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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Monday 22nd September 2008  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Stilt Sandpiper at Campfield Marsh, Cumbria, the first county record. On the Shetland Isles a Thrush Nightingale was found at Pool of Virkie and in Somerset a Ferruginous Duck was located at Barrow Gurney.

Lingering rarities included the Hudsonian Whimbrel on the Isles of Scilly, Baird's Sandpiper in County Cork, Red-footed Falcon in East Yorkshire, Great White Egret in Suffolk and three Cattle Egrets in Somerset. The White-billed Diver remained on the Orkney Isles but the Cretzschmar's Bunting could not be found on North Ronaldsay.

Scarce migrant landbirds comprised ten Wrynecks, nine Yellow-browed Warblers, seven Red-backed Shrikes, two each of Melodious Warbler, Rose-coloured Starling, Red-breasted Flycatcher and Barred Warbler as well as single Tawny Pipit, Short-toed Lark and Hoopoe.

Significant news received from yesterday concerned a brief Crag Martin at Beeding Hill, West Sussex and at least fourteen Wilson's Petrels seen from a pelagic off County Kerry.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 21st September 2008  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the North Ronaldsay Cretzschmar's Bunting, much to the delight of those who didn't make it onto the island yesterday. New discoveries included a Black-headed Bunting on Barra and Wilson's Phalarope on South Uist, Western Isles and Red-footed Falcon at Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk.

Long-stayers came in the form of Hudsonian Whimbrel on Isles of Scilly (where a Richard's Pipit and two Short-toed Larks were also available), White-billed Diver on Mainland Orkney, Cattle Egret in Carmarthenshire, Red-footed Falcon in East Yorkshire, Glossy Ibis in West Yorkshire, Wilson's Phalarope in Lincolnshire and Citrine Wagtail in Co Derry.

A scattering of scarcities on the east coast (especially on Shetland, where the Paddyfield Warbler also remained on Mainland) and the continued Honey Buzzard passage resulted in an exciting September day in many parts of the country.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 20th September 2008  
  On Orkney, the male Cretzschmar's Bunting remained on North Ronaldsay, and showed well to those lucky enough to make it onto the island. Nearby, a Paddyfield Warbler arrived on Shetland, found at the Virkie Willows this evening. At the other end of the country, an Aquatic Warbler was trapped and ringed at Slapton Ley, Devon, whilst in the east, an Isabelline Wheatear was reported from Salthouse, Norfolk.

The Greater Sand Plover relocated today, found further south at Dunbar, Lothian, although it disappeared after mid afternoon. Single Red-footed Falcons were seen in Hampshire, Cambridgeshire and Yorkshire, and the Wilson's Phalarope was still at Alkborough Flats, Lincolnshire. In Ireland, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper and White-rumped Sandpiper were all seen, along with the long staying Snowy Owl.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 19th September 2008  
  In a completely unexpected twist to the Autumn, a male Cretzchmar's Bunting was found on North Ronaldsay, Orkney. Still present this evening, it showed very well in a garden at Sangar. This is the first Autumn record of this species, with the other three occurring in May or June.

Everything else paled into insignificance, although a Red-throated Pipit on Foula, Shetland and an Aquatic Warbler at Steart NR, Somerset were still quality rarities. Two new White-rumped Sandpipers were found in Ireland, in County Derry and County Kerry, and a Great White Egret flew over Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk.

The Greater Sand Plover remained on the Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire, although it couldn't be located this afternoon. The Wilson's Phalarope was still at Alkborough Flats, Lincolnshire, a Red-footed Falcon was again at Tophill Low NR, Yorkshire, the Lanceolated Warbler remained on Fair Isle, Shetland and the adult Glossy Ibis returned to New Swillington Ings, Yorkshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 18th September 2008  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of an American Redstart at Mizen Head, County Cork this evening. This is only the third Irish record and the first anywhere in the British Isles since 1985. Associated with the arrival of this bird was a Red-eyed Vireo on The Mullet, County Mayo.

Elsewhere, rarities recorded today included a Baird's Sandpiper in County Cork, a brief Red-throated Pipit in Gwynedd, the Great Snipe still in North Yorkshire, a Wilson's Phalarope commuting between East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, and on the Shetland Isles, Lanceolated, Western Bonelli's and Arctic Warbler were all seen.

Lingering rarities included the Greater Sand Plover in Aberdeenshire, White-billed Diver on the Orkney Isles, Hudsonian Whimbrel and Citrine Wagtail together on the Isles of Scilly, Cattle Egret in Carmarthenshire, Hooded Merganser in Dorset and single Great White Egrets in both Ceredigion and Hampshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 17th September 2008  
  New discoveries today included a Booted Warbler on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, Western Bonelli's Warbler on Fair Isle, Rustic Bunting on Unst and Citrine Wagtail on Whalsay, all Shetland, Red-rumped Swallow at Holme, Norfolk and an obliging Great Snipe at Speeton, Yorkshire.

Late news concerned an Eleonora's Falcon on Saturday at Maldon, Essex, which which identified recently from photographs.

