Daily News Summaries
This page gives you access to all of RBA's daily news summaries (since April 13, 2006), 10 days at a time. The most recent are shown, or you can select a specific date to show (along with the previous 10 days). Prior to April 13, 2006 you can find weekly reviews, located in articles.
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Tuesday 9th January 2007  
  The two new rarities discovered today were both in Ireland: a first-winter Bonaparte's Gull at Whitehead, Co Antrim and, potentially of much greater significance, a dowitcher - believed to be a Short-billed Dowitcher (but not heard to call) - a Dundalk, Co Louth.

Elsewhere many of the long-staying rarities remained with the Black-eared Kite still at Snettisham, Norfolk, Barrow's Goldeneye at Loch Venachar, Forth, Bufflehead at Lough Atedaun, Co Clare, Ross's Gull at Ormsary Water, Argyll and two Red-breasted Geese still with Dark-bellied Brent Geese at Donna Nook, Lincolnshire.
Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 8th January 2007  
  Both of the recently present Buffleheads were still showing today; a male on Unst, Shetland and a female at Lough Atedaun, Co Clare. The Black-eared Kite was seen again over Snettisham, Norfolk, whilst in Argyll the Ross's Gull continued to show well at Ormsary Water.

Other wintering rarities seen today included the Red-throated Pipit in Co Dublin, Penduline Tit in London, Lesser Scaup in Oxon, Bonaparte's Gull in Angus and Cattle Egret in Devon.
Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 3rd January 2007  
  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.
Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 1st January 2007  
  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.
Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 31st December 2006  
  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.
Chris Batty, RBA
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