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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Sunday 14th January 2007  
  At least one male Penduline Tit joined the female at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, this afternoon, but both were typically elusive in the wind-battered reedbed. A busy Sunday also saw the reappearance of a couple of old friends. The adult female Ferruginous Duck returned to Elstow Claypits, Bedfordshire, for its 8th winter and in Co Galway the American Herring Gull returned to Nimmo's Pier - this time sporting fourth winter plumage.

In Norfolk the confiding Lesser Yellowlegs remained at Thornham, and the (much) less confiding Black-eared Kite was again showing on and off between Snettisham and Dersingham Bog. In the southwest region Devon hosted the Laughing Gull in the Newton Abbot/ Teign Estuary area and the Bonaparte's Gull was again in Plymouth. The Spotted Sandpiper was still in Cornwall and on Scilly the Bonaparte's Gull reappeared, this time on Tresco. On Anglesey the Long-billed Dowitcher was relocated on the Inland Sea and yet another Bonaparte's Gull remained at Ferryden, Angus, but apart from this long-stayer Scotland was devoid of rarities.

Ireland held several long-stayers including the Red-throated Pipit in Co Dublin, Bufflehead in Co Clare, Bonaparte's Gull in Co Antrim and Long-billied Dowitcher in Co Louth. In Co Galway, as well as the returning American Herring Gull, Nimmo's Pier held three Ring-billed Gulls, a second-winter Kumlien's Gull, seven Iceland Gulls and two Glaucous Gulls - nothing short of a mouth-watering gull-fest.

An adult white morph Snow Goose (presumably the Lesser Snow Goose from Norfolk) was noted with a large Pink-footed Goose movement over Frampton Marsh, Lincolnshire, Girton, Nottinghamshire and finally Poolsbrook, Derbyshire - next stop Lancashire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 13th January 2007  
  An excellent day today, with three new rarities found. A Lesser Yellowlegs was an excellent find at Thornham Harbour, Norfolk and will likely be much appreciated by birders visiting nearby Norfolk hotspots in coming days. In Devon another great find was a 1st-winter Laughing Gull found at the River Teign Estuary though later seen upstream in Newton Abbot. In Kent a Great White Egret was seen briefly from Capel Fleet.

Other rarities still present included the Snowy Owl on Lewis, the Ross's Gull seen again in Argyll, and the elusive Gyr Falcon on Fetlar, Shetland. More accessible rarities included the Penduline Tit at Rainham Marshes RSPB, Essex, the Long-billed Dowitcher at Oare Marshes NR, Kent and the Ferruginous Duck at New Hythe, Kent.
-  Simon Mitchell, RBA
Friday 12th January 2007  
  No new rarities were found today, but it continues to be a busy winter period, with plenty to keep birders occupied in all parts of the country.

The ever popular Black-eared Kite was seen again around Snettisham in Norfolk. Other rarities continued to impress including the Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent, Cattle Egret in Devon and Bonaparte's Gull in Angus. In Ireland the Dowitcher sp. at Dundalk Docks, County Louth that was previously reported as Short-billed now appears to be a Long-billed Dowitcher. Also in Ireland the Bonaparte's Gull continued at Whitehead, County Antrim. Interesting late news was received that an adult Forster's Tern (presumably the returning bird from previous years) was seen at Nimmo's Pier, County Galway on 6th January.
-  Simon Mitchell, RBA
Thursday 11th January 2007  
  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.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 10th January 2007  
  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.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
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
Sunday 7th January 2007  
  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.
-  Simon Mitchell, RBA
Saturday 6th January 2007  
  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.
-  Simon Mitchell, RBA
Friday 5th January 2007  
  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.
-  Simon Mitchell, RBA