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 21st June 2007  
  A quiet summer day produced only one report of a new rarity, a Glossy Ibis on Blakeney freshmarsh, Norfolk. Not far along the coast the Little Bittern failed to show at Titchwell RSPB, but in Cumbria the Hudsonian Whimbrel was still present, albeit elusive. The only other rarity news relating to today was the continuing presence of the first-summer Bonaparte's Gull on South Uist, Western Isles.

At Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire, a first-summer male Common Rosefinch was in song and south-coast seawatchers enjoyed a scattering of Balearic Shearwaters.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 20th June 2007  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Whiskered Tern at Siddick Pond, Cumbria mid afternoon. This bird remained until dusk unlike the Hudsonian Whimbrel on nearby Walney Island which, following an early morning sighting, could not be relocated.

The singing male Little Bittern remained elusive at Titchwell, Norfolk as did the Great Reed Warbler at Lydd, Kent. The Little Crake continued to be seen on Unst, Shetland Isles and the Bonaparte's Gull showed again on South Uist, Western Isles.

Late news was received of a male Harlequin Duck seen at St Kilda, Western Isles on Monday; the first breeding plumage male to been seen in the British Isles since 1965.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 19th June 2007  
  The two most notable discoveries today were both North American gulls on the Western Isles; a Bonaparte's Gull on South Uist and and an American Herring Gull on Benbecula. In Devon an Alpine Swift was seen over Dartmoor in the early afternoon.

In Norfolk the Little Bittern remained at Titchwell where, although elusive, it showed well several times during the day. In Cumbria the Hudsonian Whimbrel was seen again on Walney Island and in adjacent Lancashire the Glossy Ibis remained at Newton Marsh.

In Kent the Great Reed Warbler continued to sing near Lydd whilst in Dorset a Red-breasted Flycatcher on Portland was another notable south coast passerine.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 18th June 2007  
  A male Little Bittern showed on and off throughout the afternoon and into the evening at Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk. Present for its third day, this little gem will no doubt prove popular if it lingers at the reserve.

In Leicestershire, the wandering adult Whiskered Tern visited Eyebrook Reservoir and in Cumbria the Hudsonian Whimbrel attracted plenty of attention over the high tide period on Walney Island. Kent continued to host the Great Reed Warbler near Lydd and the Squacco Heron at Ham Marshes/Ham Road Gravel Pits and other bits and pieces scattered around Britain included Melodious Warbler singing on Bardsey Island, Gwynedd and Icterine Warbler on North Ronaldsay, Orkney.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 17th June 2007  
  Northwest England once again provided the majority of the action; the White-tailed Plover again showed for most of the day at Leighton Moss RSPB, Lancashire, and the Hudsonian Whimbrel made another high tide appearance on Walney Island, Cumbria.

Elsewhere a Whiskered Tern toured Yorkshire, visiting Pugney's Country Park and Anglers' Country Park in West Yorkshire before finally being seen at Broomhill Flash, South Yorkshire. Other new rarities scattered around Britain included a Great White Egret at Cowpen Marsh, Cleveland, White-billed Diver and Bee-eater in Highland and Squacco Heron at Ham Marshes, Kent (the latter presumably the bird previously at nearby Oare Marshes).

Long-stayers included Lesser Grey Shrike and Killdeer on Shetland and Glossy Ibis in Lancashire whilst a Black Duck was in Highland for its second day and a Great Reed Warbler continued to sing near Lydd, Kent.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 16th June 2007  
  The White-tailed Plover finally performed for a few hours at Leighton Moss, allowing a few more keen weekend birders to catch up with it. Many more people will be hoping for a repeat performance tomorrow. The only new rarity of the day was a surprise Black Duck found on Loch Sunart about 20 miles to the South-west of Fort William, Highland. 

The Hudsonian Whimbrel showed again over the high tide at South Walney, Cumbria and is likely to be an ideal side-attract for those heading to Leighton Moss tomorrow. Other rarities still present included the Citrine Wagtail on Orkney, and Little Crake on Shetland. Further south and far more accessible were the Great White Egret in East Yorkshire and the Ferruginous Duck in Somerset. A trickle of Black Terns continued, keeping inland birders on their toes.
-  Simon Mitchell, RBA
Friday 15th June 2007  
  Today's highlight was undoubtedly the discovery of a fine summer plumaged male Citrine Wagtail on Mainland Orkney at Loch of Boardhouse.  The only other new rarity reported today was a male Ferruginous Duck at Huttoft Pits in Lincolnshire.  Unfortunately the Hudsonian Whimbrel discovered yesterday at Walney Island in Cumbria was not seen today, though weather conditions were reported as very poor.

Elsewhere around the country there were very few other rarities on offer, the best of the rest being the Lesser Grey Shrike still on Fair Isle.  The Great White Egret was still in East Yorkshire at Tophill Low, the long staying Glossy Ibis was again in Lancashire at Newton Marsh and the Ferruginous Duck was again in Somerset on Chew Valley Lake.

Also worth noting today was a Red-necked Phalarope in Worcestershire at Upton Warren which performed well all day after its discovery this morning.  There was a new Red-backed Shrike in Northumberland at Beadnell as well as one on Fair Isle and the long-staying female in Blakeney, Norfolk
-  Keith Langdon, RBA
Thursday 14th June 2007  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Hudsonian Whimbrel at South Walney, Cumbria. Found in the morning high tide roost, the identity was not confirmed until it showed again this evening.

On the Shetland Isles a Great Reed Warbler was a new arrival alongside the Killdeer at Virkie, Mainland whilst on the Unst the Little Crake remained at Burrafirth.

Elsewhere, the Great Reed Warbler was still on territory at Lydd, Kent, the Great White Egret remained at Tophill Low, East Yorkshire, the Bee-eater was seen again at Tarbet, Highland and the Glossy Ibis reappeared at Newton Marsh, Lancashire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 13th June 2007  
  Fair Isle in the the Shetlands took the honours today, with a smart Terek Sandpiper found at South Harbour, along with a new Short-toed Lark, the long-staying Lesser Grey Shrike, plus two Red-backed Shrikes and an Iceland Gull. Elsewhere the White-tailed Plover put in another brief appearance at Leighton Moss in Lancashire and there were two new Bee-eaters: at Tarbet in Highland; and Minsmere in Suffolk.

The Great Reed Warbler continued to sing near Lydd in Kent, the Great White Egret remained at Tophill Low in East Yorkshire and the long-staying Killdeer was still on Mainland Shetland, although now at the Pool of Virkie. A Temminck's Stint was found at Murton Gravel Pits in Angus, a Marsh Warbler was on the Isle of May in Fife, an Icterine Warbler was at Sumburgh on Mainland Shetland and the female Red-backed Shrike remained at Blakeney in Norfolk. In the south west small numbers of Balearic Shearwaters are now starting to be seen at typical locations, heralding the onset of autumn seabirds.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Tuesday 12th June 2007  
  Other than late news from yesterday of a White-throated Sparrow on the Farne Islands, Northumberland the highlight today was the reappearance of the Black Stork in Devon; present at Northam Burrows early afternoon before once again moving on.

The Little Crake remained on the Shetland Isles as did the Great Reed Warbler in Kent and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset. In East Yorkshire the Great White Egret showed well again and a Red-footed Falcon was reported briefly.
-  Chris Batty, RBA