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| Friday 23rd February 2007 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the discovery of a 1st-winter Laughing Gull
at Exmouth in Cornwall. This is presumably the same bird which was last seen in
Kingsteignton last month. The other main news was the continued presence of both
Pacific Divers in Cornwall and Pembrokeshire. A Ross's Gull was
also reported in County Cork
Other rarities still present included the Glossy Ibis in Lancashire, the Bonaparte's Gull on Scilly, and the Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall. The one of the two Snowy Owls on Lewis continued to be co-operative, allowing birders to successfully twitch it from the mainland. |
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| - Simon Mitchell, 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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| Thursday 22nd February 2007 | ||
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| The only new birds today were in Ireland, where a Great White Egret
was reported from Broad Lough in County Wicklow and there was a possible American
Herring Gull at Rossaveal in County Galway. Also at Rossaveal were 21 Iceland
Gulls, a Glaucous Gull and 2 Ring-billed Gulls. Elsewhere,
both Pacific Divers, the juvenile in south Wales and the adult in
Cornwall, remained, but the latter was somewhat elusive. Also in Cornwall, there
was another unconfirmed report of a Gyr near Padstow.
Several long-stayers could still be found, including the Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth, the Bufflehead in County Clare, Lesser Scaups in Dumfries & Galloway and Oxfordshire, the Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall, the Cattle Egret in Devon and the Long-billed Dowitcher in County Louth. In Hertfordshire, the Litte Bunting remained at Amwell Gravel Pits, but continued to be best viewed early in the morning. The first Sand Martin of the year flew over Slimbridge WWT reserve in Gloucestershire. |
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| - Pete Hayman, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 21st February 2007 | ||
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| The main news today concerned the two Pacific Divers, the juvenile at
Llys-y-Fran Reservoir in Pembrokeshire and the adult at Penzance in Cornwall,
which both remained and continued to attract interest.
In Scotland an untagged immature White-tailed Eagle was at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB reserve in Aberdeenshire until early afternoon when it flew south, and in Argyll the Ross's Gull was still at Loch Fyne and the Black-throated Thrush remained on Bute, whilst in Ireland, in County Kerry, the drake Black Duck was found again at Ventry Harbour. The juvenile Black-eared Kite was still to be seen to the south of Snettisham RSPB reserve in Norfolk and the two Snowy Owls remained on Lewis in the Western Isles along with the two Lesser Scaup on Benbecula. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 20th February 2007 | ||
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| 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. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Monday 19th February 2007 | ||
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| 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. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 18th February 2007 | ||
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| 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. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 17th February 2007 | ||
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| 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. |
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| - Simon Mitchell, RBA | ||
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| Friday 16th February 2007 | ||
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| 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. |
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| - Simon Mitchell, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 15th February 2007 | ||
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| 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. |
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| - Keith Langdon, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 14th February 2007 | ||
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| 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. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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