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| Sunday 27th July 2008 | ||
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| The Northern Isles delivered today, with Shetland attracting a Two-barred
Crossbill, on Fair Isle, and Orkney had an adult Pacific Golden Plover
on North Ronaldsay.
Further south, a Glossy Ibis was on the East Yorkshire coast in the Spurn area until mid afternoon. The Marshside RSPB, Merseyside ibis was not seen today, despite searching; could it be that its long stay has ended? A Great White Egret was seen at Trimley Marshes SWT, Suffolk, with another at Loughor, Glamorgan. Two Wilson's Petrels were seen from a boat NNW of Padstow, Cornwall, whilst longer staying rarities included White-rumped Sandpiper at Cley NWT, Norfolk, Ferruginous Duck at Chew Valley Lake, Somerset, King Eider at Tacumshin, County Wexford and the Glossy Ibis remained for its 4th day at Ennis, County Clare. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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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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| Saturday 26th July 2008 | ||
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| Despite being an otherwise fairly quiet day, again, several rarities were
either seen or reported for the first time. A Red-footed Falcon was
present over Queensferry, Lothian, for a few minutes this evening before
continuing south, and a Black Stork was seen over Witcham, Cambridgeshire
for a few minutes before drifting north-west.
What is probably the returning adult Long-billed Dowitcher was found at Shannon Airport Lagoon, County Clare, with the Glossy Ibis in the same county, still at Ennis. Other rarities included Lesser Scaup in Clyde, at Balgray Reservoir, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset, at Chew Valley Lake, where the controversial large white-headed gull species was also present and the White-rumped Sandpiper was still in Norfolk, briefly at Cley NWT. Late news for yesterday concerned the Caspian Tern again, this time at Kirkby on Bain Gravel-pits, Lincolnshire, briefly in the evening. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Friday 25th July 2008 | ||
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| The White-rumped Sandpiper remained at Cley NWT, Norfolk, the
Glossy Ibises were still in Merseyside and Co Clare, the Hooded Merganser
could still be found in Weymouth and in Co Wexford the King Eider was
once again relocated, this time at Lady's Island Lake.
Pectoral Sandpipers were at Holland Haven Country Park, Essex, Edderthorpe Flash, South Yorkshire, Gibraltar Point NNR, Lincolnshire and Dundrum Inner Bay, Co Down and in Shropshire a Hoopoe visited Bishop's Castle. A Sabine's Gull lingered around a boat four miles off the Devon coastline and a Wilson's Petrel, several Cory's Shearwaters and two Grey Phalaropes were observed from a boat between 150 and 190 miles south west or west of the Isles of Scilly. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 24th July 2008 | ||
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| A probable adult summer Brünnich's Guillemot off Cley and Salthouse
caused a stir in Norfolk, but unfortunately the identification remained
unconfirmed. Nearby both the White-rumped and Pectoral Sandpipers
remained at Cley NWT, along with five Spoonbills and a nice selection of
commoner waders.
In Co Clare a Glossy Ibis was in Ennis for its second day and in Scotland the White-billed Diver reappeared off South Ronaldsay, Orkney. The Hooded Merganser was still in Weymouth, Dorest, but those hoping that the Caspian Tern would return to Collingham Gravel Pits, Nottinghamshire were left disappointed by the no show. In addition to the aforementioned Cley Pectoral Sandpiper, this species was also located at Edderthorpe Flash (South Yorkshire), Holland Haven Country Park (Essex) and Gibraltar Point NNR (Lincolnshire). Elsewhere a flock of 37 Common Cranes flew over Brampton Bierlow, South Yorkshire and on Lewis, Western Isles, the Rose-coloured Starling was still in situ. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 23rd July 2008 | ||
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| An adult Caspian Tern was discovered at Collingham Gravel-pits,
Nottinghamshire mid afternoon, and proceeded to show well until 7.45pm. It was,
however, very mobile, and flew off, mainly north, several times, only to return
a short while later. This is potentially the same bird as was seen at Old Moor
RSPB, Yorkshire on the 15th July.
