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| Wednesday 3rd October 2007 | ||
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| The discovery of a Brown Flycatcher at Flamborough Head in East
Yorkshire dominated the news today. The bird was found in the morning, but news
did not break until early afternoon, and , although the bird remained in the Old
Fall Plantation till dusk, it did not always prove easy to locate. The only
previous record in the UK was of a bird on Fair Isle in July 1992 which is
currently on Category D of the British list.
Also on the east coast a new Blyth's Reed Warbler was found on Holy Island in Northumberland, with the bird also remaining at Whitburn in County Durham. The Turkestan Shrike remained at Buckton near Flamborough, the Lesser Grey Shrike and probable Moltoni's Subalpine Warbler both remained in Norfolk and a Radde's Warbler was still at The Naze in Essex. Yellow-browed Warblers were seen in numbers all down the east coast with several Great Grey Shrikes also reported and a Greenish Warbler still to be found in Wells Woods, Norfolk. On Scilly a smart Red-throated Pipit was found on St.Mary's and there was a Great White Egret over Bryher, but no sign of any American Buff-bellied Pipits on the islands. On The Shetlands, a Citrine Wagtail was found on Whalsay and there are now two Lanceolated Warblers on Fair Isle, along with the American Buff-bellied Pipit which remains on the island. Belated news from the Out Skerries was of a Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler found there yesterday, but not seen today. In Ireland, a Spotted Sandpiper was new at Ballycotton in County Cork. |
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| - Pete Hayman, 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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| Tuesday 2nd October 2007 | ||
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| Highlights today included a Blyth's Reed Warbler at Whitburn County Durham,
Lesser Grey Shrike at Holkham Norfolk, Radde's Warbler at The Naze Essex and a
Siberian Stonechat at Spurn Point East Yorkshire. Of the lingering rarities the Turkestan Shrike in East Yorkshire and the Subalpine Warbler (suspected of being a Moltoni's Subalpine Warbler) in Norfolk were the most notable. Otherwise the Lesser Scaup remained in Somerset, Baird's Sandpiper in County Wexford, Cattle Egret in Highland, Lesser Yellowlegs in County Cork, Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent, Ross's Goose in Norfolk, Marbled Duck in Suffolk and Great White Egrets in both Lancashire and County Derry. On the Shetland Isles, Fair Isle recorded American Buff-bellied Pipit, Lanceolated Warbler, White-rumped Sandpiper and a dead White's Thrush, Fetlar a Swainson's Thrush, Whalsay a Blyth's Reed Warbler and Yell a Spotted Sandpiper whilst news from Unst included an Arctic Redpoll yesterday. Scarcities recorded around the archipelago today comprised eleven Yellow-browed Warblers with singles of Melodious Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Bluethroat, Common Rosefinch, Great Grey Shrike, Barred Warbler and Glaucous Gull. On the Isles of Scilly both the American Buff-bellied Pipits were confirmed as still present with one each on St Mary's and Tresco. Around the islands Red-breasted Flycatcher, Pectoral Sandpiper, Wryneck and two each of Yellow-browed Warbler and Lapland Bunting were seen. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Monday 1st October 2007 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was an adult male Red-flanked Bluetail discovered on Bardsey Island, Gwynedd. A juvenile
Pallid Harrier was reported from the Isle of Jura, Argyll in the afternoon and
Great White Egrets were recorded at Upton Warren, Worcestershire and Kinver, Staffordshire. Lingering rarities included the Turkestan Shrike and Siberian Stonechat in East Yorkshire, Subalpine Warbler in Norfolk, Greenish Warbler in Kent, Black Kite in Lincolnshire, Lesser Scaup in Somerset, Great White Egret in West Sussex and Long-billed Dowitchers in both Kent and County Clare. On the Shetland Isles, Fair Isle recorded American Buff-bellied Pipit and Lanceolated Warbler, Fetlar Swainson's Thrush, Yell Spotted Sandpiper, Unst White-rumped Sandpiper and Mainland both Killdeer and King Eider. Scarcities recorded around the archipelago comprised Melodious Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Bluethroat, Great Grey Shrike, two Buff-breasted Sandpipers, four Barred Warblers, five Greenland Redpolls, twelve Yellow-browed Warblers and a Grey Phalarope. On the Isles of Scilly both the American Buff-bellied Pipits were confirmed as still present; with one each on St Mary's and Tresco. An Aquatic Warbler was discovered on St Agnes and Pectoral Sandpiper, Lapland Bunting and three Yellow-browed Warblers were seen around the islands. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 30th September 2007 | ||
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| A Grey-cheeked Thrush was new in on Fair Isle, Shetland, as was a
Blyth's Reed Warbler with a remaining Lanceolated Warbler along with
plenty of scarce migrants. The Swainson's Thrush remained on Fetlar,
Shetland, whilst, elsewhere, Shetland still hosted Spotted,
White-rumped and Buff-breasted Sandpipers, a Sardinian Warbler
and the long-staying Killdeer. A Citrine Wagtail was found on
North Ronaldsay, Orkney.
