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| Saturday 25th October 2008 | ||
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| A Green Heron was reported at West Hythe, Kent today - the bird was
seen at midday but the news was only released as the sun was setting this
evening. The other major heron news was negative - the Little Blue Heron
failed to make an appearance on the Gwendraeth Estuary, Carmarthenshire.
In Powys there were further unconfirmed reports of the probable 1st-winter male Siberian Thrush - a bird was reported on a couple of occasions in flight at Creation Gardens near Rhayader. Less controversial sightings today included White-rumped Sandpipers on Mainland Shetland, and Tresco, Isles of Scilly, Blyth's Reed Warbler on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, a couple of drake Lesser Scaups in Clyde, Ferruginous Ducks in Hertfordshire and Leicestershire, Cattle Egret in Dorset and Great White Egrets in Suffolk and Hampshire. A Bluethroat was discovered at Land's End, Cornwall, a Red-backed Shrike remained in Kent, a Richard's Pipit was on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, a Serin remained at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London and another flew over Barton-on-Sea, Hampshire. |
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| - Stuart Piner, 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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| Friday 24th October 2008 | ||
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| Following the first record of Little Blue Heron for Britain and
Ireland in County Galway earlier in the month, came surprising news today of
another (or possibly the same bird) at Kidwelly in South Wales. The bird was
seen on the Gwendraeth Estuary and later on the Coed Bach marshes, and it may
have been present in the area for up to two weeks. In Scilly a Wilson's Snipe
showed well at Porth Hellick Pool on St.Mary's.
A new White-rumped Sandpiper was found at the Mullet in County Mayo, with one to two birds remaining on Scilly. Also on Scilly were a Blyth's Reed Warbler along with various of the usual scarce migrants such as Yellow-browed Warblers, Common Rosefinches, Barred Warblers and Red-breasted Flycatchers. In Scotland, the two Lesser Scaups remained at Hogganfield Loch in Clyde and Ferruginous Ducks were still to be found in Hertfordshire and Somerset. A Great White Egret flew over the M60 in Greater Manchester and there was an unconfirmed report of a Siberian Thrush near Rhayader in Powys. |
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| - Pete Hayman, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 23rd October 2008 | ||
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| A Rose-breasted Grosbeak was present for its second day on Loop Head,
Co Clare. However, like yesterday it was elusive, only showing for five minutes
in poor weather conditions.
New rarities discovered today included a Red-rumped Swallow that flew east at Warham Greens, Norfolk, a King Eider in Spey Bay, Moray and a brief White-rumped Sandpiper at Bogside Flats, Ayrshire. White-rumped Sandpipers lingered on both South Uist, Western Isles and Tresco, Isles of Scilly. The Olive-backed Pipit and Blyth's Reed Warbler both remained on show on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, Ferruginous Ducks were still in Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, at least one Lesser Scaup lingered in Clyde and a Great White Egret was still at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk. Seven Yellow-browed Warblers, a Red-breasted Flycatcher and a Red-backed Shrike were also logged today. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 22nd October 2008 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was a brief Rose-breasted Grosbeak at Kilbaha, County Clare. Other discoveries included a Long-billed Dowitcher in County Clare at Liscannor,
Red-throated Pipit in Devon on Lundy, Lesser Scaup in Perth and Kinross at Loch Leven,
Cattle Egret in County Cork at Bantry and a White-rumped Sandpiper on South Uist, Western Isles. On the Isles of Scilly the Grey-cheeked Thrush, Blyth's Reed Warbler and Olive-backed Pipit all remained on St Agnes with two White-rumped Sandpipers, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Spoonbill and ten each of both Yellow-browed Warbler and Grey Phalarope scattered around the archipelago. Elsewhere, lingering rarities comprised the Glossy Ibis in County Cork, King Eider in Devon, two Lesser Scaups in Clyde, Cattle Egrets in Pembrokeshire and East Sussex (4), Great White Egret in Suffolk, two Small Canada Geese in Dumfries and Galloway, Hooded Merganser in Dorset and single Ferruginous Ducks in Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Somerset. Significant news from yesterday concerned the reappearance of the Little Blue Heron in Barnaderg Bag, County Galway - but it could not be located there today. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 21st October 2008 | ||
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| Today's highlights came from the Isles of Scilly where the first Red-flanked Bluetail
for the archipelago was discovered on St Mary's, a Bobolink was found on St Agnes and two
White-rumped Sandpipers arrived on Tresco. Other birds recorded around the islands today included single
Grey-cheeked Thrush, Blyth's Reed Warbler and Olive-backed Pipit
- all on St Agnes - along with totals of ten Yellow-browed Warblers, five
Grey Phalaropes, two each of Little Bunting and Red-breasted Flycatcher and single Richard's Pipit
and Pectoral Sandpiper. In County Cork a Black-browed Albatross flew past Mizen Head, an American Golden Plover was recorded at Clonakilty and a Glossy Ibis was found at Pilmore. Other single Glossy Ibises were seen briefly in London at Rainham Marshes and Staffordshire at Belvide Reservoir. Elsewhere, lingering rarities comprised the Baird's Sandpiper in Somerset, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on the Shetland Isles, White-billed Diver on the Orkney Isles, Lesser Scaup in Clyde, King Eider in Devon, Cattle Egret in Pembrokeshire, Great White Egret in Suffolk, Hooded Merganser in Dorset and single Ferruginous Ducks in each of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Somerset. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Monday 20th October 2008 | ||
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| An Olive-backed Pipit spent a couple of hours on St Agnes, Isles of
Scilly, this afternoon, before flying south-east. On the same island, the
Grey-cheeked Thrush remained, still showing well, although the Sociable
Plover appears to have departed from St Mary's.
