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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Wednesday 29th August 2007  
  The undoubted highlight of the day came when an adult Red-necked Stint was discovered at Carne Harbour, near Rosslare, Co.Wexford. The bird was watched until dusk as it fed over the high tide with Dunlin, Ringed Plovers and Sanderling. Supporting cast nearby was nicely provided by the Wilson's Phalarope which moved from Lady's Island Lake to Nethertown Strand.

Other new rarities were a Franklin's Gull at Braunton Marsh, Devon, a White-winged Black Tern which flew through Christchurch Harbour, Dorset, a possible Little Shearwater past Flamborough Head and a probable Hudsonian Whimbrel flew by near the observatory on Fair Isle.

There were also several new scarcities discovered: a Barred Warbler at Hauxley NR, Northumberland; a Red-backed Shrike at Rainham Marshes, Greater London; an Ortolan Bunting at Portland, Dorset and a Melodious Warbler on St Mary's, Scilly.

Other rarities still present from previous days were rather thin on the ground: the Marbled Duck moved back to Normanston Park, Lowestoft and the Great White Egret performed well in Lancashire. The King Eider at Wester Quarff, Shetland was seen for the first time in a few days and the eclipse drake American Wigeon on the Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire was picked out amongst its Eurasian counterparts again.
-  Simon Mitchell, RBA
Tuesday 28th August 2007  
  The best new rarity of the day was a juvenile Wilson's Phalarope discovered at Lady's Island Lake, County Wexford. The only other new rarity reported was a belated report of  a Cattle Egret near Seaton in Devon yesterday, but there was no further sign today.

In East Anglia the juvenile Marbled Duck relocated from Lowestoft to Minsmere and a Sacred Ibis in Norfolk baring a red colour-ring on it's right leg provoked much debate as to it's origins. If it proves a wandering individual from the French feral population in may well be popular as many would then consider this a 'tickable' individual. A Gull-billed Tern reported past Cley may hopefully be picked up again elsewhere along the well-watched Norfolk Coast. 

The best rarities were rather inaccessible; the Solitary Sandpiper remained on St Kilda as did the juvenile Pallid on Shetland Mainland. Elsewhere the Black Stork remained on Anglesey as did the Great White Egrets in Lancashire and Glostershire and the White-winged Black Tern in Essex.

The good spell for sea-watching continued but most of the action was further north with Northumberland and Durham both scoring high-prized North Sea records of Great Shearwater and Orkney fairing even better with a single Cory's and 21 Greats recorded altogether today.            
-  Simon Mitchell, RBA
Monday 27th August 2007  
  A Solitary Sandpiper was the best discovery on Bank Holiday Monday, but unfortunately it chose far flung St Kilda, Western Isles, to make landfall. Mainland discoveries came in the form of a popular Great White Egret at Leighton Moss RSPB, Lancashire, a Marbled Duck at Leathes Ham, Suffolk, White-winged Black Tern in Funton Creek, Kent and Squacco Heron in Dorset. A Greenish Warbler at Rockland Broad, Norfolk, was a superb find away from the coast. A Gull-billed Tern was once again reported off the Norfolk coastline, this time at Cley and Blakeney, and a report of three Black Storks came from Porthleven, Cornwall.

On the Norfolk coast just one Greenish Warbler remained, a well-watched bird at Walsey Hills NOA. Equally popular rarities were the White-winged Black Tern in Essex, Great White Egret in Wiltshire and Ferruginous Duck in East Yorkshire.

An Ortolan Bunting graced Portland Bill and a party of three Ortolan Buntings flew over nearby Ferrybridge. There were several Wrynecks, Red-backed Shrikes and Barred Warblers available in southern England, the Woodchat Shrike was at Church Norton, West Sussex for its second day, a Dotterel visited St David's Airfield, Pembrokeshire, the Purple Heron was still at Frensham Little Pond, Surrey and the Red-necked Phalarope continued its stay at Cantley beet factory, Norfolk.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 26th August 2007  
  Most of yesterday's Greenish Warblers had cleared out, leaving just a couple at Walsey Hills NOA and a singleton at Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk. In Staffordshire a Black Kite was reported flying over Aqualate Mere and a probable Great White Egret was at Marshside RSPB, Merseyside as darkness fell this evening. A probable Isabelline Wheatear on Davidstow Airfield, Cornwall, will hopefully be seen again tomorrow.

Popular rarities included the Wilson's Phalarope in Buckinghamshire, Great White Egret in Wiltshire and White-winged Black Tern in Essex whilst on Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire, the Melodious Warbler continued to attract plenty of attention. Nearby a juvenile Ferruginous Duck remained on Hornsea Mere. In Merseyside the Glossy Ibis was still at Marshshide RSPB and other lingering rarities included American Golden Plover in Co Kerry, Black Stork on Anglesey, Black Kite in Lincolnshire, Citrine Wagtail on Fair Isle, Killdeer and King Eider on Mainland Shetland and a Wilson's Petrel was seen on an Isles of Scilly pelagic.

On Shetland Mainland an Ortolan Bunting was at Hoswick for its second day, but a Woodchat Shrike in Sussex, Red-necked Phalarope in Norfolk, Purple Heron in Surrey and a scattering of Barred Warblers, Red-backed Shrikes and Wrynecks were more accessible for the masses.

The magic late August dates once again produced Fea's Petrel past Bridges of Ross.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 25th August 2007  
  Today was again dominated by Greenish Warblers in Norfolk. At least seventeen individuals were spread along the Norfolk coastline, with supporting cast including several Barred Warblers, Red-backed Shrikes and Wrynecks. At Snettisham RSPB a Gull-billed Tern was reported.

Away from Norfolk, scarce migrants were represented by Red-backed Shrikes in East Sussex, Kent, East Yorkshire and Shetland; Wrynecks in Cornwall, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Suffolk and Barred Warblers in Suffolk and Essex. The Isle of Wight also produced an Icterine Warbler, the Hoopoe remained near Dover, Kent and in Shetland an Ortolan Bunting was at Hoswick, Mainland.

In Buckinghamshire the adult Wilson's Phalarope continued to frequent Willen Lake and White-rumped Sandpipers remained at Brownsea Island, Dorset, Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire, whilst in Essex last weekend's adult reappeared at Canvey Point. The long-staying near-adult Black Stork was once again seen on Alaw Estuary in the morning, and in Wiltshire a Great White Egret remained at Cotswold Water Park. The Melodious Warbler at Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire was a popular weekend attraction for northern-based birders and in Cornwall the Buff-breasted Sandpiper was at Hayle Estuary RSPB for its second day. In Surrey the Purple Heron showed several times in flight throughout the day at Frensham Little Pond, and in Staffordshire the eclipse male Ring-necked Duck returned to Blithfield Reservoir.

The Bank Holiday weekend crowds scored a Fea's Petrel double past Bridges of Ross, Co Clare this evening, one at 6.50pm and another sighting at 7.39pm.

The Killdeer made an unexpected reappearance on Mainland Shetland today, back at the Pool of Virkie, and an eclipse drake King Eider at Wester Quarff was presumably a returning bird. Further south, on Fair Isle, the Citrine Wagtail was still present, and on Western Isles the Bonaparte's Gull reappeared on South Uist.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 24th August 2007  
  North Norfolk was the centre of attention today with thirteen Greenish Warblers recorded between Holme and Sea Palling alongside a supporting cast of six Red-backed Shrikes, three Barred Warblers, three Wrynecks and singles of Icterine Warbler, Spotted Crake and Red-necked Phalarope. Elsewhere, associated arrivals included single Greenish Warblers in both Suffolk and Kent as well as a further thirteen Wrynecks, four Red-backed Shrikes and a Hoopoe.

Other fresh discoveries included a Wilson's Phalarope at Willen Lake, Buckinghamshire (suspected to be the individual present recently in both Co Durham and North Yorkshire), an American Golden Plover at Cromane Co Kerry, White-winged Black Tern at Abberton Reservoir Essex, Great White Egret at Lodmoor Dorset and - in pride of place - a Fea's Petrel seen this evening from the Isle of Lewis, Western Isles.

The Black Stork showed again on Anglesey as did the Great White Egret in Wiltshire, Glossy Ibis in Merseyside, Long-billed Dowitcher in Co Clare, two Wilson’s Petrels off the Isles of Scilly, single White-rumped Sandpipers in both Aberdeenshire and Dorset and Ferruginous Ducks in East Yorkshire and Somerset.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 23rd August 2007  
  The best bird of the day was on Shetland where a juvenile Pallid Harrier was found in the Loch of Spiggie area of Mainland. Elsewhere the east coast continued to host migrants from Scandinavia with Greenish Warblers in Norfolk at Blakeney, Holkham and Weybourne, along with four Red-backed Shrikes and two Wrynecks in Norfolk, and two Red-backed Shrikes in Lincolnshire. A Great White Egret was found at the Cotswold Water Park in Wiltshire and in East Yorkshire a Ferruginous Duck was confirmed at Hornsea Mere after poor views yesterday evening.

