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 23rd August 2008  
  In Lincolnshire, the Audouin's Gull made a further appearance in the Chapel Point area this morning but was not seen again after about 8am. On Fair Isle a second Citrine Wagtail joined the bird already present and a Common Rosefinch was also seen there. Black Kites were seen on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent and in County Wicklow, whilst in County Donegal, the Black Duck returned to Blanket Snook by Lough Swilly.

In Norfolk, the Marsh Sandpiper was still to be found at Hickling Broad on Rush Hill Scrape, with other remaining rarities including the Great White Egret at Blashford Lakes in Hampshire, the Pacific Golden Plover at Anthorn in Cumbria, the Long-billed Dowitcher at Dundalk Docks in County Louth, the Cattle Egret at Colyford Common in Devon and in West Yorkshire the Glossy Ibis moved from Allerton Bywater to Swillington Ings during the day.

A Grey Phalarope was still in Hampshire with a Red-necked Phalarope at Weston-super-Mare in Somerset this evening. A number of Balearic and Sooty Shearwaters were seen off the East Anglian coast in the morning and a Wryneck was found at Kelling Heath in Norfolk. An inland Gannet flew over a music festival on the Oxfordshire/Buckinghamshire border.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Friday 22nd August 2008  
  The Lincolnshire Audouin's Gull made another appearance in the Chapel Point area this evening and on Orkney a new Pacific Golden Plover arrived on North Ronaldsay. A Black Kite flew south over Sunk Island, East Yorkshire, a Cattle Egret was noted at Colyford Common LNR, Devon, the Pacific Golden Plover reappeared at Anthorn, Cumbria and other lingering rarities included Semipalmated Sandpiper in Co Cork, Citrine Wagtail on Fair Isle, Marsh Sandpiper at Hickling Broad NWT, Norfolk and White-winged Black Tern near Inverness, Highland.

A Red-necked Phalarope in Gloucestershire, Grey Phalaropes in Hampshire and Somerset (2), Wryneck at Landguard NR, Suffolk, Icterine Warbler briefly at Castle Carrock, Cumbria and Corncrake at Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire were the headline scarcities.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Thursday 21st August 2008  
  The highlight of the day was the reappearance of the Audouin's Gull on the Lincolnshire coast north of Chapel St Leonards. Once again it was present on the beach mid afternoon before flying out to sea.

Newly discovered rarities comprised a Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Cork at Youghal and a Great White Egret at Leighton Moss, Lancashire.

Lingering rarities included the Booted Warbler on the Shetland Isles, Glossy Ibis in West Yorkshire, Cattle Egret and Hooded Merganser in Dorset and White-winged Black Terns in both Highland and Lincolnshire. The Stilt Sandpiper in Gloucestershire and Marsh Sandpiper in Norfolk were both seen during the day but had disappeared by the evening.

Small numbers of migrant passerines arrived - particularly Pied Flycatchers - but also a Wryneck in Angus and one each of Marsh Warbler, Red-backed Shrike and Wryneck on the Shetland Isles.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 20th August 2008  
  A Booted Warbler on Mainland Shetland, three Greenish Warblers in Aberdeenshire (at Sands of Forvie NNR, Loch of Strathbeg RSPB and Cruden Bay Woods) and White-winged Black Tern at Covenham Reservoir, Lincolnshire were today's best new discoveries. In Cumbria the identification of the Pacific Golden Plover found yesterday at Anthorn was confirmed - this stretch of the Cumbrian coastline continues to produce quality waders year after year.

The Stilt Sandpiper was still at Coombe Hill Meadows, Gloucestershire and other lingering rarities included Marsh Sandpiper in Norfolk, Glossy Ibis in West Yorkshire, White-billed Diver in Orkney, Hooded Merganser in Dorset and Baird's Sandpiper and Snowy Owl on Western Isles.

The Lincolnshire Audouin's Gull failed to make an appearance in the Chapel Point area.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 19th August 2008  
  The highlight of the day was the reappearance of a Stilt Sandpiper at Coombe Hill Meadows, Gloucestershire. First seen on Friday - when it was suspected of being a dowitcher - this county first was located there again this afternoon and showed well into the evening.

In Ireland, the fourth Fea's Petrel of the autumn was recorded, this time in County Clare passing the Bridges of Ross, and in County Louth a Long-billed Dowitcher found at Dundalk Docks was perhaps a returning individual.

Lingering rarities were headlined once again by the Audouin's Gull on the Lincolnshire coast between Sutton on Sea and Chapel St Leonards. Elsewhere, the Marsh Sandpiper remained in Norfolk as did the Glossy Ibis in West Yorkshire, Greenish Warbler in Northumberland, Cattle Egret and Hooded Merganser in Dorset and Great White Egret in Hampshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 18th August 2008  
  In Lincolnshire the Audouin's Gull again showed on and off in the Chapel Point area from late morning until early evening, giving excellent views at times. A Marsh Sandpiper arrived at Hickling Broad NWT, Norfolk and other highlights included Greenish Warblers on Farne Islands, Northumberland and North Ronaldsay, Orkney, Thrush Nightingale and four Two-barred Crossbills on Fair Isle, Two-barred Crossbill on Mainland Shetland and Glossy Ibis at Allerton Bywater.