The Black Stork made another appearance in Essex, circling briefly over Shoeburyness, Southend-on-Sea mid evening. The adult White-rumped Sandpiper remained on Cley North Scrape, Norfolk, with other lingerers including the Lesser Scaup at Balgray Reservoir, Clyde, Glossy Ibis at Marshside RSPB, Merseyside, and two Great White Egrets flew over Portland Bill, Dorset. Five Pectoral Sandpipers were seen, in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Yorkshire and Leicestershire, and a Ring-necked Duck was at Loch Gelly, Fife. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 22nd July 2008 | ||
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| A Bee-eater was seen briefly at Witham, Essex but, unfortunately, it
was not seen by anyone but the initial observer. A drake Lesser Scaup
remained on Balgray Reservoir, Clyde for its second day, and an adult White-rumped
Sandpiper was located amongst the Dunlin flock on Cley North Scrape,
Norfolk. Also at this site, and three others in England, was an adult
Pectoral Sandpiper.
Long staying rarities included the White-billed Diver on Orkney and the Glossy Ibis in Merseyside, and late news for yesterday concerned a Red-footed Falcon in West Sussex. The Hoopoe continued to show well in Yorkshire, near York, and the Red-backed Shrike was again seen at Sea Palling, Norfolk. A press release from the Somerset Ornithological Society heralded the arrival of a new breeding species to the county, and possibly to Britain, with a pair of Cattle Egrets raising one young this summer. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Monday 21st July 2008 | ||
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| An American Golden Plover was found in Argyll, on the Add Estuary at
Crinan, but unfortunately it did not stay long. Other brief new rarities were a
Black Stork near Braintree in Essex and two Wilson's Petrels seen
from the evening pelagic off the Scillies. The Glossy Ibis could still be
found at Marshside Marsh in Merseyside, but few other rarities were lingering.
Rose-coloured Starlings were at Lewis on the Western Isles still, with the bird at Hayle in Cornwall also reported again. A Hoopoe was well watched at Dunnington near York and four Pectoral Sandpipers could be found: in Essex, Norfolk, Leicestershire and South Yorkshire. A Ring-necked Duck was still at Linlithgow Loch in Lothian. |
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| - Pete Hayman, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 20th July 2008 | ||
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| A few more rarities were discovered today, with the best being a superb male
Two-barred Crossbill at Evie, Orkney this morning, and an adult
Semipalmated Sandpiper at Balranald, Western Isles.
A Black Kite was seen near Corby Glen, Lincolnshire mid-morning. Lingering rarities included the adult White-rumped Sandpiper at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk, White-winged Black Tern at Rye Harbour NR, East Sussex and Glossy Ibis at Marshside RSPB, Merseyside. The King Eider was seen again at Tacumshin, County Wexford, and the Hooded Merganser remained in Weymouth, Dorset. Seabirds continued to be seen in small numbers, the best being two Cory's Shearwaters in Aberdeenshire, a Sabine's Gull in County Durham, along with a few Pomarine Skuas, Balearic Shearwaters and good numbers of Roseate Terns. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 19th July 2008 | ||
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| The Black Stork in Kent was watched for much of the morning, as it
left its roost at Wickhambreaux and did a circuit of the north-east corner
of the county. Nearby, the White-winged Black Tern remained for its sixth
day at Rye Harbour NR, East Sussex.
Elsewhere, White-rumped Sandpipers remained at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk and Tacumshin, County Wexford, and the Glossy Ibis returned to Marshside RSPB, Merseyside. A Cattle Egret was present briefly at Pagham Harbour LNR, West Sussex. At least six Pectoral Sandpipers were seen, and the elusive Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Alkborough Flats, Lincolnshire also made an appearance. An eclipse drake Ring-necked Duck was located at Linlithgow Loch, Lothian. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Friday 18th July 2008 | ||
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| Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk enjoyed a Nearctic waderfest this morning - the
headline find was an adult Semipalmated Sandpiper and both
White-rumped and Pectoral Sandpipers were also noted. Pectoral
Sandpipers were also located at Cley NWT, Norfolk and Holland Haven Country
Park, Essex.
In Kent a Black Stork was at Chartham early in the afternoon before being relocated at nearby Seaton this evening. In East Sussex the adult White-winged Black Tern remained at Rye Harbour NR and in Dorset a Cattle Egret made another appearance at Radipole Lake RSPB. Following a brief holiday in Cheshire, the Glossy Ibis arrived back in Lancashire, once again visiting Martin Mere WWT and in Dorset the Hooded Merganser was still in Weymouth. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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