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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Wednesday 4th June 2008  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Citrine Wagtail at Caerlaverock, Dumfries and Galloway. Elsewhere, new rarities were represented by a Dusky Warbler in Norfolk on Blakeney Point, a brief Bee-eater in Cornwall at Coverack and on the Shetland Isles a Thrush Nightingale on Foula and a Black-headed Bunting on Fetlar. Single Great White Egrets were seen in Derbyshire at Ogston Reservoir, London at Rainham Marshes and in Suffolk at North Warren.

Lingering rarities were headlined by the Trumpeter Finch still in Norfolk whilst the Lesser Grey Shrike remained in Northumberland, Wilson's Phalarope in Merseyside, Bonaparte's Gull in Highland, Whiskered Tern and American Golden Plover in Kent and the family party of three Black-winged Stilts in Cheshire. Red-footed Falcons were recorded in Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Kent (2), Lothian, the Shetland Isles and Suffolk.

Scarce migrants were represented by 15 Red-backed Shrikes, ten Marsh Warblers, six Icterine Warblers, four Common Rosefinches, two each of Rose-coloured Starling, Hoopoe and Golden Oriole and single Temminck's Stint and Grey-headed Wagtail.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 3rd June 2008  
  Several quality new rarities were discovered today, including a Lesser Grey Shrike at Long Nanny, Northumberland, a Wilson's Phalarope at Seaforth LWT, Merseyside, a singing Blyth's Reed Warbler on Tiree, Argyll and a 1st-summer Bonaparte's Gull at Loch Ruthven RSPB, Highland - the latter reported on tonight's BBC Springwatch!

Other new discoveries included a Great White Egret in Somerset, Lesser Yellowlegs in Co Derry, White-billed Diver in Co Cork, Bee-eater in Kent, Red-footed Falcon and Greenish Warbler on Shetland and Red-footed Falcons in Cambridgeshire and Devon. Lingering rarities comprised of two American Golden Plovers, six Red-footed Falcons, Trumpeter Finch, Whiskered Tern, Rustic Bunting and the family of Black-winged Stilts.

Rose-coloured Starlings were on Unst, Shetland and in a Wetwang garden, East Yorkshire, a Short-toed Lark was located on Lundy, Devon, a Pectoral Sandpiper was found on South Uist and the Hoopoe remained in Norfolk. A scattering of Marsh Warblers, Red-backed Shrikes, Icterine Warblers and Common Rosefinches were also still available.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 2nd June 2008  
  The lingering Great Snipe on Holy Island, Northumberland and Trumpeter Finch on Blakeney Point, Norfolk were again the most popular rarities. A first-summer male Red-footed Falcon was discovered on the Gloucestershire/Wiltshire border and in Derbyshire the first-summer female Red-footed Falcon previously in Ingleby reappeared at Willington Gravel Pits.

Lingering rarities included Whiskered Tern in Kent, Rustic Bunting on Shetland, American Golden Plovers in Kent, Anglesey and Co Mayo and Red-footed Falcons in Bedfordshire (2), Lothian, Kent and Berkshire.

A Hoopoe was at Stiffkey, Norfolk for its second day and the Tawny Pipit at Waxham was also still on show. The Kentish Plover remained at Aberlady Bay, Lothian, Red-backed Shrikes graced the east coast in East Yorkshire, Cleveland, Northumberland and Aberdeenshire and Red-breasted Flycatchers were on Mainland Shetland, Aberdeenshire and Western Isles.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 1st June 2008  
  The highlight of the day was a Trumpeter Finch at Blakeney Point, Norfolk. First located yesterday evening (but not broadcast publicly until this morning) this county first showed to an appreciative crowd into the evening. Elsewhere, an American Golden Plover was discovered in Kent at Pegwell Bay, a Thrush Nightingale was seen briefly in East Yorkshire at Spurn and a Rustic Bunting was found at Geosetter, Shetland Isles.

Lingering rarities included the Great Snipe in Northumberland, Terek Sandpiper and Bee-eater both in East Sussex, Black Stork on the Shetland Isles, Whiskered Tern in Kent, American Golden Plovers in both Anglesey and County Mayo, King Eider in Ayrshire, three Black-winged Stilts in Cheshire, Great White Egret in Powys and Cattle Egrets in both Devon and Dorset. Single Red-footed Falcons were seen in Berkshire, Kent and Lothian with two together in both Bedfordshire and Hampshire.

