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| Thursday 11th January 2007 | ||
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| The first-winter drake Falcated Duck and Cattle Egret both
remained in Devon, at Exminster Marshes RSPB and Otterton respectively. In
Hampshire the Great White Egret reappeared at Blashford Lakes HWT and in
Scotland the Bonaparte's Gull in Angus, Snowy Owl on Lewis and
adult drake Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth were all still available.
Across the Irish Sea, the dowitcher species, probably a Short-billed Dowitcher, was still at Dundalk Docks, Co Louth, whilst the first-winter Bonaparte's Gull continued to show well at Whitehead, Co Antrim. |
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| - Stuart Piner, 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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| Wednesday 10th January 2007 | ||
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| A reasonable selection of rarities were spread around Britain and Ireland
today. In Scotland the Barrow's Goldeneye was still at Loch Venachar, Forth,
the Ross's Gull remained in Argyll and the Bonaparte's Gull was
again at Ferryden, Angus. Away from the Mainland the Snowy Owl remained on Lewis and the Bufflehead
continued its stay on Unst. Much further south were the pair of Red-breasted
Geese in Lincolnshire, Cattle Egret and Falcated Duck in Devon,
Lesser Scaup in Oxfordshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent and Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall.
In Ireland yesterday's probable Short-billed Dowitcher was seen again at Dundalk Docks, Co Louth (but the identification has yet to be clinched), the Bonaparte's Gull remained in Co Antrim, the drake Barrow's Goldeneye was still at Quoile Pondage NR, Co Down, and the Red-throated Pipit continued to frequent stubble fields at Rogerstown Estuary, Co Dublin. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 9th January 2007 | ||
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| 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. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Monday 8th January 2007 | ||
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| 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. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 7th January 2007 | ||
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| Although no new rarities were found it was still a busy day around the
country. In Norfolk the Black-eared Kite was still seen occasionally just
south of Snettisham RSPB and nearby the intermediate morph Lesser Snow Goose
was still at Holkham. Bucephala were well represented with both Barrow's
Goldeneyes remaining in Forth and Country Antrim and both Buffleheads
still present in County Antrim and Shetland.
The Lesser Yellowlegs in County Cork was reported for the first time since the new year, as was the White-rumped Sandpiper there. Other rarities included the wintering Ferruginous Duck in Kent and the Falcated Duck, Cattle Egret and Spotted Sandpiper all continuing to be seen in the South-west. Photos of an apparent Whistling Swan seen recently in Norfolk emerged and may fuel debate on yesterdays possible sighting in Lincolnshire. |
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| - Simon Mitchell, RBA | ||
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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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| 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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