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.


Saturday 10th February 2007

	In West Yorkshire the increasingly elusive American Robin remained in Bingley, whilst in Argyll the Black-throated Thrush on Isle of Bute was equally elusive. Elsewhere in Scotland, Red-breasted Goose and Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth, Bonaparte's Gull in Angus, Lesser Scaup in Dumfries and Galloway and King Eider in Highland were all still on offer. Further south, England produced several long-stayers, including Black-eared Kite in Norfolk, Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall, Ferruginous Duck in Kent, Little Bunting in Hertfordshire, Penduline Tit in London and Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent whilst the Bonaparte's Gull put in another brief appearance on Scilly. Ireland produced a whole host of goodies; Nimmo's Pier, Co Galway, alone held the fourth-winter American Herring Gull, Forster's Tern, six Ring-billed Gulls, at least twenty Iceland Gulls and a couple of Glaucous Gulls - quite a haul! Elsewhere, the Barrow's Goldeneye remained in Co Down, whilst Bufflehead in Co Clare, Lesser Yellowlegs and Surf Scoter in Co Cork and Hoopoe in Co Kerry were all available. Northern white-winged gulls were widespread.
- Stuart Piner, RBA


Friday 9th February 2007

	A relatively quiet day still managed to produce one new rarity, in the form of a drake King Eider at Clachtoll, Highland. Several long-stayers remained on show, chief of which was the American Robin in Bingley, West Yorkshire, whilst the Bonaparte's Gull in Angus was also notable. In Ireland, Lesser Yellowlegs and Forster's Tern in Co Cork and Bufflehead in Co Clare were all still available.
- Stuart Piner, RBA


Thursday 8th February 2007

	Long-staying rarities included the American Robin in Bingley, West Yorkshire, Barrow's Goldeneye at Loch Venachar and Red-breasted Goose near Stirling, Forth, Spotted Sandpiper at Hayle, Cornwall, Ferruginous Duck at New Hythe Gravel Pits, Kent, Lesser Scaup at Caerlaverock WWT, Dumfries & Galloway and Bonaparte's Gull at Ferryden, Angus. A report of a Laughing Gull also came from the latter site. Two long-staying Surf Scoters remained on the south coast (off Beer, Devon and Penzance, Cornwall), whilst a couple were off the south coast of Ireland (in Co Cork and Co Wexford). Other quality wintering birds included the Richard's Pipit in Ceredigion, two American Wigeons together in Cornwall, Ring-necked Ducks in East Sussex and Suffolk and fine scattering of northern white-winged gulls.
- Stuart Piner, RBA


Wednesday 7th February 2007

	Although no new rarities were reported today, lingering species continued to perform well. The Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth was once again the top rarity but was supported by an excellent cast of species. Rare thrushes were represented by the American Robin in West Yorkshire and the Black-throated Thrush in Argyll. Rare wildfowl were comprised of the Black Scoter in North Wales, and several Green-winged Teal and American Wigeon across the British Isles. A pod of Killer Whales in the Firth of Forth have also proven popular in recent days with at least one individual present today, and as many as 5 present during the last week.
- Simon Mitchell, RBA


Tuesday 6th February 2007

	No new rarities were reported today and consequently lingering wildfowl proved very popular. The wintering Barrow's Goldeneye was again near Callander in Forth, the Bufflehead was still in Co.Clare and the returning Black Scoter was again off Llanfairfechan, Conwy. Also Lesser Scaups were still in Dumfries & Galloway and Oxfordshire as were Ferruginous Ducks in Bedfordshire & Kent. Elsewhere American Robin was still at Bingley in West Yorkshire showing on & off, while a single Penduline Tit showed well this morning at Rainham Marshes RSPB in London, while the Forster's Tern was again noted in Co.Cork. Lesser Yellowlegs in Norfolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent and Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall were also still present today. However, there was no sign of the Black-throated Thrush on Bute, Argyll or the Red-breasted Goose in Forth.
- Keith Langdon, RBA


Monday 5th February 2007

	Following the yesterday’s departure of the Pacific Diver from Farnham, North Yorkshire, today saw the Pembrokeshire individual follow suit with it leaving to the southwest mid morning. Other major rarities remained with highlights consisting of Black-eared Kite in Norfolk, Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth, American Robin in West Yorkshire, Black-throated Thrush in Argyll and Red-breasted Goose in Forth. Other long staying rarities still present today included the Black Scoter in Conwy, Forster's Tern in Co Galway, Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall, Cattle Egret in Devon, Lesser Yellowlegs in Norfolk and both Long-billed Dowitcher and Ferruginous Duck in Kent.
- Chris Batty, RBA


