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.

Choose a starting date
Wednesday 31st October 2007  
  Once again, American Buff-bellied Pipits proved to be the highlight of the day with two (apparently new) birds discovered in Ireland, at Ballycotton in County Cork and Clahane in County Clare. Elsewhere, an American Golden Plover was a new arrival in The Shetland Isles at Esha Ness.

Two Ross's Geese relocated to Borders whilst other Scottish rarities consisted of American Golden Plovers in both Aberdeenshire and Lothian. In Wales both the Spotted Sandpiper and White-rumped Sandpiper remained in Glamorgan and in England the Lesser Scaup showed in Berkshire, as did the Long-billed Dowitcher in Devon, Black Kite in Lincolnshire and Great White Egrets in both Hampshire and Lancashire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 30th October 2007  
  New discoveries today comprised a Laughing Gull on St Mary's Isles of Scilly, Lesser Yellowlegs at Minsmere, Suffolk and Lesser Scaup at Woolhampton, Berkshire. In Kent a Black Kite flew over Coldharbour and in Oxfordshire a Great White Egret flew south over South Moreton. In Ireland two Arctic Redpolls were found on The Mullet, Co Mayo and a further four remained at Kilcredaun, County Clare.

Lingering rarities included a Wilson's Snipe on the Isles of Scilly, Black Kite in Lincolnshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Devon, American Golden Plover in Lothian, both Spotted Sandpiper and White-rumped Sandpier in Glamorgan and a Great White Egret and two Ross's Geese in Norfolk.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 29th October 2007  
  Three of the four new rarities located today were in Ireland, with four Arctic Redpolls in County Clare at Loop Head, Forster's Tern in County Louth at Cruisetown and an adult Bonaparte's Gull in County Waterford at Ardmore Bay for its second day. Elsewhere, a White-rumped Sandpiper showed very well at Kenfig Pool, Galmorgan, although the bird unfortunately had a damaged eye and a limp. Nearby, the Spotted Sandpiper was still present at Lisvane Reservoir, near Cardiff.

Lingering Great White Egrets included two still in Norfolk at Stiffkey and Wells, North Uist at Lochmaddy, Hampshire at Mockbeggar Lake, Lancashire at Leighton Moss and one in Suffolk which flew over Blythburgh. Also in Norfolk, the Olive-backed Pipit remained in Wells Woods, but was even more elusive than yesterday, being seen just twice during the day.

The first winter male Rose-breasted Grosbeak continued its stay on St.Agnes, Scilly, although the lack of birders now on the islands means fewer people are available to locate this mobile bird. Also on St.Agnes, the Dusky Warbler was seen at Troy Town.

American Golden Plovers were seen in Lothian and Dumfries and Galloway, and the juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher was still at Bowling Green Marsh, Devon. Seawatching produced the goods on the Western Isles, with several Grey Phalaropes and Leach's Petrels being reported, along with a few Sabine's Gulls and Pomarine Skuas. Little Auks were around the coast, but still in rather small numbers.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 28th October 2007  
  Two Red-rumped Swallows were discovered today - one in the south, on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly and one in the north, at Port Nis, Lewis, Western Isles.

In Norfolk the Olive-backed Pipit was still in Wells Woods, but remained extremely elusive, showing briefly on the odd occasion during the morning. Dusky Warblers could be found at Spurn, East Yorkshire, Reculver, Kent, and St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, where the elusive Rose-breasted Grosbeak made another late afternoon appearance near the Post Office.

The male Pine Bunting, male Subalpine Warbler and Bluethroat all remained on Fair Isle, whilst American Golden Plovers were still at Aberlady Bay, Lothian, Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, between Kilnsea and Easington, East Yorkshire and a new bird was discovered on The Lizard, Cornwall.

In Devon the Long-billed Dowitcher was still at Bowling Green Marsh RSPB, the Spotted Sandpiper was still at Lisvane Reservoir, the White-winged Black Tern continued to come and go at Loch of Skene, Aberdeenshire, a Ferruginous Duck remained at Chew Valley Lake, Somerset and the long-staying Killdeer was still on Mainland Shetland.

Ireland continued to host a Red-rumped Swallow on Tory Island, Co Donegal.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 27th October 2007  
  A Blyth's Pipit was new in on Fair Isle, Shetland where it joined the male Pine Bunting. An Olive-backed Pipit was seen briefly in Wells Woods, Norfolk. Birders looking for yesterday's Laughing Gull at Fidwell Fen, Cambridgeshire had consolation in the form of a flyover Great White Egret, while two Great White Egrets remained out on the saltmarsh at Wells, Norfolk. Other new finds included a brief Red-throated Pipit on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, Red-rumped Swallow on Tory Island, County Donegal and a Dusky Warbler on the Lizard in Cornwall.

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak put in a frustratingly brief appearance on St Agnes while a Wilson's Snipe remained on nearby St Mary's. Other lingering rarities included Glossy Ibis in Merseyside, Ross's Geese in Norfolk and Lothian, Lesser Scaups in Somerset, Wiltshire and County Donegal, Black Kite in Lincolnshire, Spotted Sandpiper in Glamorgan, American Golden Plovers in Carmarthernshire and Lothian, Long-billed Dowitcher in Devon, the late White-winged Black Tern in Aberdeenshire and Dusky Warblers in East Yorkshire, Kent and Scilly.

A scatter of Great Grey Shrikes, Rough-legged Buzzards, Pallas's and Yellow-browed Warblers and Lapland Buntings provided interest along the east coast.
-  Andy Symes, RBA
Friday 26th October 2007  
  Both the male Pine Bunting on Fair Isle and the male Rose-breasted Grosbeak on Scilly remained, although the grosbeak continued to be mobile and elusive. A Laughing Gull was reported from Essex, and one roosted in Cambridgeshire this evening.

A Dusky Warbler was on St.Agnes, Scilly, and another American Golden Plover joined the one on South Uist. Two Great White Egrets continued to show in the mirky gloom of Wells-Stiffkey saltmarsh, Norfolk, with another flying over Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk.

Dusky Warblers remained at Spurn, Yorkshire and Reculver, Kent, and the Spotted Sandpiper was still at Llanishen Reservoir, Glamorgan. The Long-billed Dowitcher showed distantly at Bowling Green Marsh, Devon and several Pallas's Warblers and Rough-legged Buzzards were seen around the country.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 25th October 2007  
  A male Pine Bunting made landfall on Fair Isle, Shetland this afternoon, but the Rose-breasted Grosbeak on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly was a considerably more popular attraction - the bird remained on show on and off throughout the day. Elsewhere Dusky Warblers were discovered at Bishopstone Glen, Kent and Spurn Point, East Yorkshire.

Lingering rarities included Spotted Sandpiper in Glamorgan, Long-billed Dowitcher in Devon, American Golden Plovers in Lothian and Dumfries and Galloway, a couple of Ross's Geese in Lothian and a singleton in Norfolk, Wilson's Snipe on Isles of Scilly, Killdeer on Shetland and White-winged Black Tern in Aberdeenshire

Ten Pallas's Warblers were reported, as where five Richard's Pipits, a Bluethroat, four Barred Warblers and a couple of Rough-legged Buzzards.

In Ireland a Night Heron was on Cape Clear Island.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 24th October 2007  
  The first winter Rose-breasted Grosbeak remained on St.Agnes, Isles of Scilly, but proved to be fairly mobile, although good views were available with patience. In North Yorkshire, a Pechora Pipit was found mid afternoon just north of Robin Hoods Bay, but quickly disappeared. Two new American Golden Plovers were found, one in Dumfries and Galloway at Annan, and one on County Down, in Cloghy Bay.

A Long-billed Dowitcher was at Bowling Green Marsh briefly late afternoon, and a Cattle Egret was in Sussex at Pagham Harbour for a few minutes before flying north east. In County Galway a juvenile Collared Pratincole was reported, together with a Red-rumped Swallow.

Two Great White Egrets remained in Norfolk, with another still at Rainham Marshes, London. Several Ross's Geese were reported from the east coast, and a few Pallas's Warblers were seen along the south coast, with good numbers of Yellow-browed Warblers still around.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 23rd October 2007  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Rose-breasted Grosbeak on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly in the late afternoon. Also on the island during the day were Rose-coloured Starling and Spoonbill whilst on Tresco the Blyth's Pipit was still present and on Bryher the Blyth's Reed Warbler showed again. On St Mary's the Wilson's Snipe and Blackpoll Warbler were seen along with three Pallas's Warblers and two Red-breasted Flycatchers. Ten Yellow-browed Warblers were recorded around the archipelago.

Elsewhere in England, Cornwall held Blyth's Pipit, Dusky Warbler and American Golden Plover with Laughing Gull in adjacent Devon and Lesser Scaup in Somerset. The Red-flanked Bluetail and an American Golden Plover remained in Yorkshire, as did Cattle Egret and Great White Egret in London, Ross's Goose and Great White Egret in Norfolk, Black Kite in Lincolnshire, Glossy Ibis in Merseyside and Great White Egret in Lancashire.

In Scotland the two Ross's Geese were relocated in Angus, White-winged Black Tern seen in Aberdeenshire, American Golden Plover in Lothian and both Killdeer and Dusky Warbler were on the Shetland Isles. In Wales the Semipalmated Sandpiper and Spotted Sandpiper remained in Pembrokeshire and Glamorgan respectively and in Ireland the Dusky Warbler was still in County Cork as were the Long-billed Dowitcher in County Derry and American Golden Plover in County Down.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 22nd October 2007  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of three Dusky Warblers; at St Levan Cornwall, Ballycotton County Cork and on Fair Isle Shetland Isles. An American Golden Plover was new at Aberlady Bay, Lothian.

Lingering rarities comprised the Red-flanked Bluetail in East Yorkshire, Blyth's Pipit in Cornwall, Spotted Sandpiper in Glamorgan, Killdeer and White-rumped Sandpiper on the Shetland Isles, American Golden Plover in Cambridgeshire, White-winged Black Tern in Aberdeenshire, Cattle Egret in London, Lesser Scaup in Somerset and Great White Egrets in County Derry, Lancashire and Norfolk.

On the Isles of Scilly St Mary's held the Wilson's Snipe, Blackpoll Warbler, Grey-cheeked Thrush, two Pallas's Warblers and a Red-breasted Flycatcher, Tresco the Blyth's Pipit, Spotted Crake, Lapland Bunting and Spoonbill, St Agnes Rustic Bunting and a Rose-coloured Starling and Bryher the Blyth's Reed Warbler. Six Yellow-browed Warblers were seen around the archipelago.
-  Chris Batty, RBA