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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Tuesday 17th June 2008  
  An Alpine Swift over Oakham in Leicestershire and a Cattle Egret at Tadham Moor, Somerset were the only new rarities reported during a quiet June day. The River Warbler on Orkney continued to sing in Evie, but not after early morning. The (very) long-staying Glossy Ibis was still at Marshside RSPB, Merseyside and a Bee-eater flew over St Just, continuing an excellent few days for this species in Cornwall. On Western Isles a Snowy Owl was still on North Uist.

Scarcities came in the form of the Cambridgeshire Night Heron, a male Red-backed Shrike in Sea Palling, Norfolk and a vocal Corncrake in Berkshire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 16th June 2008  
  Amongst the rarities today the highlights were the continued presence of the River Warbler in Evie on the Orkney Isles, Red-footed Falcon in Suffolk at Lakenheath Fen and the family of party of three Black-winged Stilts at Neumann’s Flash, Cheshire. Brief encounters included a Black Stork over Brighton, East Sussex and single Bee-eaters in Cornwall at Land's End and Norfolk at Winterton.

Scarcities were represented by Red-breasted Flycatcher in Dorset, Night Heron in Cambridgeshire, Short-toed Lark on the Orkney Isles, Hoopoe in South Yorkshire, Red-backed Shrike in West Sussex and both Red-backed Shrike and Marsh Warbler together in Norfolk.

Once again, Crossbills were in evidence with 131 migrants reported from seven English counties.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 15th June 2008  
  In Suffolk a Lesser Yellowlegs spent the day at Minsmere RSPB, in Cornwall Bee-eaters were in Cot Valley and Polgigga, a Black Kite flew over Heversham Moss, Cumbria and in Cambridgeshire a Cattle Egret and Night Heron were both found in the Earith area.

The River Warbler continued to sing on Mainland Orkney and in Dorset the Hooded Merganser was relocated at Radipole Lake RSPB; the bird was last seen on Portland on 7th June. A Snowy Owl also reappeared at Grenitote on North Uist and in Cheshire the family of Black-winged Stilts were briefly joined by a Red-necked Phalarope at Neumann's Flash.

A Hoopoe was briefly at Otmoor RSPB, Oxfordshire, a Corncrake sang at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB, Aberdeenshire, in Gloucestershire Slimbridge WWT held both the Ring-billed Gull and a White Stork as well as the two Cattle Egrets, the Red-backed Shrike was still at Shopham Bridge, West Sussex and four Surf Scoters were off Murcar, Aberdeenshire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 14th June 2008  
  On Orkney the male River Warbler continued to sing its heart out at Evie, Mainland. Elsewhere a Bee-eater briefly lingered over Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk, a singing Icterine Warbler was at Longwick, Buckinghamshire, the family of Black-winged Stilts remained a Neumann's Flash, Cheshire and in Ireland the adult Forster's Tern was once again at Tacumshin.

A male Spotted Crake was heard at Grove Ferry NNR early morning, the Red-backed Shrike was still near Shopham Bridge, West Sussex and in North Yorkshire a Golden Oriole was at Yearsley Moor in the morning. At least three Waxwings were on Lewis, Western Isles.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 13th June 2008  
  A sighting of either a Red-headed Bunting or Black-headed Bunting at Portland, Dorset early this morning was a good start to the day, but it wasn't seen after 6.30am. The male River Warbler remained on Orkney, at Evie, and the adult summer Forster's Tern was seen again at Tacumshin, County Wexford. A Bee-eater was heard to fly over Truro, Cornwall mid-morning, and a Great White Egret left the roost at Rye Harbour NR, East Sussex.

The north-east coast continued to produce some good seabirds, including a Cory's Shearwater in Northumberland, past St Mary's Island and Seaton Sluice, Long-tailed Skua and Pomarine Skua past Whitburn, County Durham and still very good numbers of Manx Shearwaters moving past.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 12th June 2008  
  The highlight of the day was an unseasonal Coues's Arctic Redpoll in the Shetland Isles on Unst, it's arrival perhaps related to the appearance of Waxwings on Fair Isle and in the Orkney Isles (4). Elsewhere, single Black Kites were seen briefly in Devon over Exminster Marshes and Suffolk over Redgrave Fen.