Lingering rarities included the Greater Sand Plover in Aberdeenshire, Greenish Warblers in Cornwall and Northumberland, Thrush Nightingale in Norfolk, Wilson's Phalarope in Lincolnshire, which visited Yorkshire briefly, and a Citrine Wagtail on Scilly.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 16th September 2008  
  A quieter day than recently, although there was still plenty to see. A Greenish Warbler was found at Pendeen, Cornwall this afternoon, a Citrine Wagtail was on St.Mary's Scilly, a Semipalmated Sandpiper was at Rogerstown, County Dublin, and, potentially bird of the day, a Wilson's Phalarope was at Alkborough Flats, Lincolnshire.

Elsewhere, the Greater Sand Plover was again on the Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire, and the Thrush Nightingale was re-trapped at Holme, Norfolk. The flycatcher reported yesterday as a Collared Flycatcher at Fife Ness Muir, Fife was also re-trapped today, and confirmed as being a Pied Flycatcher. The Greenish Warbler remained at Newbiggin, Northumberland, as did Semipalmated Sandpiper at Ballycotton, County Cork, Black Duck in Ventry Harbour, County Kerry and White-billed Diver on South Ronaldsay, Orkney.

Again, good numbers of scarce migrants were seen, including Woodchat Shrike, several Melodious Warblers, Icterine Warblers, Red-breasted Flycatchers and Ortolan Buntings.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Monday 15th September 2008  
  The highlight of the day was the confirmation of a Collared Flycatcher in Fife at Fife Ness. Fist seen yesterday, but not trapped until today, this subtle flycatcher remained into the evening. Elsewhere in Scotland, a Baird's Sandpiper was discovered in Argyll, the Stilt Sandpiper remained on the Western Isles and the Greater Sand Plover showed again in Aberdeenshire. The Shetland Isles hosted a Lanceolated Warbler and two Thrush Nightingales.

In Ireland both Semipalmated Sandpiper and Greenish Warbler were seen in County Cork, Lesser Yellowlegs in County Mayo and Black Duck, American Golden Plover and two Baird's Sandpipers were all in County Kerry. Elsewhere, the Hudsonian Whimbrel remained on the Isles of Scilly, a Red-throated Pipit was reported in East Yorkshire, a White-winged Black Tern lingered in Kent as did three Cattle Egrets in Somerset, and single Great White Egrets were seen in Ceredigion, Devon and Hampshire.

Scarce landbirds comprised 26 Wrynecks, nine Barred Warblers, eight Red-backed Shrikes, five each of Melodious and Yellow-browed Warbler, four Red-breasted Flycatchers, four Common Rosefinches, three Icterine Warblers, two Tawny Pipits, two Ortolan Buntings and single Rose-coloured Starling, Marsh Warbler and Hoopoe.

Migrating Honey Buzzards were again evidence with 47 recorded across 21 counties.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 14th September 2008  
  A very exciting day for bird news with lots of action on the east coast as one would expect in these conditions.

Highlights include a Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler, trapped and ringed at Spurn, Yorkshire, which was seen a few times after release, a Thrush Nightingale trapped at Holme, Norfolk and a Citrine Wagtail at Rattray Head, Aberdeenshire, whilst Shetland produced Arctic Warbler, Lanceolated Warbler, Two-barred Crossbill and Yellow-breasted Bunting. The Greater Sand Plover remained at Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire, and the Western Sandpiper was seen again in County Galway, Ireland. A juvenile Stilt Sandpiper was found on South Uist, Western Isles this afternoon. A Western Bonelli's Warbler was present on Lundy, Devon, this evening, a Fea's Petrel flew past Carnsore Point and Hook Head, County Wexford and a Red-footed Falcon was at Tophill Low NR, Yorkshire.

As yesterday, however, perhaps the most memorable event of the day was the continued passage of Honey Buzzards throughout eastern England, with a few birds in east Scotland, and a small number on the south coast. They started to filter inland, also, with birds being seen as far west as the West Midlands. With scores being reported, it is difficult to estimate numbers, as there will have been duplication of records.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 13th September 2008  
  A Fan-tailed Warbler at Swalecliffe in Kent and Western Sandpiper in Co Galway headlined an exciting September day. In Aberdeenshire, yesterday's Mega Alert, the Greater Sand Plover on the Ythan Estuary remained on show all day. A Great Snipe on Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire and Yellow-breasted Bunting, Lanceolated Warbler, Paddyfield Warbler and Thrush Nightingale on Shetland were all top class discoveries, and in Ireland new waders included a couple of Semipalmated Sandpipers. Northern Ireland's first Citrine Wagtail was at Lough Beg, Co Londonderry and a Red-eyed Vireo was in Co Mayo.

Other new birds included Gull-billed Tern off Swalecliffe, Kent (a consolation prize for those who dipped the Fan-tailed Warbler due to its early afternoon disappearance) and Red-rumped Swallow on Isles of Scilly. In Co Durham the Subalpine Warbler continued its stay in South Shields.

The highlight of the day for many was the major influx of Honey Buzzards on the east coast. Sightings were reported from Aberdeenshire to Hampshire, but Northumberland, Cleveland, Yorkshire and East Anglia enjoyed the lion's share of the action. The most notable counts included at least 18 over Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk, seven over Breydon Water, Norfolk and seven over Bawdsey, Suffolk. This is only the second such influx of this species into Britain, following the well documented arrival of Honey Buzzards in September 2000, when an estimated 500 individuals were logged migrating through Britain.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA