Daily News Summaries
This page gives you access to all of RBA's daily news summaries (since April 13, 2006), 10 days at a time. The most recent are shown, or you can select a specific date to show (along with the previous 10 days). Prior to April 13, 2006 you can find weekly reviews, located in articles.
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Wednesday 29th October 2008  
  Bird of the day was a Snowy Owl on Isles of Scilly, the fifth record for the archipelago, and the first since 1972. Elsewhere on the islands the Grey-cheeked Thrush remained, as did the Blyth's Reed Warbler and a White-rumped Sandpiper. Nearby, the first Paddyfield Warbler for Devon was trapped and ringed on Lundy.

In the Northern Isles, both King Eiders and White-billed Divers were found on Shetland, with large numbers of Grey Phalaropes still present, mainly on Orkney. A White-billed Diver was also seen in Yorkshire, whilst on the Western Isles a juvenile White-rumped Sandpiper was found on South Uist. A new American Golden Plover was found in Cambridgeshire, with yesterday's juvenile still present at East Harling, Norfolk.

Lingering rarities included the Green Heron in Kent, Lesser Scaup in Nottinghamshire, Great White Egret in Greater Manchester, King Eider in Devon and Ferruginous Duck in Buckinghamshire.
Will Soar, RBA
Friday 24th October 2008  
  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.
Pete Hayman, RBA
Wednesday 22nd October 2008  
  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.
Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 21st October 2008  
  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.
Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 20th October 2008  
  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.
Will Soar, RBA
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