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 8th September 2007  
  A Sharp-tailed Sandpiper spent a brief period on the Humber at Sammy's Point, East Yorkshire mid afternoon, before being pushed off its feeding area by the high tide - subsequent searching in the surrounding area throughout the rest of the day unfortunately drew a blank.

The rest of today's new waders were all of Nearctic origin - Baird's Sandpiper and two Buff-breasted Sandpipers on Mainland Shetland, Lesser Yellowlegs and Buff-breasted Sandpiper on Tory Island, Co Donegal, Wilson's Phalarope at Belfast Lough RSPB, Co Down and American Golden Plover and Buff-breasted Sandpiper on South Uist, Western Isles. The other hot news on the Western Isles came from Butt of Lewis, where a staggering 7,114 Great Shearwaters were logged flying past between 7am and 5.30pm.

A Fea's Petrel flew past Annagh Head early afternoon and in Worcestershire a Great White Egret was at Grimley new workings until late morning. Lingering rarities included the Wilson's Phalarope in Dorset, Great White Egret in Lancashire, Blue-winged Teal in Cleveland, Pallid Harrier and Citrine Wagtail on Shetland, White-winged Black Tern in Kent, White-rumped Sandpiper in Norfolk, Spotted Sandpiper on Isles of Scilly and two American Golden Plovers in Lincolnshire.

The best of the rest included Barred Warbler at Bockhill Farm, Kent, Spotted Crakes in Essex, London, Warwickshire, Cornwall and Hampshire, a scattering of Wrynecks, Red-necked Phalarope at Buckenham Marshes RSPB and Pectoral Sandpiper at Tichwell RSPB, Norfolk, Woodchat Shrike on Isles of Scilly, Red-backed Shrike at Oare Marshes KWT, Kent and two Pectoral Sandpipers in Cambridgeshire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 7th September 2007  
  A Greenish Warbler was located at Hastings, East Sussex late morning, where it remained on show until 2pm. A second adult American Golden Plover joined the bird found yesterday in Lincolnshire, and Great White Egrets arrived at Blashford Lakes HWT and Vyne Watermeadows, Hampshire, and Otmoor RSPB, Oxfordshire (the latter a county first). A Bonaparte's Gull was discovered at Kilshannig, Co Kerry and the Semipalmated Sandpiper remained at nearby Ventry Harbour.

In Dorset the juvenile Wilson's Phalarope remained at Stanpit Marsh, the Blue-winged Teal was still at Haverton Hole, Cleveland, the Pallid Harrier put in another appearance on Mainland Shetland, Great White Egrets were still at Cotswold Water Park, Wiltshire, and Leighton Moss RSPB, Lancashire and in neighbouring Merseyside, the Glossy Ibis was still present.

The best of the rest included Ortolan Bunting on Hengistbury Head, Dorset, Woodchat Shrike on Isles of Scilly, Purple Heron at Aller Moor, Somerset, Pectoral Sandpiper at Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk and Spotted Crakes at Ladywalk NR, Warwickshire, Maldon, Essex and Rainham Marshes RSPB London.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Thursday 6th September 2007  
  Nearctic waders were the flavour of the day, the highlight being a Wilson's Phalarope discovered at Christchurch Harbour, Dorset this afternoon. In southwest Ireland a juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper was located in Ventry Harbour, Co Kerry and back in England an American Golden Plover was near Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, with another reported on Rousay, Orkney. A Cattle Egret was briefly at Pagham Harbour, West Sussex, and lingering rarities included the White-winged Black Tern at Dungeness, Kent, Great White Egret at Leighton Moss RSPB, Lancashire, Blue-winged Teal at Haverton Hole, Cleveland, Spotted Sandpiper on Isles of Scilly, White-rumped Sandpiper at Breydon Water, Norfolk and Glossy Ibis at Marshside RSPB, Merseyside. The juvenile Ferruginous Duck reappeared on Hornsea Mere, East Yorkshire

A Woodchat Shrike made landfall on St Martin's, Isles of Scilly, at least two Ortolan Buntings were in Cornwall and a couple of Pectoral Sandpipers were fresh arrivals on South Uist, Western Isles.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 5th September 2007  
  A Spotted Sandpiper showed well on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly; it has been present for a week but not identified for certain until yesterday.

In Ireland the American Black Tern remained in County Galway as did the Citrine Wagtail in County Kerry and Spotted Sandpiper in County Cork. In England the Blue-winged Teal lingered in Cleveland as did the Glossy Ibis in Merseyside, White-winged Black Tern in Kent, Great White Egret in Lancashire and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset.

Two Ortolan Buntings were seen in Dorset making a total of six present in that county this week. Today, in Cornwall an Ortolan Bunting and two Tawny Pipits were seen near Land's End.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 4th September 2007  
  Highlight of today was a Little Shearwater past Whitburn, Co Durham. Other new rarities included a Great White Egret on the Isles of Scilly and a Citrine Wagtail in County Kerry. Lingering rarities were the Blue-winged Teal at Haverton Hole, Cleveland, Great White Egret at Marshside, Merseyside and the White-rumped Sandpiper at Breydon Water, Norfolk.

A Buff-breasted Sandpiper showed well at Toft Newton Reservoir, Lincolnshire this afternoon, and there was a good showing of Ortolan Buntings in Dorset, with up to three birds being seen. The Night Heron at Fairburn Ings, West Yorkshire showed again and several Spotted Crakes were present in England.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Monday 3rd September 2007  
  Seawatching was productive from several coasts today with Wilson's Petrels off the Isles of Scilly and Co Mayo headlining a cast that included multiple Sabine's Gulls, Long-tailed Skuas and Pomarine Skuas off both the English and Scottish east coasts. Single Great Shearwaters were recorded at Lossiemouth, Moray and Spurn, East Yorkshire.