Both the Snowy Owl and Baird's Sandpiper remained on Western Isles, the Red-necked Phalarope was still at Saul Warth, Gloucestershire, Great White Egrets graced Hampshire and Co Galway and a Wilson's Petrel lingered off Old Head of Kinsale, Co Cork. Wrynecks, Red-backed Shrikes and Barred Warblers arrived in small numbers and an Icterine Warbler and Marsh Warbler were on Orkney. A Pectoral Sandpiper was at Freiston Shore RSPB, Lincolnshire, for its second day and in Kent the Spotted Crake remained at Oare Marshes NR.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 17th August 2008  
  The highlight of the day was relocation of the Audouin's Gull on the Lincolnshire coast at Chapel Point. Present mid afternoon and again briefly this evening, this species is once again proving difficult to twitch.

New discoveries included at Paddyfield Warbler on Whalsay, Shetland Isles, a Glossy Ibis in West Yorkshire at Allerton Bywater, Great White Egret in County Galway at Lough Corrib and a Cattle Egret at Dungeness, Kent. The Bonaparte's Gull in Angus at Lunan Bay, the Snowy Owl on the Western Isles on North Uist and the Cattle Egret at Ballard Down, Dorset were all presumably returning or locally relocating birds.

Lingering rarities comprised five Two-barred Crossbills and a Citrine Wagtail together on the Shetland Isles, Wilson's Phalarope in Northumberland, American Golden Plover and Falcated Duck in Kent, Lesser Scaup in Clyde, Great White Egret in Hampshire and Hooded Merganser in Dorset.

There was a notable influx of Black Terns to England with 293 reported from fourteen counties including Staffordshire (77), Kent (72), London (56) and Warwickshire (27).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 16th August 2008  
  New discoveries today were headlined by a Booted Warbler in Kent at Kingsdown, Citrine Wagtail on Fair Isle, Shetland Isles, a new Baird's Sandpiper on South Uist, Western Isles and a Wilson's Petrel passing Bridges of Ross, County Clare.

Lingering rarities comprised the Wilson's Phalarope in Northumberland, five Two-barred Crossbills together on Shetland, American Golden Plover in Kent and Hooded Merganser in Dorset. The regular Great White Egret returned to Blashford Lakes, Hampshire

Notable scarcities included a Red-necked Phalarope in Gloucestershire, Spotted Crake in Kent, two White Storks in Hertfordshire and, on the Shetland Isles, a Common Rosefinch and two Barred Warblers were seen.

Late news received today concerned an adult Audouin's Gull present briefly yesterday evening in Lincolshire at Huttoft Car Terrace before flying off south.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 15th August 2008  
  The next two weeks are now well known for their records of Fea's Petrels, the majority being sighted from Irish west coast headlands. Today, at least one was seen, first from Galley Head early morning, with it, or another in the Dunowen Head area this evening, both sites being in County Cork. Other Irish seabirds included a Wilson's Petrel off the Bridges of Ross, County Clare, and 'padder' species such as Cory's Shearwaters, Great Shearwaters, Balearic Shearwaters, Long-tailed Skuas, Pomarine Skuas, Grey Phalaropes and Sabine's Gulls were all seen.

Another Wilson's Petrel was seen from this evening's pelagic out of St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, with the Wilson's Phalarope still present in Northumberland, at Grindon Lough. Other lingerers included the Lesser Grey Shrike in Dorset, American Golden Plover in Kent, three Two-barred Crossbills on Shetland and the Cattle Egret in Norfolk.

National scarcities included a Red-necked Phalarope at Saul Warth, Gloucestershire, two drake Surf Scoters off Blackdog, Aberdeenshire, Melodious Warbler trapped and ringed near Sennen, Cornwall and an inland Montagu's Harrier on the Hertfordshire/Buckinghamshire border near Tring was a good record for the area.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 14th August 2008  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Wilson's Phalarope at Grindon Lough, Northumberland, which could often show well, despite being elusive in the vegetation. The Lesser Grey Shrike was also still present at Middlebere, Dorset, and there are still three Two-barred Crossbills at Sumburgh Head, Shetland, although these were the only birds reported today.

A remarkable record of Thrush Nightingale also surfaced today, with news of a bird being trapped and ringed on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire on Saturday. Other late news concerned another sighting of a Yelkouan-type Shearwater in the south-west, this time off St Ives Island, Cornwall yesterday.

The adult Baird's Sandpiper remained on South Uist, Western Isles, with the Cattle Egret also still at Blakeney, Norfolk, White-winged Black Tern still at Thamesmead, London and the Ferruginous Duck was still at Chew Valley Lake, Somerset.
-  Will Soar, RBA