A Blyth's Reed Warbler was an excellent find in Norfolk at Gramborough Hill, and a Subalpine Warbler and Radde's Warbler were also noteworthy. The Long-billed Dowitcher remained at Bough Beech Reservoir, Kent. A Lesser Scaup was found at Blagdon Lake, Somerset, and a Baird's Sandpiper was on the Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire. In County Cork a Red-throated Pipit flew over Mizen Head. The Isabelline Shrike remained near Flamborough, Yorkshire, with the Buff-bellied Pipit still on Scilly, and three Greenish Warblers in Yorkshire, Norfolk and Kent. At least four Great White Egrets were seen around England, but there was no sign today of the Paddyfield Warbler in Kent or the Blyth's Reed Warbler in Northumberland. |
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| - Pete Hayman and Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 29th September 2007 | ||
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| While it may have lacked the extreme rarities of yesterday, it proved to be
another classic late September day with the pick of the new arrivals including
Blyth's Reed Warbler at Woodhorn, Northumberland, Isabelline Shrike
at Buckton, East Yorkshire and Red-flanked Bluetail at Weybourne,
Norfolk. While the bluetail did a disappearing act the warbler and shrike both
proved far more obliging and remained until dusk. Elsewhere presumably the same
Gull-billed Tern flew north past Spurn, East Yorkshire and Hartlepool,
Cleveland and single Siberian Stonechats were found at Hummersea,
Cleveland and Newbiggin, Northumberland. Away from the east coast a
Franklin's Gull appeared briefly at Alvecote, Warwickshire, a Long-billed
Dowitcher joined a Pectoral Sandpiper at Bough Beech reservoir in
Kent, an Aquatic Warbler was ringed at Titchfield Haven, Hampshire and a
Bonaparte's Gull dropped in at Strangford Lough in County Down.
A Citrine Wagtail on Foula was scant consolation for birders dipping yesterday's first-winter male Siberian Thrush, while on nearby Fetlar the Swainson's Thrush remained for its second day. There was no sign of the Semipalmated Plover on Colonsay, Argyll, or the Red-flanked Bluetail at Corton, Suffolk. Other Shetland specials included a brief Great Snipe on Fetlar and a new Lanceolated Warbler on Fair Isle along with a fleeting Red-throated Pipit. The exceptionally confiding Paddyfield Warbler at St Margaret's at Cliffe, Kent and the American Buff-bellied Pipit on St Mary's, Scilly, were among the most popular of the remaining rarities. There was a notable arrival of Great Grey Shrikes along the coast between Essex and North Yorkshire together with a scattering of Yellow-browed and Barred Warblers and Red-breasted Flycatchers. Seabirds including Sabine's Gulls, Grey Phalaropes, Bonxies and Gannets continued to delight patch-watchers on Midlands water bodies and particular mention must go to the remarkable gathering of three Grey Phalaropes and a single Red-necked Phalarope viewable from the same hide at Cley NWT Norfolk. |
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| - Andy Symes, RBA | ||
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| Friday 28th September 2007 | ||
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| A day of Mega's, with four breaking after 3pm! A male Siberian Thrush
was on Foula, Shetland, Swainson's Thrush on Fetlar, Shetland,
Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler on Fair Isle, Shetland (joining a
Lanceolated Warbler from yesterday), and news of a Semipalmated Plover
was released from Colonsay, Argyll, on the birds second day. Other rarities included Pechora Pipit on Out Skerries, Thrush Nightingale on Fair Isle (both Shetland), Paddyfield Warbler in Kent at St.Margarets at Cliffe, American Buff-bellied Pipit on St.Mary's, Scilly, Red-flanked Bluetail in Suffolk, a couple of Greenish Warblers in Norfolk and Kent, Killdeer on Shetland, White-rumped Sandpiper at Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, Snowy Owl on Lewis, Western Isles with a Spotted Sandpiper remaining on Yell, Shetland. Seabirds continued to turn up inland, with several Grey Phalaropes and Sabine's Gulls, along with many skuas and Gannets around the country. Scarce migrants continued to arrive, with a few Wrynecks being reported, along with a good number of Yellow-browed Warblers. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 27th September 2007 | ||
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| A good day in the far north and on Scilly today, with a second
Buff-bellied Pipit joining the bird on St.Mary's, Scilly early this morning,
whilst on Shetland there were two Lanceolated Warblers on Fair Isle,
Arctic Redpoll on Fetlar, a new White-rumped Sandpiper on Unst,
Citrine Wagtail on Mainland, and a Spotted Sandpiper was on Lewis,
