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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Thursday 2nd October 2008  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler on Foula, Shetland Isles – the fifth record of this species in Britain this autumn. Other birds recorded around the archipelago included ten Yellow-browed Warblers, three Richard's Pipits, two Red-breasted Flycatchers, single Short-toed Lark, Little Bunting, Bluethroat, Ring-necked Duck, Barred Warbler, Honey Buzzard and Lapland Bunting with single Hormenann's Arctic Redpolls remaining on both Fair Isle and Unst.

Rarities elsewhere included the Gull-billed Tern in Argyll, Lesser Yellowlegs on the Western Isles, Rustic Bunting in Cumbria, two Small Canada Geese in Dumfries and Galloway, Siberian Stonechat in Dorset, two Cattle Egrets in Devon, Red-footed Falcon in East Yorkshire, Ferruginous Duck in Buckinghamshire, Glossy Ibises in both Cambridgeshire and West Yorkshire and single Great White Egrets in Essex, Hampshire, Staffordshire and Suffolk.

Many west coast locations enjoyed productive seawatching including five Sabine's Gulls, six Long-tailed Skuas, 25 Grey Phalropes, 30 Pomarine Skuas and over 250 Leach's Petrels scattered across nine counties.

Away from the Shetland Isles, scarce landbirds comprised 17 Yellow-browed Warblers, four Great Grey Shrikes, three each of Red-backed Shrike and Lapland Bunting, two Little Buntings and singles of both Woodchat Shrike and Common Rosefinch.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 1st October 2008  
  Fair Isle continued its excellent run of form, producing a White's Thrush (hot on the heels of last week's Siberian Thrush), Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler and Arctic Redpoll. Elsewhere on Shetland Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls were discovered on Foula and Unst and a Rustic Bunting was unearthed at Voe, Mainland.

Three new Baird's Sandpipers were found, all in Ireland (in Co Kerry, Co Wexford and Co Mayo) and a Citrine Wagtail arrived on Barra - the Citrine Wagtail on North Uist also remained in situ. Lingering rarities included the Gull-billed Tern on Tiree, Glossy Ibis in Cambridgeshire, Stilt Sandpiper and Rustic Bunting in Cumbria and Red-footed Falcon in East Yorkshire.

Seawatching was the highlight of the day for many -  north westerly winds pushed many Leach's Petrels past Merseyside and Wirral, with counts including 120 past Hilbre Island and 107 past Seaforth LWT. Irish headlands also produced the goods, with Kilcummin Head and Portacloy in Co Mayo, Bloody Foreland and Melmore Head in Co Donegal and Bridges of Ross in Co Clare all scoring impressive passages of Pomarine Skuas and Grey Phalaropes, as well as several Leach's Petrels, Long-tailed Skuas and Sabine's Gulls. Back across the Irish Sea, Pendeen Watch and St Ives Island in Cornwall and Strumble Head in Pembrokeshire all produced a great haul of seabirds.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 30th September 2008  
  The first Pechora Pipit of the autumn made landfall on Fetlar, Shetland today, joining an American Golden Plover and Blyth's Reed Warbler which remained on the archipelago. A Spotted Sandpiper was discovered on North Ronaldsay, Orkney and a first-winter Citrine Wagtail was on North Uist, Western Isles.

In Cumbria both the Rustic Bunting and Stilt Sandpiper remained in the county - the Stilt Sandpiper was previously seen on Isle of Man on 17th September, before arriving at Campfield Marsh RSPB on 22nd. Other lingering rarities consisted of the Gull-billed Tern on Tiree, Argyll, Glossy Ibises in Cambridgeshire and West Yorkshire and Great White Egrets in Suffolk and Hampshire.

The best of the rest included a Woodchat Shrike on Orkney, Temminck's Stint in Cornwall, Red-breasted Flycatcher on Isles of Scilly and Common Rosefinch on Shetland as well as fourteen Pectoral Sandpipers, five Great Grey Shrikes and at least thirteen Yellow-browed Warblers dotted around the country. Strong westerly winds pushed fourteen Leach's Petrels past Northwest England watch points.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 29th September 2008  
  The highlight of the day was a Gull-billed Tern on Tiree, Argyll. Elsewhere, brief encounters included a Penduline Tit in Dorset at Hengistbury Head, a Savi's Warbler in Kent at Sandwich Bay and a Red-throated Pipit at Barton-on-Sea, Hampshire.

Lingering rarities included the Stilt Sandpiper in Cumbria, Glossy Ibis in Cambridgeshire, Rustic Bunting in Cumbria, Aquatic Warbler in Devon, Radde's Warbler in Suffolk, Red-footed Falcon in East Yorkshire and American Golden Plover on the Western Isles, whilst single Great White Egrets remained in both Hampshire and Suffolk and Cattle Egrets were seen in Somerset (3) and Devon (2).