Sunday 4th February 2007

	In Pembrokeshire the juvenile Pacific Diver remained for its third day at Llys-y-Fran Resr, but in North Yorkshire the Sunday show ended prematurely when the Pacific Diver left Farnham Gravel Pits just after 9am. Nearby, the American Robin was still present at Bingley, West Yorkshire, to console those who arrived at Farnham just a little bit too late. Scotland received plenty of attention today; the Black-throated Thrush continued to frequent gardens on Isle of Bute, the Red-breasted Goose and Barrow's Goldeneye remained in Forth, two Lesser Scaups were on Benbecula, Western Isles and the Bonaparte's Gull reappeared at Ferryden, Angus. However, a Killer Whale, present in the Firth of Forth for several days, probably attracted more attention than all the Scottish rarities put together! Elsewhere the Black-eared Kite and Lesser Yellowlegs continued to attract birders to Norfolk, whilst the southwest offered the Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall and Conwy continued to host the Black Scoter, which was showing reasonably well on the calm sea. A first-winter Laughing Gull discovered in Torbay, Devon, was probably the bird recently in the Kingsteignton area and the Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire was relocated at Needs Ore.
- Stuart Piner, RBA


Saturday 3rd February 2007

	In Pembrokeshire a juvenile diver present for its second day at Llys-y-Fran Reservoir appears to be a Pacific Diver! The bird lacks a white flank patch, has a pale grey hind-neck, a 'vent-strap' and apparently appears to be small and delicately built. Although there is no indication of a chin strap, this may not be that significant in juvenile plumage. So, unlikely as it may be, it appears there may be two Pacific Divers currently in Britain - how many more are lurking undetected in secluded Scottish bays!? The juvenile Pacific Diver in North Yorkshire delighted weekend crowds throughout the day at Farnham Gravel Pits. Nearby the American Robin remained at Bingley, West Yorkshire, allowing diver twitchers to enjoy a superb Nearctic-double. A Red-breasted Goose was located with Pink-footed Geese just east of Stirling, Forth late in the afternoon, but the flock soon departed to the east. Elsewhere there was a fine selection of birds on offer. One of the most popular was the Little Bunting at Amwell Gravel Pits in Hertfordshire. It was superbly found on Wednesday, but today was the first day is was twitchable. The southeast region also offered a Penduline Tit at Rainham Marshes, London, Falcated Duck and Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent and two Ferruginous Ducks, in Kent and Bedfordshire. The Spotted Sandpiper was still in Cornwall and the Bonaparte's Gull showed again in Devon. In Scotland the Black-throated Thrush on Bute, Argyll and Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth were both still available and in Norfolk the Lesser Yellowlegs and Black-eared Kite were still on show.
- Stuart Piner, RBA


Friday 2nd February 2007

	The juvenile Pacific Diver continued to perform at Farnham Gravel Pits, North Yorkshire and often showed well to a still sizeable following. Elsewhere the American Robin was still on show in West Yorkshire, the Lesser Yellowlegs and Black-eared Kite were still available in Norfolk and the Isle of Bute, Argyll, continued to host the Black-throated Thrush. In Southwest England the Bonaparte's Gulls in Devon and Isles of Scilly and Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall were the star birds, whilst Kent continued to hold the Long-billed Dowitcher at Oare and Falcated Duck at Cliffe. Late news from yesterday involved a report of a Cattle Egret flying over Pulborough Brooks RSPB, West Sussex and on Wednesday a Little Bunting was discovered at Amwell Gravel Pits, Hertfordshire.
- Stuart Piner, RBA


Thursday 1st February 2007

	The juvenile Pacific Diver continued to attract plenty of attention at Farnham Gravel Pits, North Yorkshire and not far away in West Yorkshire, the first-winter American Robin remained in Bingley. A fine scattering of long-staying rarities across the British Isles included the Black-throated Thrush on Bute, Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth, Black-eared Kite and Lesser Yellowlegs in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gull on Otter Estuary, Devon, Lesser Scaup in Oxfordshire and Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall. In Ireland the Bufflehead was still in Co Clare, and further north in Co Galway, the adult Forster's Tern was still at Nimmo's Pier.
- Stuart Piner, RBA