Lingering rarities comprised the River Warbler on the Orkney Isles, Forster's Tern in County Wexford, Glossy Ibis in Merseyside, three Black-winged Stilts in Cheshire and Great White Egret in Kent. Despite much searching, the Citril Finch was reported as present on Fair Isle, Shetland Isles by only one observer.

Scarcities included a Rose-coloured Starling in Lancashire, Night Heron in Suffolk, Pectoral Sandpiper in Kent and on the Shetland Isles both Icterine Warbler and Red-backed Shrike.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 11th June 2008  
  Both the Megas continued their stay on the Northern Isles, with the Citril Finch on Fair Isle, Shetland and the River Warbler at Evie, Orkney. Other rarities included the Forster's Tern in County Wexford, the Black-winged Stilt family in Cheshire, Great White Egrets in South Yorkshire and County Dublin and three Cattle Egrets in Somerset.

The best of the rest included three Serins, including two together at Hengistbury Head, Dorset, and a further bird at Dungeness, Kent, Marsh Warbler at Sea Palling, Norfolk, Red-backed Shrike at Petworth, West Sussex and a Rose-coloured Starling at Inskip, Lancashire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 10th June 2008  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of both mega rarities in the Northern Isles: the Citril Finch remained on the Shetland Isles on Fair Isle and the River Warbler continued to sing in Evie on the Orkney Isles.

Lingering rarities comprised the Forster's Tern in County Wexford, three Black-winged Stilts in Cheshire, Great White Egret in Gloucestershire, Red-footed Falcon in Kent and what is presumed to be an American Herring Gull in Somerset. Elsewhere, a Great White Egret arrived at Denge Marsh, Kent and there were brief encounters with a Black Kite at Wykeham Forest, North Yorkshire and a Bee-eater at Long Lawford, Warwickshire.

Scarce migrants included two Red-backed Shrikes, a Rose-coloured Starling, a Common Rosefinch and Golden Oriole and the recent movement of Crossbills continued with 232 reported from eight English counties.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 9th June 2008  
  A male River Warbler was singing for much of the day at Evie, Orkney, and has been present for three days. Nearby, the male Citril Finch remained on Fair Isle, although it is still very mobile and elusive. A Black Stork in Buckinghamshire was a good record for the county, and was just twitchable as it lingered in the Nether Winchendon area for a short while.

The Great Reed Warbler was heard again briefly at Lakenheath Fen RSPB, and Red-footed Falcons were seen at Upton Fen, Norfolk and Collards Lake, Kent. Other lingering rarities included the Bonaparte's Gull at Loch Ruthven RSPB, Highland, Glossy Ibis at Marshside RSPB, Merseyside and Forster's Tern at Tacumshin, County Wexford.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 8th June 2008  
  New arrivals today included a very brief Rustic Bunting at Spurn, Yorkshire, a flyover Black Stork at North Warren RSPB, Suffolk, an Alpine Swift at Pegwell Bay, Kent and a Bee-eater over Dunwich Heath NT, Suffolk. A Great Reed Warbler was heard singing at Lakenheath Fen RSPB, also Suffolk, and an adult Whiskered Tern spent the afternoon in Cambridgeshire.

The male Citril Finch remained on Fair Isle, Shetland, although it was only seen twice, being very mobile around the island. In Suffolk, the male Thrush Nightingale continued to sing at Dunwich Heath NT car park, and occasionally showed very well. The Terek Sandpiper returned to The Wicks, East Sussex and other lingering rarities included Bee-eater in Norfolk, Whiskered Tern in Aberdeenshire, Forster's Tern in County Wexford, Lesser Yellowlegs in County Derry, and four Red-footed Falcons, three of which were in Kent.
-  Will Soar, RBA