In Ireland the American Black Tern remained in Co Galway as did the Spotted Sandpiper in Co Cork. In England the Blue-winged Teal continued to linger in Cleveland and likewise the White-winged Black Tern in Kent, Marbled Duck in Leicestershire, White-rumped Sandpiper in Norfolk, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset and single Great White Egrets in Lancashire, Merseyside and Wiltshire.
-  Chris Batty and Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 2nd September 2007  
  Ireland produced most of the action, with a mouth watering selection of birds spread around the country. New discoveries included a juvenile American Black Tern at Rahasane Turlough, Co Galway, juvenile Spotted Sandpiper at Ballycotton, Co Cork and Fea's Petrel past Downpatrick Head, Co Mayo, whilst the Wilson's Phalarope remained at Lady's Island Lake, Co Wexford. A Pectoral Sandpiper was at nearby Tacumshin and a Buff-breasted Sandpiper was discovered at Doonbeg, Co Clare.

In Cleveland the Blue-winged Teal remained at Haverton Hole, Great White Egrets were still at Cotswold Water Park, Wiltshire, Leighton Moss RSPB, Lancashire and Marshside RSPB, Merseyside, where the long-staying Glossy Ibis was also on show. A 'new' Great White Egret flew over Wernffrwd, Glamorgan, this morning. Marbled Ducks were still present at Leathes Ham, Suffolk and Rutland Water, Leicestershire, the White-winged Black Tern was still at Dungeness and the Bonaparte's Gull remained on South Uist, Western Isles.

Spotted Crakes graced Farlington Marshes, Hampshire, Ladywalk NR, Warwickshire and Coombe Hill Meadows, Gloucestershire, a Kentish Plover visited Brownsea Island, Dorset, an Ortolan Bunting was on St.Mary's, Isles of Scilly for its second day and a Wryneck was at Thurlestone Marsh, Devon. Scarce herons were represented by two long-stayers and a new discovery - a Purple Heron was flushed near Oath Sluice, Somerset and the Purple Heron in Surrey and Night Heron in East Sussex were both still available.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 1st September 2007  
  A very quiet day today in respect of new rarities to report, though there was a fair selection of other rarities and a few scarcities available around the country.  Only two new rarities were reported, the first a brief juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs on South Uist at Peninerine and then another Marbled Duck at Rutland Water at the Egleton Reserve. Also, there was belated news of an Aquatic Warbler trapped & ringed in Devon at South Milton Ley on Tuesday.

Still on offer today were yesterdays Blue-winged Teal in Cleveland at Haverton Hole and White-winged Black Tern in Kent at Dungeness.  Also, Citrine Wagtail remained on Fair Isle, Wilson's Phalarope was still in Co Wexford at Lady's Island Lake, White-rumped Sandpiper reappeared in Norfolk again at Breydon Water and the Marbled Duck was still in Suffolk at Lowestoft.  The three Great White Egrets were all seen today at Cotswold Water Park in Wiltshire, Leighton Moss in Lancashire and at Marshside in Merseyside.  The Glossy Ibis was also again present at the latter.

Also of interest today there were at least five Spotted Crakes around the country, four Red-backed Shrikes and singles of other scarce birds such as Melodious Warbler, Rose-coloured Starling, Wryneck, Barred Warbler, Sabine's Gull, Pectoral Sandpiper & Purple Heron.
-  Keith Langdon, RBA
Friday 31st August 2007  
  County Wexford was still the centre of attention, although the news today was disappointing, as there was no sign of the Red-necked Stint at Carne Harbour all day. The county did continue to host a Wilson's Phalarope at Lady's Island Lake and a new Buff-breasted Sandpiper was at Tacumshin. In England, an eclipse drake or female Blue-winged Teal was found at Haverton Hole in Cleveland and there was a juvenile White-winged Black Tern on 'The Patch' off the power station at Dungeness, although it is impossible to know if this is a different bird to the one which frequented the reserve a few days ago. In Shetland, the Hudsonian Whimbrel spent another day on Fair Isle and there was a Melodious Warbler on Unst. The Black Stork was seen again over the Alaw Estuary in Anglesey and Great White Egrets remained in Lancashire and Wiltshire. Spotted Crakes were in Essex and Gloucestershire and a popular Red-backed Shrike remained at Rainham in London.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Thursday 30th August 2007  
  The Red-necked Stint remained in County Wexford, although it was not relocated until the evening when it again returned to Carne harbour at high tide and showed very well to a small crowd. Nearby the Wilson's Phalarope was still at Lady's Island Lake. A Great White Egret was found at Marshside Marsh RSPB Lancs, the Hudsonian Whimbrel was relocated and photographed on Fair Isle, Shetland, and a Baird's Sandpiper was reported at Irvine, Ayrshire.

Lingering birds included single Great White Egrets at Cotswold Water Park, Wilts, and at Leighton Moss RSPB Lancs, the Bonaparte's Gull on South Uist and the Glossy Ibis at Marshside Marsh Lancs, as well as belated news of the summering Killdeer still at Virkie, Shetland yesterday, but there was no sign today of the Franklin's Gull at Braunton, Devon.
-  Dick Filby, RBA