Scarce migrant passerines were represented by 22 Red-backed Shrikes, 12 Common Rosefinches, 11 Marsh Warblers, eight Icterine Warblers, seven Golden Orioles, three Tawny Pipits, two Grey-headed Wagtails and one each of Red-breasted Flycatcher and Bluethroat.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 31st May 2008  
  The highlight of the day was a Terek Sandpiper at Rye Harbour, East Sussex for several hours before it departed to the east. In adjacent Kent a Whiskered Tern showed in Stour Valley near Stodmarsh. Elsewhere, brief encounters included a Great Snipe in Northumberland on Holy Island, an American Golden Plover in County Mayo at Annagh Marsh, a Red-rumped Swallow in East Sussex over Beachy Head, a Subalpine Warbler in Kent at St Margaret's at Cliffe, a Bee-eater over Portland, Dorset and single Black Kites in Norfolk and Somerset.

The overnight disappearance of the River Warbler from East Sussex was a disappointment to many but elsewhere lingering rarities comprised the American Golden Plover on Anglesey, Black Duck in County Donegal, Great White Egret in Powys and the family of three Black-winged Stilts in Cheshire. Red-footed Falcon reports consisted of three in Berkshire, two each in Bedfordshire and Suffolk and singles in Derbyshire, Dorset, Hampshire, Kent and Lothian.

Scarce migrant passerines included 17 Red-backed Shrikes, 15 Marsh Warblers, 11 Common Rosefinches, eleven Icterine Warblers, three Golden Orioles, six Grey-headed Wagtails and single Tawny Pipit and Short-toed Lark.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 30th May 2008  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a male River Warbler at Beachy Head, East Sussex. Found in the afternoon the bird continued to sing until late in the evening but proved very difficult to see well.

Discoveries elsewhere included a Great Reed Warbler off the Isle of Man on Calf of Man, American Golden Plover on Anglesey at Cemlyn, Red-throated Pipit in Cleveland at Saltholme Pools, Red-rumped Swallow in Cornwall on The Lizard, Greenish Warbler in Norfolk at East Hills and Bee-eater over Beachy Head, East Sussex. On the Shetland Isles two Thrush Nightingales, a Rustic Bunting, Red-throated Pipit and White-billed Diver were all found.

Lingering rarities comprised a Black Stork on the Shetland Isles, Marsh Sandpiper in Leicestershire, Great Reed Warbler and Western Subalpine Warbler both in Suffolk, Whiskered Tern and Great White Egret both in Powys, Forster's Tern in County Wexford, Rustic Bunting on the Orkney Isles, Alpine Swift in East Sussex, three Black-winged Stilts in Cheshire, King Eider in Ayrshire, Glossy Ibis in Merseyside and Cattle Egrets in both Devon (2) and Dorset. Red-footed Falcons were recorded in Bedfordshire (2), Berkshire (2), Cornwall, Derbyshire, Dorset, Hampshire and. Lothian

Once again scarce migrants were much in evidence with 51 Red-backed Shrikes, 29 Common Rosefinches, 28 Icterine Warblers, 19 Marsh Warblers, 16 Grey-headed Wagtails, 10 Bluethroats, 4 Golden Orioles and single Rose-coloured Starling, Little Bunting, Tawny Pipit, Ortolan Bunting, Short-toed Lark, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Hoopoe and Lapland Bunting.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 29th May 2008  
  Another busy day with highlights including a Thrush Nightingale in East Yorkshire at Spurn, single Great Reed Warblers in East Yorkshire at Flamborough Head and Suffolk at Minsmere, Cattle Egrets at Titchfield Haven, Hampshire and South Huish, Devon (3) and Subalpine Warblers in Suffolk at Landguard, in the Shetland Isles on Unst and in Norfolk at both Blakeney Point and Warham Greens. Aerial encounters included a Caspian Tern over Oundle, Northamptonshire, a Black Kite over Forest Row and Ringmer, East Sussex and a Bee-eater over Fontwell, West Sussex.

Lingering rarities comprised the Marsh Sandpiper in Leicestershire, Black Stork on the Shetland Isles, Citrine Wagtail in Norfolk, Alpine Swift in East Sussex, Rustic Bunting on the Orkney Isles, Black Duck in County Donegal, Glossy Ibis in Merseyside, Black-winged Stilts in Cheshire (3) and Kent, Great White Egret in Powys and Falcated Duck on Anglesey. Red-footed Falcons were represented by singles in each of Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Hampshire, Lothian and Suffolk whilst three together were found in Dorset.

