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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Saturday 28th April 2007  
  Hot news today was the discovery of an adult Egyptian Vulture in Norfolk at Scoulton near Watton. Found grounded in a field early morning it soon took off and departed north-northeast but was not seen again by dusk. This represents the third acceptable British record and the first since 1868.

Other new rarities consisted of a Lesser Yellowlegs near Kenchester, Herefordshire, two brief Red-rumped Swallows at Pett Levels, East Sussex, a Bonaparte's Gull at Tacumshin, Co Wexford, an American Herring Gull on Tresco, Isles of Scilly and fly-over Black Kites in both Dorset and Kent.

The Iberian Chiffchaff remained in Norfolk as did the Black Kite on the Isles of Scilly, seven Glossy Ibises and Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall and eight Glossy Ibises and a Marbled Duck together in Gloucestershire. On the Shetland Isles the Killdeer was seen again along with two White-billed Divers and a King Eider.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 27th April 2007  
  New rarities found today came largely in the shape of White-billed Divers in the northern isles. Three potentially new birds were found: one off Tiumpan Head on Lewis; a second bird joined the one already present on North Ronaldsay, Orkney; and one was seen flying up Mousa Sound on the Shetlands. It is difficult to assess how much overlap of records is involved, but these sightings are typical of the now regular early spring passage through the northern isles. Elsewhere a Black Kite was found in County Limerick, with another remaining on the Scillies throughout the day. Large numbers of Glossy Ibises remained in Gloucestershire and Cornwall, and the Iberian Chiffchaff was still on territory just outside Norwich in Norfolk.

Long-stayers included Lesser Scaup on Loch Leven in Perth & Kinross, Barrow's Goldeneye on Loch Venacher in Forth, Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall and Laughing Gull in Devon. A Serin flew over Hurst Point in Hampshire and Hoopoes were in Hampshire, Norfolk and Hertfordshire, with a belated report of one in Suffolk yesterday. Two Eiders were a very unusual arrival at King George V Reservoir in London and there was an overland movement of Bar-tailed Godwits in the south east.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Thursday 26th April 2007  
  Cambridgeshire produced a Black Kite over Wicken Fen NT this evening, possibly the bird that had been frequenting the Norfolk coast for the previous few days. Elsewhere a juvenile White-billed Diver was off West Burra, Shetland, where the Killdeer also remained. Nearby, the adult White-billed Diver was still off Laxo and the adult drake King Eider was again off Wester Quarff. Another White-billed Diver was logged off North Ronaldsay, Orkney and in Ireland a Lesser Yellowlegs was discovered at Clonakilty, Co Cork.

In Norfolk the Iberian Chiffchaff remained popular near Norwich and fifteen Glossy Ibises in Gloucestershire and seven in Cornwall also attracted attention. In Lancashire the long-staying Glossy Ibis continued to frequent Warton Marsh and on Isles of Scilly the Black Kite was still over St.Mary's. A couple of Golden Orioles were discovered, in Bristol and Suffolk and a Pectoral Sandpiper paused briefly at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB, Aberdeenshire, this evening.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 25th April 2007  
  An early Red-footed Falcon, a first-summer male, was discovered near Stanhoe in Norfolk, but the bird only lingered long enough to be enjoyed by the finders. Nearby the showy Black Kite continued to entertain an appreciative crowd on the North Norfolk coast and near Norwich the vocal Iberian Chiffchaff remained equally confiding.

Other new rarities included a Red-rumped Swallow over Landguard NR, Suffolk, female Blue-winged Teal in Co Tipperary and American Herring Gull on Marazion Beach, Cornwall.

Popular rarities included a Lesser Scaup in Leicestershire, Black Kite on Scilly and the Glossy Ibis flocks in Gloucestershire and Cornwall. Some late news from Friday related to a flock of seventeen Glossy Ibises flying over Helford River, Cornwall.

