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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Sunday 21st October 2007  
  Against all odds, the Red-flanked Bluetail remained in the Old Fall area of Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire, for its second day. Sunday was quiet in terms of discoveries, but odds and sods included a Radde's Warbler on The Lizard, Cornwall, White-winged Black Tern at Loch of Skene, Aberdeenshire and American Golden Plover at Maxey Gravel Pits, Cambridgeshire. Great White Egrets made appearances at Blythburgh, Suffolk, Attenborough NR, Nottinghamshire and Hill Head, Hampshire.

Lingering rarities on the Mainland included Blyth's Pipit at Sennen and American Golden Plover at Shortlanesend, Cornwall, Semipalmated Sandpiper on Gann Estuary, Pembrokeshire, Spotted Sandpiper at Lisvane Reservoir, Glamorgan, Cattle Egret at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London and Black Kite in Lincolnshire.

Scilly produced the Blyth's Pipit, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Wilson's Snipe (along with another snipe also thought to be most likely a delicata), Blackpoll Warbler and Grey-cheeked Thrush. On Shetland both the Killdeer and White-rumped Sandpiper continued to frequent the Pool of Virkie.

At least seven Pallas's Warblers were reported today, and other quality scarcities included a Bluethroat at Sandwich Bay, Kent and Red-backed Shrike on Flamborough Head, along with the expected scattering of Richard's Pipits, Great Grey Shrikes and the odd Short-toed Lark.

Across the Irish Sea, the Isabelline Shrike remained on Mizen Head and a Lesser Scaup appeared in Co Donegal.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 20th October 2007  
  Flamborough Head continued its excellent run of form with the discovery of a Red-flanked Bluetail, which showed well in the Old Fall Plantation having previously been trapped and ringed in nearby gardens. Other new discoveries came in the form of a Blyth's Pipit at Sennen, Cornwall, a couple of Penduline Tits at Rye Harbour NR, East Sussex and a flyover at Spurn, East Yorkshire, Spotted Sandpiper at Lisvane Reservoir, Glamorgan, Bonaparte's Gull in Aberdeenshire and Subalpine Warbler on Fair Isle, Shetland.

A Lesser Scaup was located at Stourhead NT, Wiltshire and a couple of Ross's Geese were discovered amongst the Pink-footed Geese at Loch Leven, Perth and Kinross. American Golden Plovers were on Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire, South Uist, Western Isles, Shortlanesend, Cornwall and Llanrhystud, Ceredigion.

Great White Egrets came in twos, at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk, and between Salthouse and Stiffkey on the North Norfolk coast, whilst a Cattle Egret and Great White Egret remained at Rainham Marshes RSPB. Another Great White Egret was on North Uist, Western Isles and the long-stayer remained at Leighton Moss RSPB, Lancashire. In Glamorgan the juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper continued to show on the Gann Estuary, and the juvenile Little Bittern at Titchwell RSPB was still present, but it only showed briefly on two occasions in the morning. In Co Cork the Isabelline Shrike was still on Mizen Head.

On Isles of Scilly the Blyth's Pipit, Blyth's Reed Warbler, both Blackpoll Warblers and Grey-cheeked Thrush were all still present and a Pallas's Warbler was discovered at Porth Hellick, St Mary's.

On Mainland Shetland, the Killdeer and White-rumped Sandpiper were both still on offer.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 19th October 2007  
  A juvenile Little Bittern was found at Titchwell RSPB mid afternoon, following hot on the heels of Norfolk's last Little Bittern, also at Titchwell during mid-summer. A Great White Egret was tracked along the north Norfolk coast this afternoon, first being seen past Sheringham, then over various sites, last being seen over Stiffkey just over an hour later. Another Great White Egret was at Holkham most of the afternoon, where the Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler was still present.

Scilly still hosted the two Blackpoll Warblers, both on St.Mary's, whilst the very elusive Grey-cheeked Thrush showed in flight only. The Blyth's Pipit showed well on Tresco, whilst the Blyth's Reed Warbler was still elusive on Bryher.

Two Cattle Egrets were found at Grove Ferry NNR, Kent this morning, although the second bird was only noticed whilst looking at the photographs taken of the first bird later in the day! Another Cattle Egret continued to show distantly at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, with a Great White Egret at the same site. Shetland's highlight today was another new Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll.

