, was the find of the day; following a blank autumn for this species, it may prove to be a popular attraction as the year draws to a close.

With the Leach's Petrel extravaganza largely over (apart from in Northwest England) it was left to the long-staying rarities to provide the rest of today's news. The juvenile Black-eared Kite in Norfolk was still the most popular attraction, but Marbled Duck in Essex, Bonaparte's Gull on Isles of Scilly, Snowy Owl on Lewis, Red-breasted Geese in Lincolnshire, Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth and Glossy Ibis in Lancashire also received attention.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 11th December 2006  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the juvenile Black-eared Kite at Snettisham, Norfolk. On the Isles of Scilly the first-winter Bonaparte's Gull was seen again on St Mary's.

In Scotland the Snowy Owl remained on Lewis, Western Isles as did the King Eider at Peterhead, Aberdeenshire and Lesser Scaups at both Caerlaverock, Dumfries and Galloway and North Uist, Western Isles.

Leach's Petrels continued to be seen from some coasts with the 52 reported from nine counties including maximum site counts of fifteen off Workington, Cumbria and at least seven passing Rossall Point, Lancashire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 10th December 2006  
  Two new rarities were found today a White-billed Diver past Flamborough Head, Yorkshire and a Bonaparte's Gull in Co.Cork.

Other news included the re-appearance of the Glossy Ibis in Lancashire, and the continuing presence of all the major rarities including the Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth, Falcated Duck in Devon and Black-eared Kite in Norfolk. Rarities which also continued to be seen included Lesser Scaups in County Down and Dumfries and Galloway, the Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall and the Cattle Egret in Devon.

The Leach's Petrel influx seems to have tailed off for the time being, with only a few birds reported today. In the last few days somewhere in the region of 2000 have been seen, making this the biggest wreck since 1989. At least 20 Great Northern Divers are still present at scattered inland reservoirs.
-  Simon Mitchell, RBA
Saturday 9th December 2006  
  A possible female Lesser Scaup reported in County Down was the only new rarity, though a Ring-necked Duck in Buckinghamshire was also noteworthy. The Black-eared Kite in Norfolk, Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth and Falcated Duck in Devon continued to be the headline birds.

Other rarities continuing to be seen included the Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall, the Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent and the returning Ferruginous Duck in Kent. Also seen were the Great White Egret in Hampshire, the Cattle Egret in Devon and the Red-breasted Geese in Lincolnshire.

Leach's Petrels continue to be seen, mostly on the coast or sadly picked up dead inland. The peak counts today were 190 past Crosby Marina, Lancashire and 91 past St. Ives, Cornwall. Good numbers of Great Northern Divers continue to be seen at inland sites.
-  Simon Mitchell, RBA
Friday 8th December 2006  
  The day's only new rarity was a Marbled Duck found at Holland Haven, Essex. This is probably the same individual that was recently in neighbouring Suffolk.

The other main news was the re-surfacing of the Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth and the Black-eared Kite in Norfolk. The drake Falcated Duck in Devon continues to moult into adult plumage and is already becoming a stunning bird.

The Leach's Petrel influx continues, and though there are now fewer wrecked birds inland, impressive totals were still recorded in the South West, most notably 155 past Hartland Point, Devon. With strong southerly wind predicted again on Sunday, there may yet be more to come.
-  Simon Mitchell, RBA
Thursday 7th December 2006  
  The continuing south-westerly gales deposited a couple of Bonaparte's Gulls in the south-west region today, near Plymouth, Devon, and on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly.

However, the spotlight was again on Leach's Petrels, with larger numbers wrecked than yesterday in south-west England and Wales and several individuals made it much further inland. At least three were seen at Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire during the morning, whilst two were at Farmoor Reservoir, Oxfordshire and another was at nearby Dix Pit. Several reservoirs in the south-east region played host to singletons and in Leicestershire individuals were at Swithland Reservoir and Watermead Country Park. At least one was seen at Leighton Moss RSPB, Lancashire. A count of over 80 was made at Kenfig Pool NNR, a truly remarkable figure for a freshwater location. Sadly, virtually all of these inland visitors are likely to succumb to exhaustion (and that is if they avoid the attention of gulls and corvids).

It was not just Leach's Petrels making it to inland locations - one of the best finds of the day was an adult pale morph Pomarine Skua at Belvide Reservoir.

The Oceanodroma show somewhat overshadowed today's rarities, but long stayers included the Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth, Bufflehead on Shetland, two Lesser Scaups in County Donegal and the Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall. A female Blue-winged Teal was located at North Bull Island, County Dublin, probably the same bird that spent last winter in the area.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 6th December 2006  
  Leach's Petrels once again created the headlines in an otherwise quiet day. Numbers were lower than in previous days, but south west England and Wales still produced some decent totals. The most popular Leach's Petrel was an individual found at Startop's End Reservoir, where it spent all afternoon straddling the Hertfordshire/ Buckinghamshire border. Another was at Farmoor Reservoir, Oxfordshire, but was sadly attacked and killed by a Carrion Crow. The supporting cast along the coast came in the form 7 Little Auks, a Grey Phalarope. 3 Pomarine Skuas, a couple of Sabine's Gulls and impressive December totals of Balearic Shearwaters off the Cornish coast.

In Devon both the Falcated Duck and Cattle Egret were still present, and on Lewis, Western Isles, the Snowy Owl reappeared outside Oceancrest. The White-rumped Sandpiper continued its (long) stay at Cley NWT, Norfolk and what was thought probably to be the juvenile Black-eared Kite was once again seen briefly at Snettisham RSPB.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA