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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Monday 8th October 2007  
  The star find today was another American Buff-bellied Pipit, this time inland at Farmoor Reservoir, Oxfordshire. Elsewhere, a Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler was confirmed at Holkham Norfolk, a Dusky Warbler at Easington East Yorkshire, a Long-billed Dowitcher at Lough Beg County Londonderry and Great White Egrets in Cornwall (two), Dorset and Staffordshire.

Lingering rarities included American Buff-bellied Pipits in County Clare and County Cork (two), Blyth's Reed Warblers in East Yorkshire (two) and Wirral, Lesser Grey Shrike in Norfolk, Radde's Warbler in Essex, Dusky Warbler in Nottinghamshire, Black Kite and Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent, Lesser Scaup in Somerset, Marbled Duck in Suffolk and Great White Egrets in both Hampshire and Lancashire.

On the Shetland Isles, Whalsay recorded a Citrine Wagtail, Yell the Spotted Sandpiper, Mainland the Killdeer and Unst an Arctic Redpoll. Scarcities recorded around the archipelago today comprised 35 Yellow-browed Warblers, four Common Rosefinches, three Lapland Buntings, two Barred Warblers and singles of Melodious Warbler, Little Bunting, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Bluethroat and Red-backed Shrike.

On the Isles of Scilly the Woodchat Shrike remained on St Mary's along with Red-breasted Flycatcher, Barred Warbler and Red-backed Shrike, Tresco continued to host Pectoral Sandpiper and Dotterel, St Martin's a Wryneck and St Agnes a Lapland Bunting. Thirteen Yellow-browed Warblers were scattered around the islands.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 7th October 2007  
  Potentially the biggest bird of the day (in every respect) was a vulture, apparently thought by the observers to be a Griffon Vulture, which spent several hours over the Isle of Wight in the afternoon. Birders on the south coast could do well to keep their eyes on the skies tomorrow.

The remarkable autumn for Buff-bellied Pipits continued with two birds at Lissagriffin, County Cork and another at Liscannor, County Clare, along with the remaining Fair Isle bird. Blyth's Reed Warblers stole the show for many on the mainland with a remarkable three in East Yorkshire (at Flamborough, Kilnsea and Easington) and the confirmation of the bird found yesterday at Red Rocks on the Wirral. The first Dusky Warbler of the autumn chose to appear at the remarkable inland location of Netherfield, Nottinghamshire, where it was eventually seen and heard well, but a Greenish Warbler at the equally unusual location of Catford in London could not be relocated.

A Radde's Warbler seen again at The Naze, Essex proved popular but was typically elusive, while the best Scilly could muster were Woodchat and Red-backed Shrikes, Barred and Yellow-browed Warblers and a Common Rosefinch. The east coast deluge of Yellow-browed Warblers continued and a few birds even made it inland. A count of nine in County Galway was particularly noteworthy. There was no sign of yesterday's reported Dendroica species on Shetland, but news of Iceland's second ever Yellow-bellied Sapsucker gave renewed hope for those searching for Nearctic vagrants in the southwest, Scilly and Scotland.
-  Andy Symes, RBA
Saturday 6th October 2007  
  An intriguing report surfaced from Shetland this evening, of a Dendroica species at Kergord, Mainland. No further details were available, but from a description the bird may well have been a Bay-breasted Warbler. Also on Shetland were several long staying rarities including Killdeer, Arctic Redpoll, Spotted Sandpiper and Olive-backed Pipit.


Several Blyth's Reed Warblers were found, including at least one at Spurn, Yorkshire, one at Flamborough Head, Yorkshire, as well as two or three possibles around the country.


Greenish Warblers and Hume's Yellow-browed Warblers were reported from Wells and Holkham, Norfolk, joining double figures of Yellow-browed Warblers.


An American Golden Plover showed well on Tiree, Argyll, as did a Great White Egret in Dorset, but a probable Pratincole species failed to reappear near Norwich, Norfolk. A Buff-bellied Pipit was in County Cork, and a Lesser Yellowlegs was found on Orkney.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 5th October 2007  
  For the second consecutive Friday Foula produced a Siberian mega - this time a male Siberian Rubythroat. The island also held at least one Blyth's Reed Warbler, at least two Olive-backed Pipits and a Pechora Pipit for its second day. Elsewhere on Shetland the American Buff-bellied Pipit remained on Fair Isle, the Killdeer was still on Mainland and the Spotted Sand on Yell also lingered.

New discoveries included a Radde's Warbler at Holme NOA, Norfolk, juvenile American Black Tern at Tacumshin, Co Wexford, 1st-summer drake Lesser Scaup at Trimley Trout Lake, Suffolk, American Golden Plover on Tiree, Argyll and Long-billed Dowitcher at Oare Marshes, Kent.

There was no sign of the 1st-winter Brown Flycatcher at Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire, but a Red-backed Shrike was still on show and nearby the Turkestan Shrike remained at Buckton. In Lincolnshire a Radde's Warbler remained at Donna Nook and in Norfolk the probable Moltoni's Subalpine Warbler was a popular attraction.

On Isles of Scilly highlights included a Woodchat Shrike on St Mary's and Dotterel and Pectoral Sandpiper on Tresco.

In Co Cork, Ballycotton continued to host the juvenile Sharp-tailed and Semipalmated Sandpipers.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Thursday 4th October 2007  
  The main birds today were the Brown Flycatcher in Yorkshire, with the Turkestan Shrike just up the road, and a back up of three Blyth's Reed Warblers, American Buff-bellied Pipit on Scilly, and Subalpine Warbler and Lesser Grey Shrike in Norfolk.

Lingering rarities in Shetland included Spotted Sandpipers on Unst and Yell, and American Buff-bellied Pipit on Fair Isle, along with good numbers of scarce migrants.

A Raddes Warbler was trapped and ringed at Donna Nook, Lincolnshire, an adult American Golden Plover was found in Lothian, whilst in Ireland a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and a Semipalmated Sandpiper were the highlights, along with a Baird's Sandpiper.

Very good numbers of Yellow-browed Warblers continued to be found all down the east coast, along with other scarce migrants.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 3rd October 2007  
  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.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Tuesday 2nd October 2007  
  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.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 1st October 2007  
  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.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 30th September 2007  
  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.
-  Pete Hayman and Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 29th September 2007  
  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.
-  Andy Symes, RBA