Some more exciting news from Friday originated from Hempsted landfill site, Gloucestershire (of Glaucous-winged Gull notoriety). Yet some more belated news of a mega-gull find was released, this time an adult Baltic Gull (form fuscus) was present for four days last week sporting a white-colour ring from Finland. Baltic Gull is currently on the British list on the basis of a dead bird found off Orford Ness, Suffolk, on 24th October 1981. At the moment there is no known way of clinching the identification of an out-of-range adult Baltic Gull without it wearing a colour-ring from an appropriate colony.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 24th April 2007  
  A male Black-headed Wagtail reported among a large number of White Wagtails at Lough Foyle, County Derry is a potential first for Ireland and will no doubt be keenly searched for tomorrow. What was presumably the Black Kite seen between Sheringham and Cley on Sunday was relocated at Titchwell, Norfolk, early morning, then moving to the Burnham Deepdale area where it remained for most of the day and proved remarkably obliging for this usually difficult species. The Black Kite on Scilly proved similarly co-operative, showing to birders on both St Mary's and St Martin's. A drake Lesser Scaup was reported at Eyebrook Reservoir, Leicestershire in the evening, where a drake Green-winged Teal was already present.

 

At least 14 Glossy Ibises could still be seen at Slimbridge WWT, Gloucestershire, with seven remaining on The Lizard, Cornwall, and the long-staying bird at Warton Marsh, Lancashire. Although there were no new individuals reported today, there are surely still others from this remarkable influx still lurking unnoticed in the south-west. The Iberian Chiffchaff continued to hold territory at Colney, Norfolk, at least one White-billed Diver remained off Lewis in the Western Isles, but yesterday's Black-throated Thrush on Fair Isle, Shetland appears to have departed. The Marbled Duck at Saul, Gloucestershire, Spotted Sandpiper at Hayle, Cornwall and Laughing Gull at Topsham, Devon remained yet another day in their respective localities. A Richard's Pipit at Lytham Moss, Lancs was a good Spring record while, more typical of the season, Hoopoes put in brief appearances at Lossiemouth, Moray and Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, but one at Calshot in Hampshire was much more obliging. A female Ring-necked Duck at North Plain RSPB, Cumbria, was a new find, and healthy total of eight Spoonbills were seen in the Cley area, Norfolk.
-  Andy Symes, RBA
Monday 23rd April 2007  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a female Black-throated Thrush on Fair Isle, Shetland Isles. Elsewhere on Shetland lingering rarities included the Killdeer, a King Eider and yesterday a White-billed Diver.

Continuing spring rarities comprised a Red-breasted Flycatcher at Hilbre Island, Wirral, the territorial Iberian Chiffchaff at Colney, Norfolk and Glossy Ibises remaining at Slimbridge, Gloucestershire (17) and The Lizard, Cornwall (7) with a further bird reported yesterday at West Alvington, Devon.

Winter birds hanging on included the Forster's Tern in Co Galway, Laughing Gull in Devon, Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall, King Eider in Moray and both White-billed Diver and American Herring Gull on the Western Isles.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 22nd April 2007  
  A busy Sunday saw the arrival of several new rarities. These included four new Glossy Ibises seen flying over the M5 in Somerset, Red-rumped Swallows over Landguard NR, Suffolk, Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire and Spurn, East Yorkshire and lingering Black Kites on the North Norfolk coastline and Isles of Scilly. A party of seven Bee-eaters were briefly on Walland Marsh, Kent, in the morning and an Olive-backed Pipit was apparently photographed in a garden near Hull, East Yorkshire.

Perhaps the most significant news however, relates to a bird found yesterday evening - a chiffchaff just outside Norwich, Norfolk, was recorded singing and calling like an Iberian Chiffchaff. Excellent views of the bird this morning and analysis of sonograms confirmed the identification as an Iberian Chiffchaff, the first for Norfolk.

Elsewhere the Killdeer remained on Shetland and the popular parties of Glossy Ibises (seventeen at Slimbridge, Gloucestershire and seven on The Lizard, Cornwall) were still on offer. In Devon the first-winter Laughing Gull made a brief appearance at Bowling Green Marsh RSPB and in Cornwall the Spotted Sandpiper was at Hayle. A Serin was singing in Nanjizal Valley, Cornwall and a Wryneck was at Rye, East Sussex. Ducks were represented by the Marbled Duck in Gloucestershire and Barrow's Goldeneyes in Forth and Co Down, as well as a 'new' adult drake Lesser Scaup at Vane Farm RSPB, Perth and Kinross.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 21st April 2007  
  Following the finding of seventeen Glossy Ibises in Gloucestershire on Friday, it was no surprise that this species continued to create the headlines today. Seven more ibises were discovered, all on The Lizard, Cornwall - a party of five at Hayle Kimbro Pools and a couple just northeast of Lizard village. The Slimbridge flock remained in-situ and many jumped at the chance to witness the spectacle of such a large gathering of this species on British soil. How many more are lurking undetected in southwest England?