As well as a few long staying rarities, new scarcities located today included several Red-breasted Flycatchers on the south coast and on Scilly, a Pallas's Warbler on The Lizard, Cornwall, Red-backed Shrike at Winterton Dunes, Norfolk and a Leach's Petrel at Draycote Water, Warwickshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 18th October 2007  
  Today's highlight was the discovery of yet another American Buff-bellied Pipit, this time on Benbecula, Western Isles. Elsewhere, an Olive-backed Pipit was at Sumburgh Shetland Isles, a Black Kite at Wadebridge Cornwall and a Great White Egret at Cley Norfolk. Late news was received of a Desert Wheatear at Land's End, Cornwall yesterday.

Lingering rarities comprised both Blyth's Pipit and White-rumped Sandpiper on the Shetland Isles, Greenish Warbler in County Cork, Cattle Egret in London, Black Kite in Lincolnshire, Glossy Ibis in Merseyside, Lesser Scaup in Somerset and Great White Egrets in Hampshire, Lancashire and Suffolk.

On the Isles of Scilly, Tresco continued to hold the Blyth's Pipit, St Mary's two Blackpoll Warblers, Short-toed Lark, Woodchat Shrike, Little Bunting, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Richard's Pipit and two Lapland Buntings, Bryher Blyth's Reed Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher and two Lapland Buntings and St Agnes Rose-coloured Starling. Ten Yellow-browed Warblers were seen around the archipelago and a pelagic trip yielded a Great Shearwater and six Grey Phalaropes.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 17th October 2007  
  Another Blyth's Pipit was found today, this time on Shetland, at Sumburgh airfield, and an Arctic Redpoll was also on the islands along with small numbers of lingering scarcities.

On Scilly, a Radde's Warbler was seen on Tresco, with yesterdays Blyth's Pipit remaining all day. The two Blackpoll Warblers were both still on St.Mary's, along with the Wilson's Snipe and Grey-cheeked Thrush, a couple of Little Buntings, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Short-toed Lark and Lapland Buntings.

A Cattle Egret showed distantly from the visitor centre at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, and a Great White Egret was on The Levels at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk. Two juvenile American Golden Plovers were on South Uist today, with good numbers of Grey Phalaropes moving past the Western and Northern Isles.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 16th October 2007  
  News of three Great White Egrets was released today, with one in Essex, one in Yorkshire, seen from a train, and one reported from yesterday in Lincolnshire at Grainthorpe Haven. A Blyth's Pipit was identified on Tresco, Isles of Scilly, which showed well.

On the Wirral, a Radde's Warbler showed very well in the afternoon, posing for some excellent photos. Late news broadcast today concerned a Red-eyed Vireo in County Kerry on Sunday, Dusky Warbler yesterday on Foula, Shetland, Radde's Warbler on Sunday in County Cork with a Grey-cheeked Thrush and Greenish Warbler in the same county yesterday.

Seawatching in the north produced some excellent counts of Grey Phalaropes and Pomarine Skuas, with a Sabine's Gull also putting in an appearance. The Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler remained in Norfolk, Blackpoll Warbler on Scilly, along with Penduline Tit, Grey-cheeked Thrush and Wilson's Snipe, White-billed Diver in Sussex and Great White Egrets in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Lancashire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Monday 15th October 2007  
  In Norfolk a Lesser Grey Shrike was found at Dersingham Bog, in Highland a Red-footed Falcon flew over Tarbat Ness and in Dumfries and Galloway a Richardson's Canada Goose arrived at Caerlaverock. Late news from County Cork concerned a Red-rumped Swallow yesterday at Mizen Head.

Lingering rarities comprised the White-billed Diver in West Sussex, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Pembrokeshire, Glossy Ibis in Merseyside, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Norfolk, Cattle Egret in Devon, Lesser Yellowlegs in County Cork, Great White Egret in Leicestershire and American Golden Plover in East Yorkshire.