On the Shetland Isles a Blyth's Reed Warbler was still present along with an American Golden Plover, seven Yellow-browed Warblers, three Barred Warblers, two Common Rosefinches, a Short-toed Lark and a Ring-necked Duck. On the Isles of Scilly two Little Buntings were seen with six Yellow-browed Warblers, a Short-toed Lark and a Lapland Bunting.

Elsewhere, scarce landbirds were represented by a further 19 Yellow-browed Warblers, seven Red-backed Shrikes, five Great Grey Shrikes, two each of Red-breasted Flycatcher, Richard's Pipit and Wryneck and single Woodchat Shrike, Bluethroat, Icterine Warbler and Common Rosefinch.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 28th September 2008  
  A Bobolink on Foula, Shetland and White's Thrush on Inishbofin, Co Galway were today's two standout finds. A Booted Warbler on Lundy, Devon, was equally unavailable to the masses, but mainland discoveries included a Radde's Warbler on Great Ormes Head, Conwy and a Glossy Ibis on Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire.

Other highlights consisted of the Aquatic Warbler at Slapton Ley, Devon (the same bird trapped and ringed at the site on 20th September), Stilt Sandpiper and Rustic Bunting in Cumbria, Lesser Grey Shrike and Greenish Warbler in Norfolk, Radde's Warblers in Suffolk and Norfolk, Red-footed Falcon in East Yorkshire and Hudsonian Whimbrel on Isles of Scilly.

The most notable scarcities were a Woodchat Shrike and Richard's Pipit in Norfolk, Hoopoe on Isle of Man, Ortolan Bunting on Bardsey Island and a couple of Little Buntings together on Isles of Scilly.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 27th September 2008  
  A Rustic Bunting on Walney Island, Cumbria and Western Bonelli's Warbler on Mainland Shetland were today's headline discoveries, but a Greenish Warbler in East Norfolk, Red-footed Falcon at Saltburn, Cleveland, Bee-eater at Lavernock Point, Glamorgan and Radde's Warbler at Foulness Island, Essex were also super finds.

Lingering rarities included a Lesser Grey Shrike, Blyth's Reed and Radde's Warblers in Norfolk, Dusky Warbler in Kent, Red-footed Falcon in East Yorkshire, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset (another was discovered in Leicestershire), Radde's Warbler in Suffolk, Stilt Sandpiper in Cumbria, White-winged Black Tern in Greater Manchester, Arctic Warbler on Out Skerries and Hudsonian Whimbrel on Isles of Scilly.

In Dorset a probable Audouin's Gull was on the sea off St Aldhelm's Head before flying east. Yellow-browed Warblers continued to filter through to the west coast, two Buff-breasted Sandpipers were at St Fergus, Aberdeenshire and at least nine Great Grey Shrikes, twelve Red-backed Shrikes, two Barred Warblers, two Wrynecks, a handful of Marsh Warblers and a Hoopoe were also logged.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 26th September 2008  
  Despite the disappearance of yesterdays four mega Asian passerines - Brown Shrike, Brown Flycatcher, Siberian Thrush and Sykes's Warbler - it was another great day along the east coast with Norfolk alone hosting Blyth's Reed Warbler at West Runton, Lesser Grey Shrike at Weybourne, Siberian Stonechat at Stiffkey, Radde's Warbler at Holkham and both Radde's Warbler and Red-throated Pipit at Burnham Overy Dunes. Further Radde's Warblers were in East Yorkshire at Flamborough Head, Suffolk at Shingle Street and in Kent at Sandwich Bay. Elsewhere in Kent a Booted Warbler was at Margate briefly and a Dusky Warbler at St Margaret's at Cliffe. The Red-flanked Bluetail remained on North Ronaldsay, Orkney Isles with, on the Shetland Isles, Siberian Stonechat on Fair Isle and both Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and Blyth's Reed Warbler on Foula. A Greenish Warbler was seen at South Gare, Cleveland.

Other rarities comprised the Stilt Sandpiper in Cumbria, Hudsonian Whimbrel on the Isles of Scilly, Snowy Owl on the Western Isles, Black Duck in County Donegal, Lesser Yellowlegs in County Wexford, White-billed Diver on the Orkney Isles, Red-footed Falcon in East Yorkshire, White-winged Black Tern in Greater Manchester, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset and single Great White Egrets in Ceredigion, Essex, Hampshire and Suffolk.