Red-rumped Swallows also played a significant role in today's news; singles were seen over Boulby Cliffs, Cleveland, Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire, Lissagriffin, Co Cork (present for its second day) and another was reported over Dungeness, Kent.

The masses twitching the Glossy Ibises in Gloucestershire also enjoyed the Marbled Duck which remained at nearby Saul Warth and elsewhere long-staying rarities included King Eiders in Moray and Aberdeenshire, American Herring Gull and White-billed Diver on Lewis, Snowy Owl on North Uist, Laughing Gull in Devon and Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth.

Other notable discoveries made today included a Red-backed Shrike at Pagham Harbour, West Sussex, Golden Orioles at Dungeness, Kent and Cape Cornwall, Cornwall, a Hoopoe at Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset and a Wryneck near Mathry, Pembrokeshire. The elusive Spotted Crake continued to frustrate would-be observers at Attenborough, Nottinghamshire and Ring Ouzels were widespread, including some impressive flocks, especially on the Norfolk coastline.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 20th April 2007  
  Following the six Glossy Ibises seen yesterday in Co Kerry and three seen over Hayle, Cornwall this afternoon, this evening saw the exceptional arrival of 17 Glossy Ibises at Slimbridge, Gloucestershire. The last influx of this species was in September 2002, but the number currently present in the British Isles exceeds any recent records.

Otherwise, the Barrow's Goldeneye remained in Forth, Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall, Laughing Gull in Devon, Long-billed Dowitcher in Derry, King Eider in Moray, a White-billed Diver on Shetland Isles and an American Herring Gull was seen again at Polgigga, Cornwall.

Migrants continued to arrive, particularly Ring Ouzels and Redstarts, with a Spotted Crake at Attenborough in Nottinghamshire and several scattered Dotterel being notable. Pomarine Skuas moved east along the English Channel between West Sussex and Kent.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 19th April 2007  
 

The blue ringed third-winter Glaucous-winged Gull continues to be frustratingly difficult to connect with, and today there was no sign of the bird all day at Beddington in south London. It must be anyone's guess where, when and indeed if it will turn up again, although there must be a high chance it is still lurking with the large numbers of gulls that frequent the South-east's many reservoirs, rubbish tips and estuaries.

Perhaps the most remarkable report concerned an impressive party of six Glossy Ibises which were seen in flight over Kerry Airport in County Kerry, but sadly not yet relocated. The only other new rarity reports both came from Scotland: a report of a flyover White-tailed Eagle near Irvine, Ayrshire and drake King Eider off Peterhead in Aberdeenshire. Although not an entirely unpredictable record these beautiful seaduck are always lovely birds to find, while although the eagle must have been an impressive sight there is a strong possibility that it originated from the reintroduced population in western Scotland.

Lingering rarities included drake Barrow's Goldeneyes in Forth and County Down, the Laughing Gull at Topsham, Devon with the Cattle Egret at nearby Budleigh Salterton, the Marbled Duck at Frampton-on-Severn, Gloucestershire, Spotted Sandpiper on the Hayle Estuary, Cornwall and Glossy Ibis at Warton Marsh, Lancashire; while what was presumably the male Subalpine Warbler found on Lundy Island, Devon on the 11th was seen again this morning.

Brief Hoopoes in Lincolnshire and Cornwall did not remain on view for long, while a new Green-winged Teal at Kirkby-on-Bain, Lincolnshire proved particularly obliging as there were no other teal present on its chosen pool. The unringed White Stork at Bishop Middleham, County Durham proved popular, while decent numbers of Ring Ouzels, several inland Little Gulls and Little Terns and a scattering of Garganey, flyover Ospreys and Red Kites and arriving summer migrants kept patch-watchers happy.
-  Andy Symes, RBA