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 12th December 2008  
  The highlight of the day was an American Buff-bellied Pipit at Lough Beg, County Londonderry. First seen yesterday, the identity was confirmed today as the first record of this species for Northern Ireland. In Warwickshire the identity of a female Lesser Scaup at Lea Marston was clinched, following a three week gestation.

Lingering rarities confirmed as present today included King Eider in County Mayo, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, Glossy Ibis in Lancashire, Hooded Merganser in Dorset and single Cattle Egrets in both Oxfordshire and Pembrokeshire.

Wintering scarcities reported today included three each of Rough-legged Buzzard and Ring-billed Gull, two Black Brants and singles of Night Heron, Snow Goose, Ring-necked Duck, Great Grey Shrike, Yellow-browed Warbler and Lapland Bunting.

Waxwings totaled 1,051 birds in nineteen counties including maximums of 325 in Ayrshire, 223 in Lothian, 104 in West Yorkshire and 100 in Cleveland.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 11th December 2008  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Two-barred Crossbill in Herefordshire, with Crossbills at Bircher Common. In Fife a Black-bellied Dipper was identified at Boarhills, in Cornwall the Pacific Diver showed again in Mount’s Bay whilst in Leicestershire the Ferruginous Duck reappeared at Groby Pool.

Other rarities today included Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, Spotted Sandpiper in Staffordshire, Glossy Ibis in Lancashire, White-rumped Sandpiper in Cornwall, Lesser Scaup in Clyde and single Cattle Egrets in both County Cork and Pembrokeshire.

Notable lingering scarcities comprised Night Heron in Kent, Pectoral Sandpiper in County Down, Great Grey Shrikes in Hampshire and Warwickshire, Ring-necked Ducks in both Ayrshire and Hampshire, single Rough-legged Buzzards in Cambridgeshire, East Yorkshire and Norfolk, and confiding Ring-billed Gulls in Cornwall, County Cork, County Sligo and Pembrokeshire.

Waxwing reports totalled 823 birds in 32 counties including maximums of 250 in Lothian, 200 in Ayrshire and 50 in Cleveland.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 10th December 2008  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a King Eider in County Mayo at Annagh Head.

Lingering rarities comprised the Gyr on the Isle of Scilly, Forster's Tern in County Galway, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, Spotted Sandpiper in Staffordshire, Glossy Ibis in Merseyside, Lesser Scaup in Clyde, Cattle Egret in Pembrokeshire, Great White Egret in Somerset and Hooded Merganser in Dorset.

Scarcities included a Night Heron in Kent, a new Ring-necked Duck in Hampshire, Rough-legged Buzzards in Cambridgeshire, East Yorkshire (2), Kent and Norfolk, Great Grey Shrikes in Hampshire, Suffolk and Warwickshire and confiding Ring-billed Gulls in both Angus and Cornwall.

Waxwings totaled 988 in 21 counties including maximums of 250 in Ayrshire, 182 in Cleveland, 169 in Lothian and 79 in County Antrim.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 9th December 2008  
  New discoveries today included a Great White Egret at Shapwick Heath NNR, Somerset, and a Cattle Egret at West Angle Bay, Pembrokeshire.

Other rarities confirmed as present were the Gyr on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, American Herring Gull at Nimmo's Pier, County Galway, Spotted Sandpiper at Tittesworth Reservoir, Staffordshire, White-rumped Sandpiper at Torpoint, Cornwall, Red-breasted Goose at Normandy Lagoon, Hampshire and Glossy Ibis at Marshside RSPB, Merseyside.

Waxwings numbered at least 1,026 birds, from 24 counties.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Monday 8th December 2008  
  A white morph Gyr was on Isles of Scilly for its second day, today showing on St Mary's. Elsewhere a Cattle Egret was discovered at Dungeness RSPB, Kent (others remained in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Co Cork), the Spotted Sandpiper was still in Staffordshire, the Red-breasted Goose lingered with Dark-bellied Brent Geese at Normandy Lagoon, Hampshire and a White-rumped Sandpiper was seen again at Torpoint, Cornwall.