On the Isles of Scilly a brief Lesser Yellowlegs was a new arrival on St Mary's where the Wilson's Snipe remained along with Grey-cheeked Thrush, two Blackpoll Warblers, Rustic Bunting, Little Bunting, Woodchat Shrike, two Short-toed Larks, two Lapland Buntings and a Grey Phalarope. The Blyth's Reed Warbler showed again on Bryher whilst on St Agnes the Rose-coloured Starling was still present. At least seven Yellow-browed Warblers remained around the archipelago.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 14th October 2007  
  Foula continued its excellent run of birds this autumn with three more Olive-backed Pipits, along with Common Rosefinch and a few Yellow-browed Warblers. Elsewhere on Shetland, two more Arctic Redpolls were reported, and a Rustic Bunting was at Sumburgh briefly. The Red-flanked Bluetail remained at Scatness, and Pechora Pipit and Blyth's Reed Warblers both continued to show.

At the other end of the country, a Rustic Bunting was on St.Mary's, Scilly, a Raddes Warbler was on Western Rocks and the Penduline Tit was heard to fly over the Great Pool, Tresco. The Blackpoll Warbler was less mobile today, showing well on the Garrison for much of the day.

In Pembrokeshire, a Semipalmated Sandpiper was found on the Gann Estuary, and four American Golden Plovers were seen around the country. The Baird's Sandpiper in Perth and Kinross remained in an area with no access on Loch Leven, but the White-billed Diver in Sussex continued to show well off Selsey Bill.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 13th October 2007  
  Shetland again produced a selection of quality birds with White's Thrush and Red-flanked Bluetail joining Pechora Pipit, Paddyfield Warbler, Blyth's Reed Warbler and Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on south Mainland, while Unst produced two Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls and a Blyth's Reed Warbler.

Two White-billed Divers flew past Whitburn, County Durham, and one was then seen passing Hartlepool Headland in Cleveland, while another remained on the sea off Selsey Bill. Other new reports included a Great White Egret at Pitsford Reservoir, Northants, American Golden Plover at Kilnsea/Easington, East Yorkshire, Ferruginous Duck at Martham, Norfolk, Greenish Warbler joining Blyth's Reed Warbler at Mizen Head, County Cork, Red-throated Pipit over St Agnes, Scilly, Richardson's Canada Goose on Islay, Argyll and White-winged Black Tern at Rutland Water, Leicestershire.

The ever-increasing numbers of birders on Scilly were able to enjoy the probable Wilson's Snipe, Grey-cheeked Thrush and two Blackpoll Warblers on St Mary's and the Blyth's Reed Warbler on Bryher among typical October scarcities such as Red-breasted Flycatcher, Woodchat Shrike, Yellow-browed Warblers and Lapland Buntings.

Belated news concerned a Least Sandpiper yesterday on the Isle of Lewis (a potential first record for the Western Isles) which could not be relocated this afternoon, and a probable American Robin well described by a non-birder in Welwyn, Hertfordshire, last Sunday.
-  Andy Symes, RBA
Friday 12th October 2007  
  An interesting day, with up to 23 new rarities being found across the country. Most significant was the relocation of Oxfordshire's American Buff-bellied Pipit, which was found at Port Meadow late afternoon. Two Cattle Egrets were found, one on the Kent/East Sussex border, and one in Somerset at Chew Valley Lake, which was probably the same bird that was reported as a Great White Egret yesterday.

On Scilly, rarities included a probable Wilson's Snipe for its second day, a very brief Penduline Tit, another brief Great White Egret, a Grey-cheeked Thrush, a Blyth's Reed Warbler and a flyover Red-throated Pipit. The Blackpoll Warbler remained on St.Mary's, but continued to be very mobile.

Shetland hosted a Pechora Pipit on Mainland at Toab, with three Dusky Warblers, Olive-backed Pipit, Arctic Redpoll and Lesser Yellowlegs also on the islands, with Pallas's Warblers, Red-breasted Flycatchers and Yellow-browed Warblers with them.

In Argyll, a Marsh Sandpiper was reported from South Uist, a Baird's Sandpiper was on Loch Levan, Perth and Kinross, and a Ferruginous Duck was on a private broad briefly in Norfolk. Remaining rarities included White-billed Diver in Sussex, Black Kite in Lincolnshire, Lesser Scaup in Somerset, Dusky Warbler in Yorkshire and Paddyfield Warbler on Shetland.
-  Will Soar, RBA