In Dorset the White-rumped Sandpiper remained in Poole Harbour and White-winged Black Terns could still be found at Dungeness in Kent and Minsmere in Suffolk. Red-necked Phalaropes were at Keyhaven Marshes in Hampshire and Cantley Beet Factory in Norfolk. Seawatching along the east coast produced a smattering of Sabine's Gulls and Long-tailed Skuas. A belated report came of a Black Stork over Calne in Wiltshire on 13th August.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Wednesday 22nd August 2007  
  Blakeney Point once again stole the show today, producing a superb total of five Greenish Warblers. The only Greenish Warblers away from Blakeney were on Holy Island, Northumberland, and Unst, Shetland. An Aquatic Warbler was at Radipole Lake RSPB, Dorset in the morning, and an adult stint on the Hayle Estuary, Cornwall, caused an identification headache - after initially being reported as a Baird's Sandpiper, it was later thought more likely to be a Semipalmated Sandpiper.

Elsewhere an adult White-winged Black Tern appeared at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk, this evening, whilst juveniles remained at Dungeness RSPB and Bough Beech Reservoir, Kent and Weir Wood Reservoir, East Sussex. White-rumped Sandpipers were still on Brownsea Island, Dorset and on Mainland Orkney and the long-staying Glossy Ibis in Merseyside and Black Kite in Lincolnshire were both still on show. Both the Oxfordshire and Surrey Purple Herons could still be found at their respective sites, the Citrine Wagtail continued its stay on Fair Isle, Shetland, and the Melodious Warbler showed again at Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire

The best of the rest included a Red-backed Shrike at Gibraltar Point NNR, Lincolnshire, Wrynecks in Glamorgan, Dorset, Suffolk, East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire and some tremendous east coast seawatching. Those in landlocked counties were not left out of the action, as several seabirds found refuge on inland water bodies throughout the day.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 21st August 2007  
  Classic weather conditions for early autumn rarities on the North Norfolk coast didn't disappoint - a tremendous selection of birds on Blakeney Point included not only a Great Snipe and at least two Greenish Warblers, but also Icterine and Barred Warblers. Further up the east coast another Greenish Warbler and a Barred Warbler were located on Inner Farne, Northumberland and on Shetland a Greenish Warbler was on Unst, where an adult Rose-coloured Starling could also be found.

A Fea's Petrel flew past the late August crowds at Bridges of Ross, Co Clare and White-winged Black Terns were discovered at Bough Beech Reservoir, Kent and Weir Wood Reservoir, Sussex. In Dorset the yellowlegs sp was once again present on and off in Brand's Bay, but is still refusing to show well enough to be identified. Nearby, an adult White-rumped Sandpiper visited the lagoon on Brownsea Island.

A Great White Egret arrived at Blithfield Reservoir, Staffordshire, and other inland treats included an adult Sabine's Gull at Rutland Water, Leicestershire and juvenile Long-tailed Skua at Queen Mother Reservoir, Berkshire.

Lingering rarities included the Marbled Duck in Norfolk, Black Kite in Lincolnshire, Black Stork on Anglesey and Citrine Wagtail and Greenish Warbler on Fair Isle. Melodious Warblers were at Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire and South Hallsands, Devon, whilst a couple of Kentish Plovers were at Stanpit Marsh, Dorset and a Spotted Crake at Baddesley Common, Hampshire. Wrynecks made landfall at Minsmere RSPB and Landguard NR, Suffolk and Spurn Point, East Yorkshire, a Pectoral Sandpiper was briefly at East Tilbury, Essex and Purple Herons remained in Oxfordshire and Surrey.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 20th August 2007  
  Perhaps the highlight of an otherwise quiet day was an adult Gull-billed Tern, which passed close by along Salthouse beach in Norfolk but was not picked up elsewhere along the coast. Juvenile White-winged Black Terns appeared at Dungeness in Kent and Langstone Harbour in Hampshire, while a Greenish Warbler on Fair Isle was a predictable find and hopefully the first of many this autumn.

The juvenile Marbled Duck remained at Cantley, Norfolk, and long-stayers included Bonaparte's Gull and Long-billed Dowitcher in County Clare, Black Stork on Anglesey, Squacco Heron in Cambridgeshre, Glossy Ibis in Merseyside, Great White Egret in South Yorkshire and Black Kite in Lincolnshire. Among the best of the rest, a Melodious Warbler at Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire was an excellent record and juvenile Purple Herons inland at Frensham, Surrey and Otmoor, Oxfordshire continued to attract interest.
-  Andy Symes, RBA