Western Isles. The Greater Yellowlegs was seen early this morning in Hampshire but, unfortunately, not since. Elsewhere, three Greenish Warbler turned up in Yorkshire, Norfolk and Kent, with drift migrants such as Yellow-browed Warblers and Barred Warblers arriving as well. Remaining rarities included Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Cattle Egret in Highland, Great White Egret in Lancashire and Spotted Sandpiper, Sardinian Warbler and Arctic Warbler on Shetland. Seawatching continued to provide entertainment, with Sabine's Gulls and Grey Phalaropes also seen inland at various sites. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 26th September 2007 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Greater Yellowlegs in Hampshire. Present at Farlington Marshes mid afternoon and again this evening it was perhaps the individual seen yesterday 133 miles to the north northeast at Baston, Lincolnshire. On the Shetland Isles a Sardinian Warbler was discovered on Mainland (at Scousburgh) along with the long-staying Killdeer and a Yellow-browed Warbler. The Arctic Warbler and an Iceland Gull remained on Out Skerries and the Spotted Sandpiper showed again on Yell whilst on adjacent Unst, Melodious Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Common Rosefinch and Lapland Bunting were all seen. At least seventeen Greenland Redpolls were scattered around the archipelago. On the Isles of Scilly the American Buff-bellied Pipit continued to show well with the Barred Warbler on St Mary's, a Wryneck was seen on Bryher and the Pectoral Sandpiper remained on Tresco, where yesterday the Citrine Wagtail was still present. Lingering rarities elsewhere consisted of the Wilson's Phalarope in Worcestershire, Black Kite in Cornwall, Lesser Yellowlegs in Suffolk, American Golden Plover on the Orkney Isles and Glossy Ibis in Lancashire with single Great White Egrets in Derbyshire, Hampshire, South Yorkshire, Suffolk and County Derry. Other Irish rarities included the Snowy Owl still in County Mayo and the Baird's Sandpiper again in County Wexford. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 25th September 2007 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the discovery of an American Buff-bellied Pipit
on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly - the tenth record for the British Isles but the third this week! Other noteworthy birds around the archipelago included
Spotted Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Barred Warbler on St Mary's,
Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Wryneck and Sabine's Gull on St Agnes and a
Sabine's Gull past Tresco. A Greater Yellowlegs present briefly at Baston, Lincolnshire perhaps constitutes only the fifth inland record of this species for the British Isles. A Lesser Yellowlegs in Suffolk at Walberswick was a more routine discovery as were single Great White Egrets in Essex, Nottinghamshire and Suffolk. On the Shetland Isles a Citrine Wagtail was found on Mainland at Sandwick and Spotted Sandpipers were present on both Unst and Yell. Elsewhere around the islands the American Buff-bellied Pipit and three Barred Warblers were on Fair Isle, the Arctic Warbler remained on Out Skerries, Pectoral Sandpiper at Fleck and on Unst Melodious Warbler, Common Rosefinch and two Barred Warblers were seen. Other lingering rarities comprised Wilson's Phalaropes in County Down and Worcestershire, Long-billed Dowitchers in Lincolnshire and Norfolk, Black Kite in Cornwall, Cattle Egret in Highland and Great White Egret in Lancashire. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Monday 24th September 2007 | ||
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| In Cornwall a Wilson's Petrel passing St Ives Island was the highlight of a productive day for seawatching with, elsewhere in the county, a
Black Kite seen near Antony. On the Shetland Isles the American Buff-bellied Pipit remained on Fair Isle as did the Arctic Warbler on Out Skerries, King Eider and Common Rosefinch both at Wester Quarff and another Common Rosefinch was on Unst. On the Isles of Scilly the Citrine Wagtail remained on Tresco along with both Pectoral Sandpiper and Lapland Bunting. The Spotted Sandpiper showed again on St Mary's as did the Woodchat Shrike on St Martin's with a Pectoral Sandpiper on St Agnes and a Wryneck on Bryher. Elsewhere, Long-billed Dowitchers remained in Lincolnshire and Norfolk, Wilson's Phalaropes in Worcestershire and County Down and Great White Egrets in Hampshire and County Londonderry with the Cattle Egret still in Highland and the American Golden Plover on the Western Isles. Late news was received of an American Buff-bellied Pipit found aboard a boat around 150 miles north northwest of the Butt of Lewis, Western Isles on Thursday that, sadly, later died. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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