Rough-legged Buzzards were noted in Cambridgeshire, Cornwall and Norfolk and a total of at least 1,178 Waxwings were recorded.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 7th December 2008  
  A second Glossy Ibis arrived in Northwest England today, at Pennington Flash Country Park, Greater Manchester. The long-staying adult ibis was still at Marshside RSPB, Merseyside. A White-rumped Sandpiper visited St John's Lake, Cornwall and lingering rarities included the Spotted Sandpiper in Staffordshire, Lesser Scaups in Nottinghamshire, Clyde, Cornwall, Gloucestershire and Co Down, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire and White-billed Diver in Orkney.

In Ireland the Black Duck remained in Ventry Harbour, Co Kerry and nearby the juvenile Gyr was released, but was immediately taken back into care.

Richard's Pipits were seen in Cornwall and Essex, Rough-legged Buzzards were noted in Lancashire, Hertfordshire, Essex, East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire and the largest Waxwing count was a flock of at least 396 in Edinburgh.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 6th December 2008  
  A couple of Penduline Tits at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, were today's headline discovery and a Ross's Goose in Norfolk was also new. Six Cattle Egrets were at Sharphan Park, Somerset, a Lesser Yellowlegs was in Southwold, Suffolk, for its second day and in Merseyside the Glossy Ibis was still at Marshside RSPB. The Staffordshire Spotted Sandpiper was still on show, as was the Hampshire Red-breasted Goose, Buckinghamshire Cattle Egret, Orkney White-billed Diver and Nottinghamshire and Cornwall Lesser Scaups.

In Ireland an adult American Herring Gull returned to Nimmo's Pier, Co Galway and a Cattle Egret was at Cuskinny, Co Cork.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 5th December 2008  
  A Lesser Yellowlegs in Suffolk on Southwold Town Marshes was today's star discovery. Lingering rarities included Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, White-billed Diver in Orkney, Cattle Egret in Buckinghamshire, Lesser Scaups in Gloucestershire, Cornwall and Clyde, Cackling Canada Goose in Dumfries & Galloway and on Isles of Scilly the Snowy Owl reappeared on St Martin's.

A Serin remained at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, the Common Rosefinch was still in Whitburn, Co Durham and at least 1,018 Waxwings were logged.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Thursday 4th December 2008  
  Long staying rarities present around the country today included the juvenile Spotted Sandpiper at Tittesworth Reservoir, Staffordshire, the Red-breasted Goose at Normandy Marsh, Hampshire, and single Lesser Scaups in Cornwall, Gloucestershire and Clyde. The Cattle Egret was still at Haversham, Buckinghamshire, and a new Great White Egret flew over Knockbridge, County Louth early morning.

Late news concerned a Penduline Tit in Somerset, seen at Greylake RSPB on 25th November.

Scarcities included the Great Grey Shrike at Lakenheath, Suffolk, a Little Auk past Selsey Bill, Sussex, Kumlien's Gull again in the Forfar Loch roost, Angus, Grey Phalarope on Covenham Reservoir, Lincolnshire, Surf Scoter at Dawlish Warren NNR, Devon, Ring-necked Duck at Martnaham Loch, Ayrshire and Green-winged Teal at Inner Marsh Farm, Cheshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 3rd December 2008  
  The identity of the Pacific Diver in Cornwall was confirmed today, as it showed well in Mount's Bay, off Marazion this morning, after being seen twice briefly in the last few weeks. Other rarities seen today included single Lesser Scaups in Cornwall, Gloucestershire and Clyde, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, Glossy Ibis in Merseyside, Cattle Egrets in Buckinghamshire and Hampshire and Hooded Merganser in Dorset.

The Common Rosefinch was seen again at Whitburn, County Durham, and a Grey Phalarope remains on Covenham Reservoir, Lincolnshire. A single Serin remains at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London.
-  Will Soar, RBA