Once again, the British east coast, between Suffolk and the Shetland Isles, yielded large numbers of scarce migrants with day totals of 51 Red-backed Shrikes, 33 Icterine Warblers, 27 Marsh Warblers, 19 Common Rosefinches, ten Grey-headed Wagtails, eight Golden Orioles, four Red-spotted Bluethroats, two Ortolan Buntings and singles of Barred Warbler, Tawny Pipit, Red-breasted Flycatcher and Lapland Bunting.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 28th May 2008  
  Yesterday was good on the east coast, but today was even better. Excellent numbers of scarce migrants, including Red-backed Shrikes, Icterine Warblers, Red-spotted Bluethroats, Red-breasted Flycatchers, Marsh Warblers, Common Rosefinches and Grey-headed Wagtails made landfall at many coastal locations between Shetland and Suffolk. A Roller in Lincolnshire, Subalpine Warblers in North Yorkshire and Cleveland, three Ortolan Buntings, Serin, Bee-eater and Thrush Nightingale in East Yorkshire, Barred Warbler in Northumberland, Rustic Bunting in Orkney and Red-throated Pipit in Norfolk all arrived amongst the more numerous species.

Elsewhere Bee-eaters flew over Isles of Scilly and West Sussex, an Alpine Swift spent the latter part of the day on a building in Lewes, East Sussex, an Ortolan Bunting was on Isles of Scilly and a Red-footed Falcon was located on Bodmin Moor, Cornwall. A Black-winged Stilt arrived at Dungeness RSPB, Kent, a Red-spotted Bluethroat made it across the country to Walney Island, Cumbria and presumably the recent Orkney Black Stork flew over Mainland Shetland. In Leicestershire the popular Marsh Sandpiper remained at Rutland Water, the American Golden Plover reappeared in Devon, the pair of Black-winged Stilts hatched three young in Cheshire and the female Citrine Wagtail briefly reappeared at Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 27th May 2008  
  The amazing occurrence of both a Stilt Sandpiper and Marsh Sandpiper at Rutland Water, Leicestershire was today's headline event - the former lingered until 2.55pm when it flew high to the west and the latter was found early evening. Two county firsts, both on the same lagoon, at the same site, on the same day - remarkable.

Easterly winds coincided with rainfall on the east coast and produced an excellent fall of scarcities. Birders at Spurn enjoyed the highest numbers - at least seven Icterine Warblers, six Red-backed Shrikes, two Red-spotted Bluethroats, three Marsh Warblers, two Grey-headed Wagtails and a Red-breasted Flycatcher were all discovered on the peninsula. Common Rosefinches and further Red-backed Shrikes, Icterine Warblers and Red-breasted Flycatchers were scattered along the east coast between Aberdeenshire and Suffolk.

A female Citrine Wagtail at Titchwell RSPB, Red-throated Pipit on Blakeney Point, Red-spotted Bluethroat at West Runton and Icterine Warblers at Cley and Wells Woods were the star finds in Norfolk.

The remaining new rarities included a Whiskered Tern at Llangorse Lake, Powys, White-winged Black Tern at Lodmoor RSPB, White-billed Diver in Highland, Black-winged Stilts in Co Cork and Co Tipperary and on Bardsey Island, a Subalpine Warbler was re-trapped, having previously been ringed on the island on 13th May.

A Pectoral Sandpiper in Carmarthenshire, Purple Heron in Gloucestershire, Bee-eater in Highland and Black Duck in Co Donegal are also all worth a mention.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 26th May 2008  
  On the Shetlands, two new Subalpine Warblers were found on Mainland, one at Sumburgh, and another at Scatness. Also on Shetland a Tawny Pipit remained at Boddam on Mainland and two Icterine Warblers were on Fair Isle. Other eastern birds brought in by strong easterlies included an Icterine Warbler in Orkney and on the Yorkshire coast, three Icterine Warblers, a Red-breasted Flycatcher and a Golden Oriole, along with a new Red-footed Falcon at Howden and the lingering Broad-billed Sandpiper on the Humber Estuary at Spurn.

Other Red-footed Falcons could still be found near Livingston in Lothian, near Ingleby in Derbyshire and on the New Forest in Hampshire. The Black Stork was seen again in Orkney, the Glossy Ibis remained at Marshside Marsh in Merseyside and single Cattle Egrets were reported from Kent, Dorset and Devon. A Black Kite was seen at Udimore in East Sussex and a Tawny Pipit remained at Rye Harbour where there was also belated news of a Bee-eater yesterday.

A female Red-necked Phalarope was at Heacham in Norfolk and a number of Fulmars appeared inland to reward patch watchers.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA