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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Friday 11th January 2008  
  The adult White-crowned Sparrow at Cley, Norfolk, was still present, and still attracting large crowds. Other birds in the county include both Snow Geese and Ross's Geese, Black Brant, Waxwing, several Lapland Buntings, Richard's Pipit and Great Grey Shrike.

Other rarities today included Long-billed Dowitcher in Devon, King Eiders in Aberdeenshire and on Shetland, Lesser Yellowlegs in Angus, Spotted Sandpiper in Forth, Lesser Scaups on Western Isles and in Oxfordshire and around 21 Cattle Egrets.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 10th January 2008  
  The highlight of the day was once again the White-crowned Sparrow, which remained faithful to its favoured garden in Cley, Norfolk. Elsewhere rarities came in the form of a Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in East Sussex, Red-breasted Goose in West Sussex, Lesser Scaups in Somerset, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and Western Isles, King Eider in Aberdeenshire and of course, Cattle Egrets galore.

Birders twitching the White-crowned Sparrow were spoilt for choice when picking a supporting cast - Ross's and Lesser Snow Geese, Waxwing, Black Brants, Richard's Pipit, Tundra Bean Goose, Great Grey Shrike and an approachable flock of Lapland Buntings were all available in Norfolk today.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 9th January 2008  
  The adult White-crowned Sparrow continued to grab the headlines - the bird again spent the day visiting a seeded driveway in Cley village, Norfolk.

A Lesser Scaup in Somerset at Cheddar Reservoir was a new discovery, but a Temminck's Stint at Slimbridge WWT, Gloucestershire, was more than likely the bird that also spent last winter on the reserve. Cattle Egrets continued to linger in excellent numbers - at least twenty six were reported today.

In Oxfordshire the Lesser Scaup was still at Sutton Courtenay, the Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler remained on Beachy Head and the White-tailed Eagle made another appearance in Hampshire.

A probable Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll was seen briefly in a Wick garden, Highland.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 8th January 2008  
  Once again, the White-crowned Sparrow at Cley, Norfolk proved to be the highlight of the day. The bird continued to show well at intervals along a seeded driveway in the village.

Elsewhere, lingering rarities comprised the Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in East Sussex, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, Spotted Sandpiper in Forth, Long-billed Dowitcher in County Derry, Lesser Yellowlegs in both Angus and Suffolk, Lesser Scaups in both Warwickshire and the Western Isles and Great White Egrets in both Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. The Coues's Arctic Redpoll or Common Redpoll remained in the West Midlands.

Cattle Egret reports concerned four in Cornwall, two each in Devon and East Sussex and singles in Cheshire, Dumfries and Galloway and Hampshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 7th January 2008  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the White-crowned Sparrow in Cley, Norfolk where is frequently visited a seeded area between mid morning and late afternoon.

Breaking news today concerned a Lesser Scaup In Oxfordshire at Sutton Courtenay, a Ferruginous Duck in Gwent at Llandegfedd Reservoir and a brief Great White Egret at Holkham, Norfolk.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the White-tailed Eagle in Hampshire, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Cornwall, Red-breasted Goose in Dumfries and Galloway, Ross's Goose in Norfolk, Great White Egret in Cambridgeshire, Richardson's Canada Goose in Argyll, Ferruginous Duck in County Down, a Lesser Scaup and two White-billed Divers on the Shetland Isles and Spotted Sandpipers in both Forth and Glamorgan. The Coues's Arctic or Common Redpoll remained in the West Midlands and Cattle Egrets comprised eight in Cornwall, two in Somerset and singles in Cheshire, East Sussex and Gloucestershire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 6th January 2008  
  A very busy day was shattered at lunchtime, with news from the north Norfolk coast of an adult White-crowned Sparrow. Present several days in a garden in Cley, the bird was tempted out into an area viewable by the public, and several hundred birders managed to see this mega rare species.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Cattle Egrets continued to perform, with around 41 seen, along with seven Great White Egrets. An adult Laughing Gull was seen in Devon briefly and lingering rarities included King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Spotted Sandpipers in Forth and Glamorgam, Glossy Ibis in Lancashire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Angus, White-tailed Eagle in Wiltshire and a Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Sussex.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 5th January 2008  
  New today were single Great White Egrets at the Cotswold Water Park, Wiltshire and in Norfolk at both Horsey Mere and Reedham.

Lingering rarities comprised the Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in East Sussex, White-tailed Eagle in Hampshire, Red-breasted Goose between Hampshire and West Sussex, Bonaparte's Gull in Aberdeenshire, Lesser Scaup in Warwickshire, Ferruginous Duck in Berkshire, Spotted Sandpipers in both Forth and Glamorgan, Lesser Yellowlegs and Great White Egret both in Suffolk, two Black Ducks in County Donegal, Ross's Goose in Norfolk and further single Great White Egrets in both Cambridgeshire and Leicestershire. In addition, the Thayer's Gull or hybrid remained in Oxfordshire as did the Coues's Arctic Redpoll or Common Redpoll in the West Midlands.

Cattle Egret reports today totalled 39 birds with 24 in Cornwall, five in Dorset, two each in County Waterford and Somerset and singles in Ceredigion, Cheshire, Devon, Dumfries and Galloway, Gloucestershire and West Sussex.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 4th January 2008  
  Today's highlights comprised, in England the lingering Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler and Red-breasted Goose in East Sussex, both Lesser Yellowlegs and Great White Egret in Suffolk, Glossy Ibis in Lancashire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Devon, Ross's Goose in Norfolk, Lesser Scaup in Warwickshire, Great White Egret in Cambridgeshire and the Coues's Arctic Redpoll or Common Redpoll in the West Midlands.

In Scotland the Red-breasted Goose showed again in Dumfries and Galloway as did the Spotted Sandpiper in Forth, Lesser Scaup on the Western Isles, Bonaparte's Gull in Aberdeenshire and Small Canada Goose in Argyll. In Wales the Spotted Sandpiper remained in Glamorgan.

Cattle Egrets confirmed as present today comprised seventeen in Cornwall, two in both Ceredigion and Devon and singles in Cheshire, Dumfries and Galloway, East Sussex, Gloucestershire and West Sussex. In recent days at least fifteen have been seen in County Cork.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 3rd January 2008  
  New Cattle Egrets today included one in Cheshire, at Neston and one in Ceredigion, near Borth. A redpoll at Marsh Lane NR, West Midlands has been re-identified as an Arctic Redpoll. This bird is an unusual specimen, and has sparked much debate on online forums over its identity.

Lingering rarities included three Ross's Geese in Norfolk, White-tailed Eagle in Hampshire, two Hume's Yellow-browed Warblers on the south coast, and upwards of 25 Cattle Egrets. The female Ferruginous Duck reappeared at Theale GPs, Berkshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 2nd January 2008  
  Another egret day, with at least four Great White and at least 51 Cattle Egrets reported. The White-tailed Eagle was reported again in Hampshire, and two Hume's Yellow-browed Warblers remained on the south coast.

Other lingering rarities included Lesser Scaup in Warwickshire, Lesser Yellowlegs again in Angus with another still in Suffolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in Devon, Red-breasted Geese in Dumfries and Galloway and Sussex, Spotted Sandpipers in Forth and Glamorgan, and a high count of three adult Ross's Geese in Norfolk.
-  Will Soar, RBA