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.


Tuesday 20th February 2007

	Expert opinion confirmed the identity of both Pacific Divers although, whilst the juvenile showed well at Llys-y-Fran Reservoir, Pembrokeshire, the adult at Penzance, Cornwall proved more elusive Two Snowy Owls together on Lewis, Western Isles was a surprise whilst, elsewhere in Scotland, the Barrow's Goldeneye remained in Forth and the Bonaparte's Gull in Angus. In Wales the Black Scoter showed again off Conwy whilst in England the Penduline Tit remained in London as did the Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall. The mobile Glossy Ibis made a brief appearance on Merseyside and plenty of other long-staying rarities included five Lesser Scaups, three Long-billed Dowitchers, a Lesser Yellowlegs and a Ferruginous Duck.
- Chris Batty, RBA


Monday 19th February 2007

	Headline birds seen today included the Black-throated Thrush in Argyll, Glossy Ibis in Lancashire, Black-eared Kite in Norfolk, Penduline Tit in London, Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire and both possible Pacific Divers (the adult in Cornwall and juvenile in Pembrokeshire) were still on show. Other long stayers included the Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall and Ferruginous Duck in Kent, whilst in Ireland Co Galway offered the Forster's Tern, and in Co Louth continued to host the Long-billed Dowitcher.
- Stuart Piner, RBA


Sunday 18th February 2007

	Divers dominated the headlines with a juvenile White-billed Diver a new discovery off Unst, Shetland Isles and the two possible Pacific Divers both remaining; the juvenile at Llys-y-Fran Reservoir, Pembrokeshire and the adult at Penzance, Cornwall. The identity of both these birds remains unclear at present. Elsewhere, the Black-eared Kite, Glossy Ibis and Spotted Sandpiper remained in England, Snowy Owl, Forster's Tern, Long-billed Dowitcher and Lesser Yellowlegs in Ireland, Black Scoter and Long-billed Dowitcher in Wales and both Barrow's Goldeneye and Bonaparte's Gull in Scotland. Waxwings continued to be seen in eastern Britain with at least ninety birds recorded, including over twenty in Cleveland, Norfolk and Northumberland.
- Chris Batty, RBA


Saturday 17th February 2007

	Two sightings today are likely to stimulate debate more than all the others put together. The first concerns the re-appearance of the bird considered by some to be a Pacific Diver at Llyns-y-Fran Reservoir, Pembrokeshire. Even more surprising, another possible Pacific Diver (this time an adult) was seen throughout the day off Penzance, Cornwall. Hopefully high quality photographs of both will emerge in due course, which should allow definite identification of both birds. Long-staying rarities elsewhere provided birders with plenty to keep them busy. The Black-eared Kite undertook a bizarre early morning sortie across the wash to Gibraltar Point NNR, Lincolnshire where it was then seen to head back south before being relocated around Dersingham Bog, Norfolk . Wildfowl were well represent with the Barrow's Goldeneye still present in Forth, at least 6 Lesser Scaups reported, as well as the female Bufflehead in County Clare and the Black Scoter in Conwy. Rare waders also continued to delight including the Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall and Long-billed Dowtichers in Kent, Anglesey and County Louth.
- Simon Mitchell, RBA


Friday 16th February 2007

	Yesterday's probable Lesser Scaup was today seen well, and confirmed as such. Up to ten different Lesser Scaups have been present across the British Isles since the turn of the year, with Scotland and Ireland producing lion's share. Other rarities still present included the Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth, Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall and Cattle Egret in Devon. Also present again were the newly-relocated Glossy Ibis in Lancs and the Long-billed Dowitcher on Anglesey.
- Simon Mitchell, RBA


Thursday 15th February 2007

	Today's highlight, causing some late afternoon excitement, was the reappearance of the Glossy Ibis near Lytham St Annes in Lancashire. Belated reports of two new Lesser Scaups, one on Loch Leven yesterday and a probable at Cotswold Water Park on Tuesday, were also received today. Elsewhere, the Lesser Scaups at Caerlaverock and Sonning Eye Gravel Pits were both still present today as was the Barrow's Goldeneye in Callander and the Ferruginous Duck at New Hythe Gravel Pits. The Bonapartes Gull was again near Montrose at Ferryden. Ross's Gull was also seen today again at Loch Fyne, but in very poor conditions, which may account for the Black-throated Thrush on Bute not making an appearance when searched for this morning. In Norfolk, at Snettisham, the Black-eared Kite continued to show distantly and at London's Rainham Marshes the female Penduline Tit was showing again this morning before it flew off high from this site. The Long-billed Dowitcher at Oare Marshes and the Spotted Sandpiper on the Hayle were again both present, but there was no sign of the Snowy Owl on Lewis.
- Keith Langdon, RBA


Wednesday 14th February 2007

	Argyll hosted a superb duo in the form of a first-winter Ross's Gull at Portavadie and Black-throated Thrush on Isle of Bute. The former was first reported on Sunday and is presumably the same bird that frequented nearby Loch Caolisport until 14th January. Elsewhere in Scotland the Snowy Owl once again reappeared on Lewis, Western Isles, whilst the Barrow's Goldeneye remained in Forth and the Lesser Scaup was still in Dumfries & Galloway. Over in Ireland the Bufflehead was still in Co Clare and Long-billed Dowitcher still frequented Dundalk Docks, Co Louth. Southwest England produced both the Bonaparte's Gull on Isles of Scilly and Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall.
- Stuart Piner, RBA


Tuesday 13th February 2007

	Plenty of long staying rarities were available today, including the American Robin in West Yorkshire, Black-eared Kite in Norfolk, Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth, Lesser Scaup in Oxfordshire, Bonaparte's Gulls in Angus and Co Cork, Forster's Tern in Co Galway and Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent. The best of the rest were the Little Bunting in Hertfordshire and American Wigeons in Pembrokeshire and Norfolk, the latter apparently present since the 30th January. Belated news from Sunday related to the report of a first-winter Ross's Gull at Portavadie, Argyll and yet another Night Heron (of suspect origin) in the Northeast, this time at Mickletown in West Yorkshire.
- Stuart Piner, RBA


Monday 12th February 2007

	Long stayers included the American Robin in West Yorkshire, Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth, Bonaparte's Gull in Angus, Lesser Scaup in Dumfries & Galloway, Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall, Ferruginous Duck in Bedfordshire and the King Eider remained in Highland. In Norfolk a first-winter drake American Wigeon was located at Buckenham Marshes RSPB and on the east coast of England several small flocks of Waxwings have been on show in recent days. Ireland continued to host the Snowy Owl in Co Mayo, whilst Nimmo's Pier held the usual list of crackers, including the Forster's Tern and American Herring Gull.
- Stuart Piner, RBA


Sunday 11th February 2007

	In Co Mayo the Snowy Owl (last seen on 12th October) reappeared on Termon Mill, The Mullet whilst elsewhere in Ireland the Barrow's Goldeneye and Lesser Scaup remained in Co Down, Bufflehead in Co Clare and Long-billed Dowitcher in Co Louth whilst the American Herring Gull showed again in Co Galway as did the Bonaparte's Gull in Co Cork. In Britain major rarities included the American Robin still in West Yorkshire, Black-eared Kite in Norfolk, Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth and Black-throated Thrush in Argyll. Other wintering British rarities reported today comprised three Lesser Scaups, a King Eider and a Bonaparte’s Gull in Scotland, two Ferruginous Ducks and a Spotted Sandpiper in England.
- Chris Batty, RBA