A Baird's Sandpiper was seen briefly in Somerset, at Burnham-on-Sea, and a Lesser Scaup was at Hogganfield Loch, Clyde, present for its second day. Both the Cackling Canada Goose and the Taverner's Canada Goose were at Caerlaverock WWT, Dumfries and Galloway, whilst both Siberian Stonechat and Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll were still on Shetland. The Forster's Tern was seen again in County Louth, and the King Eider remained in Devon. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 19th October 2008 | ||
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| A White's Thrush in Aberdeenshire, present for its second day, was
bird of the day. It remained very elusive, but was seen a few times this
afternoon, after access was arranged for the Parkhill Estate, Dyce. There will,
however, be no further access to this site.
Negative news from both Yorkshire and Wirral, where there was no sign of either the Amur Falcon or the probable Snowy Egret. New rarities included another Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on Shetland, at Isbister, a Siberian Stonechat nearby at Collafirth, and a Great White Egret and four Cattle Egrets in County Cork and Sussex respectively. On Scilly, both the Sociable Plover and the Grey-cheeked Thrush remained in-situ, and the King Eider continued to show well in Devon, at Appledore. Ferruginous Ducks remained in Somerset and Hertfordshire, the Glossy Ibis was seen at Swillington Ings, Yorkshire with American Golden Plover again in Cornwall and White-billed Diver on Orkney. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 18th October 2008 | ||
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| The hot news this evening related to the reidentification of the
Red-footed Falcon present since 14th September at Tophill Low NR, East
Yorkshire as an Amur Falcon. The last confirmed sighting of the bird was
on Wednesday.
New discoveries today included a Red-eyed Vireo on Isle of Wight, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on Unst, Shetland, two American Golden Plovers on South Uist and Cattle Egrets in Dorset and Cumbria. A White's Thrush on Shetland headlined the long stayers and the Grey-cheeked Thrush, Sociable Plover and Blyth's Reed Warbler on Isles of Scilly, White-throated Sparrow in Co Cork and King Eider in Devon were all notable. Six Richard's Pipits, five Great Grey Shrikes, two Little Buntings, two Rose-coloured Starlings, two Green-winged Teals and single Red-backed Shrike, Serin, Spotted Crake and Golden Oriole were logged today. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Friday 17th October 2008 | ||
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| Having kept a low profile since Tuesday, the Grey-cheeked Thrush on St
Agnes, Isles of Scilly finally gave itself up today and showed well throughout
the afternoon. The Blyth's Reed Warbler was also still present on the
same island and a Red-throated Pipit flew over. On St Mary's the
Sociable Plover was still in situ.
American Golden Plovers were discovered on South Uist and Lewis, Western Isles, Great White Egrets visited Dale, Pembrokeshire and Abberton Reservoir, Essex and a Red-rumped Swallow flew over Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk. A Cattle Egret was observed in Sandy Haven, Pembrokeshire. Lingering rarities came in the form of White's Thrush on Shetland, Little Blue Heron in Co Galway, White-throated Sparrow in Co Cork, Red-eyed Vireo in Cornwall, Wilson's Phalarope in Norfolk and King Eider in Devon. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 16th October 2008 | ||
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| A Blyth's Reed Warbler on Isles of Scilly, Radde's Warbler at
Start Point, Devon and a White-winged Black Tern at Skipwith Common,
North Yorkshire were today's main new discoveries. Elsewhere available rarities
included the Little Blue Heron in Co Galway, White-throated Sparrow
in Co Cork, White's Thrush on Mainland Shetland, Sociable Plover
on Isles of Scilly, Wilson's Phalarope in Norfolk, King Eider in
Devon and Red-eyed Vireo in Cornwall.
Ferruginous Ducks remained in Somerset and Buckinghamshire, the Ross's Goose was still in Lancashire, a Rough-legged Buzzard visited Holkham Freshmarsh, a Little Bunting was seen on Shetland, a Rose-coloured Starling remained in Cornwall and a showy Red-necked Phalarope was once again in Glamorgan. Yellow-browed Warblers, Richard's Pipits and Red-breasted Flycatchers graced several locations. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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