Scarce landbirds included 86 Yellow-browed Warblers, nine Red-breasted Flycatchers, seven Red-backed Shrikes, five Great Grey Shrikes, four each of Barred Warbler, Wryneck and Lapland Bunting, three each of Little Bunting and Common Rosefinch, two each of Rose-coloured Starling, Bluethroat, Marsh Warbler and Richard's Pipit along with single Tawny Pipit and Serin.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 25th September 2008  
  An excellent day headlined by several extremely rare eastern vagrants along the coast between the Northern Isles and East Anglia. The highlight for many was the lingering Brown Shrike that showed all day at Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire. The Shetland Isles hosted Siberian Thrush, Arctic Warbler and Brown Flycatcher on Fair Isle (albeit only briefly in the case of the latter), Sykes's Warbler at Sumburgh, Red-flanked Bluetail, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and Blyth's Reed Warbler on Foula and, on the Out Skerries, what was probably a Thick-billed Warbler was seen fleetingly.

In Lincolnshire a Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler was seen briefly at Donna Nook, in Norfolk a Lesser Grey Shrike, Siberian Stonechat and two Radde's Warblers were seen and on the Orkney Isles a Red-flanked Bluetail was found on North Ronaldsay.

Rarities elsewhere comprised the Stilt Sandpiper in Cumbria, Hudsonian Whimbrel on the Isles of Scilly, Red-footed Falcon in East Yorkshire, Baird’s Sandpiper in County Kerry, American Golden Plover on the Western Isles, Red-throated Pipit in Cornwall, White-winged Black Tern in Greater Manchester, Black Kite in Hampshire, Cattle Egret in Somerset, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset and single Great White Egrets in both Hampshire and Suffolk.

Scarce landbirds included 86 Yellow-browed Warblers, 20 Red-breasted Flycatchers, ten Lapland Buntings, nine Great Grey Shrikes, seven Red-backed Shrikes, four Rose-coloured Starlings, three each of Bluethroat, Rose-coloured Starling, Barred Warbler and Wryneck, two Richard's Pipits and single Ortolan Bunting, Marsh Warbler and Hoopoe.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 24th September 2008  
  After a fairly quiet morning, the afternoon produced some top quality eastern vagrants. Firstly, a first-winter Brown Flycatcher was found on Fair Isle, Shetland, and performed very well until this evening. Also on the island was a Red-flanked Bluetail, and around forty Yellow-browed Warblers. Keeping with the 'brown' theme, a superb adult Brown Shrike was found at Flamborough Head, Yorkshire. The first for Mainland Britain, it is hoped that it will become the first truly twitchable Brown Shrike for Britain.

Other new birds found mid to late afternoon includes two Blyth's Reed Warblers on Mainland Shetland, together with two American Golden Plovers, an Olive-backed Pipit at Spurn, Yorkshire, a Rustic Bunting at Landguard Nature Reserve, Suffolk and a Lesser Grey Shrike, Siberian Stonechat and Radde's Warbler in Norfolk. Also in Norfolk was the first Melodious Warbler for the county for 51 years.

Belated news for yesterday concerned a female Common Yellowthroat, which boarded the MV Aurora soon after leaving the United States, and was still present on the ship when it docked in Southampton, Hampshire yesterday evening.

The Stilt Sandpiper remained in Cumbria, as did Eastern Olivaceous Warbler on Shetland, Red-footed Falcon and Glossy Ibis in Yorkshire and White-billed Diver on Orkney. Good numbers of scarce migrants were found down the east coast, with Red-breasted Flycatchers, Common Rosefinches and Wrynecks all being found, together with a large arrival of Yellow-browed Warblers.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 23rd September 2008  
  Today's highlights came from the Shetland Isles where an Eastern Olivaceous Warbler was found on Foula and, on Fair Isle, a Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler, two Lanceolated Warblers and a Red-throated Pipit were discovered. Elsewhere, a Long-billed Dowitcher arrived in County Clare, a Ferruginous Duck in Buckinghamshire, a Red-footed Falcon in Dumfries and Galloway and a Lesser Scaup in Perth and Kinross.

The Stilt Sandpiper remained in Cumbria as did the Hudsonian Whimbrel on the Isles of Scilly, White-billed Diver on the Orkney Isles, Glossy Ibis in West Yorkshire, Red-footed Falcon in East Yorkshire and single Great White Egrets in both Hampshire and Suffolk.

Scarce migrants comprised 21 Yellow-browed Warblers, four Red-breasted Flycatchers, three Barred Warblers, two each of Rose-coloured Starling, Richard's Pipit, Wryneck and Lapland Bunting and single Tawny Pipit, Melodious Warbler, Marsh Warbler and Red-backed Shrike.

Seawatching was rewarding between East Yorkshire and Kent with a few Long-tailed Skuas, Sabine's Gulls and Leach's Petrels and exceptional numbers of Great Skuas, including county maximums of 328 in Norfolk and 267 in Kent.
-  Chris Batty, RBA