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| Saturday 6th January 2007 | ||
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| An exciting winters day today with the discovery of Ireland's 2nd ever Bufflehead
in County Clare, a Bonaparte's Gull found in Devon (although it may
be the same bird that was seen nearby in early December) and a Whistling Swan reported in
Lincolnshire.
Both Barrow's Goldeneyes (Forth and Co.Down) were still available for year lists this weekend, as was the Black-eared Kite in Norfolk and the recently found Lesser Scaup in Oxfordshire which proved a popular draw. Other lingering rarities included the white Gyr in Shetland, drake King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Ross's Gull in Argyll, the ever-elusive Black Scoter in Conwy, Ferruginous Duck in Kent, Cattle Egret in Devon and Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall. There was plenty for gull enthusiasts too look at with at least a Glaucous, Iceland Caspian or Mediterranean Gull at many gull roosts as dedicated local patch workers continue to hope to strike it lucky after the news of the disappearing Glaucous-winged Gull in December. |
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| - Simon Mitchell, 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 5th January 2007 | ||
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| Despite there being no new rarities today, long-staying rarities continued to
keep birders across the country occupied.
The rarest of the long-staying birds were the two Barrow's Goldeneyes in Forth and County Down as well as the Black-eared Kite cruising around northwest Norfolk. Other popular birds included the Ross's Gull in Argyll, the Blue-winged Teal in County Down and the Red-throated Pipit in County Dublin. It emerged that the Ivory Gull which graced the Ayr area over the Christmas period had sadly succumbed to a roundworm infection, its weight having decreased from the usual 550g to 350g. Other wintering rarities which continued to perform well included the Great White Egret in Hampshire, the Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent and the Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall. |
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| - Simon Mitchell, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 4th January 2007 | ||
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| Today there were two new rarities both being Lesser Scaups, a first-winter drake at Sonning Eye GPs in Oxfordshire appearing alongside a Scaup and in Co. Antrim the returning drake arrived again at Portmore Lough RSPB. The
Black Scoter in Conwy was also seen today a little down the coast at Penmaenmawr. Around the country most of the recent long-staying rarities were recorded today, the Ross’s Gull in Ayrshire again showing well as did the Bonaparte's Gulls in Angus and Co. Cork. The drake Barrow’s Goldeneye in Forth was only seen very briefly this morning though the drake in Co. Down continued to show well. Also, the Spotted Sandpiper on the Hayle Estuary was again present. |
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| - Keith Langdon, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 3rd January 2007 | ||
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| Sensational belated news concerned a third-winter Glaucous-winged Gull present at Hempsted, Gloucestershire on both the 15th and 16th December. Initially photographed on a landfill site and then, remarkably, trapped there in a cannon net during routine gull ringing activities the following day. Unfortunately the news was not released until today but although the bird has been looked for since it seems quite likely that it may still be present in the general vicinity. This is first British and second or third Western Palearctic record of this species. The juvenile Ivory Gull in Ayrshire was again relocated inland near Irvine but unfortunately appeared in ill health and was taken into care. Elsewhere the Black-eared Kite continued to roam Norfolk (today revisiting Snettisham), the Ross’s Gull remained in Argyll as did the Penduline Tit in London, the Bonaparte’s Gull in Angus and the Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 2nd January 2007 | ||
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| Today's only new rarity was a drake King Eider off Sandwick, Shetland,
but there were still plenty of long-stayers to keep year listers busy. In Argyll
the beautiful first-winter Ross's Gull continued to show very well at
Loch Caolisport and in Angus the Bonaparte's Gull was also still on show.
Scotland continued to host the drake Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth and
southwest England held both the Falcated Duck in Devon and Spotted
Sandpiper in Cornwall.
In Ireland the Red-throated Pipit in Co Dublin, Barrow's Goldeneye and Lesser Scaup in Co Down and Ferruginous Duck in Co Armagh all stayed put. A scattering of small flocks of Tundra Bean Geese continued their stay in the south and east and in Ceredigion the Richard's Pipit was still near Aberystwyth. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Monday 1st January 2007 | ||
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| The first day of the new year started well with 24 rarities reported from around the British Isles including a brief
Ross's Gull at Landguard, Suffolk and a White-billed Diver in Dunmanus Bay, Co Cork.
Major rarities included the Black-eared Kite in Norfolk, Snowy Owl on
Western Isles, Ross's Gull in Argyll, two Red-breasted Geese
in Lincolnshire and Barrow's Goldeneyes in both Co Down and Forth. Of the rest, a
Penduline Tit in Norfolk, Red-throated Pipit in Co Dublin, King Eider in Aberdeenshire and the
Falcated Duck in Devon were most notable.
Whilst the seven Ring-necked Ducks, four American Wigeons and five Ring-billed Gulls reported are standard January fare, Sabine's Gull, Manx Shearwaters, Garden Warbler, Turtle Dove and Garganey certainly are not. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 31st December 2006 | ||
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| The final day of the year brought reports of many over wintering rarities, including the
Black-eared Kite in Norfolk, Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth, Ross's Gull in Argyll,
Bonaparte's Gull in Angus, Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall, Red-throated Pipit
in Co Dublin and Falcated Duck in Devon. A new Yellow-browed Warbler was discovered at Nanjizal, Cornwall - one of at least ten so far this winter - and a storm-blown Grey Phalarope arrived at Topsham, Devon. The Rose-coloured Starling was seen again at Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 30th December 2006 | ||
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| The Black-eared Kite around Cley, Norfolk and the Barrow’s Goldeneye at Callander, Forth headlined the cast of long-staying rarities. Elsewhere, notable winter passerines included the Red-throated Pipit in Co Dublin, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Aberdeenshire and single Yellow-browed Warblers in Cornwall, Hampshire, Glamorgan and Somerset. Several North American vagrants remained with Bonaparte's Gulls in Angus and the Isles of Scilly, Lesser Scaups in Co Down and Western Isles, Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall, Lesser Yellowlegs in Co Cork and Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Friday 29th December 2006 | ||
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| The only new rarity discovered on a busy winter day was an American Golden Plover at Blennerville, Co Kerry. Elsewhere in Ireland both the
Red-throated Pipit and Blue-winged Teal remained in Co Dublin. In Scotland long-staying rarities comprised the Ross's Gull in Argyll, Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth and Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Aberdeenshire. In England the Black-eared Kite spent the day between Cley and Morston, Norfolk, the Penduline Tit showed again briefly in London, the two Red-breasted Geese remained in Lincolnshire as did the Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall. Of several Caspian Gulls reported, a first-winter in Lothian - found in Belhaven Bay yesterday and present there again this afternoon - will represent the first documented record for Scotland when accepted. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 28th December 2006 | ||
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| A fine selection of rarities were available today. In London the Penduline
Tit was still present at Rainham Marshes RSPB, whilst in Norfolk the
Black-eared Kite continued to entertain in the Cley/Blakeney area. In
Shetland, the white morph Gyr was seen again on Fetlar and further south
in Scotland the Ross's Gull in Argyll, Barrow's Goldeneye in
Forth, Bonaparte's Gull in Angus and King Eider in Aberdeenshire
were all on show.
In England the two Red-breasted Geese were still on the Lincolnshire coast, the Bonaparte's Gull reappeared on Isles of Scilly and the first-winter drake Falcated Duck remained at Exminster Marshes, Devon. The Red-throated Pipit was still at Rogerstown, County Dublin and the Blue-winged Teal remained in the same county. Bonaparte's Gull, Barrow's Goldeneye, Ferruginous Duck and Lesser Scaup were all also available in Ireland. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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