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| Saturday 10th January 2009 | ||
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| The Glaucous-winged Gull performed well again, spending most of the
morning on Saltholme Pool, Cleveland, although it was not seen in the afternoon.
Other lingering rarities included the Snowy Owl in Cornwall, two
Penduline Tits in London, King Eider in Fife, Red-breasted Goose
in Hampshire and Ferruginous Duck in Lincolnshire. A possible Wilson's
Snipe was on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly late morning.
Four Canada Geese forms were seen in Dumfries and Galloway, including Cackling, Richardson's and Taverner's. Cattle Egrets remained in Devon, Cornwall, Isles of Scilly, Somerset, County Waterford, County Cork and County Wexford, totalling at least 29 birds. |
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| - Will Soar, 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 9th January 2009 | ||
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| A male Pine Bunting was seen briefly in the Nanjizal Valley area of
Cornwall today, which may prove popular if relocated, as the Snowy Owl
remains nearby at Zennor. Five Cattle Egrets were also in the Nanjizal
area, with at least one on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, and nine are in County
Cork.
Another Snowy Owl was seen this morning, on Westray, Orkney. Also in Scotland, a new Lesser Scaup was found on Islay, Argyll, although there was no sign of the female Canvasback on the same island. Lingering rarities included the Glaucous-winged Gull, three King Eiders, two Penduline Tits, Ferruginous Duck and Red-breasted Goose. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 8th January 2009 | ||
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| The headline bird was once again the adult Glaucous-winged Gull in
Cleveland - it showed on and off throughout the day in the Dorman's Pool area.
On Islay, Argyll, the female Canvasback was again present on Loch Indaal
early in the morning.
Elsewhere Penduline Tits remained in London (2) and Devon, Great White Egrets were noted in Cambridgeshire and Somerset and Cattle Egrets were recorded in Co Cork (5), Cornwall (5), Devon and Isles of Scilly. Rare wildfowl came in the form of the Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan and the pair of King Eiders in Sligo. In Co Galway the adult American Herring Gull was still in Galway Docks. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 7th January 2009 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was a female Canavasback on Islay, Argyll. First located amongst a flock of Scaup on Loch Indaal yesterday, the bird was not confidently identified until this morning, before it promptly disappeared. Other mega news concerned the continued presence of the Glaucous-winged Gull between Cowpen Bewley and Dorman's Pool, Cleveland and the, disappointing, continued absence of the Steller's Eider at Morfa Nefyn, Gwynedd. A Penduline Tit was a new arrival at Slapton Ley, Devon whilst lingering rarities were represented by the Snowy Owl in Cornwall, American Herring Gull in County Galway, two Penduline Tits in London, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan and Hooded Merganser in Dorset. Cattle Egret reports totaled seventeen birds in four counties comprising eight on County Cork, four in Devon, two on the Isles of Scilly and one in Hampshire. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 6th January 2009 | ||
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| The Glaucous-winged Gull made another appearance in Cleveland being seen intermittently throughout the day at Saltholme Pools and Dorman's Pool. Other lingering rarities confirmed as still present today included two Penduline Tits in London, American Herring Gull in County Cork, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, Lesser Scaups in Glamorgan and Nottinghamshire, King Eiders in Fife and County Sligo (2), single Great White Egrets in Hampshire and Somerset, Ferruginous Duck in Lincolnshire, Cackling Canada Goose in Dumfries and Galloway and Hooded Merganser in Dorset. Cattle Egret reports totaled 27 birds in five counties comprising 12 in County Cork, nine in Cornwall, three in Devon, two on the Isles of Scilly and one in Hampshire. Significant late news concerned a female Steller's Eider present on the sea at Morfa Nefyn, Gwynedd on 3rd-4th January, unfortunately a later afternoon search today failed to located the bird. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Monday 5th January 2009 | ||
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| A Ferruginous Duck at Whisby, Lincolnshire was a new discovery, as was a brief
Great White Egret in Norfolk at Welney. Lingering rarities included the Snowy Owl in Cornwall, Gyr on the Isles of Scilly, two Penduline Tits in London, Long-billed Dowitcher in County Louth, King Eiders in Fife and County Sligo (2), single Lesser Scaups in both Glamorgan and Nottinghamshire, Great White Egret in Hampshire and a Small Canada Goose in Dumfries and Galloway. Cattle Egret reports totalled 34 birds in six counties comprising 14 in Cornwall, 12 in County Cork, three in County Waterford, two each in both Devon and the Isles of Scilly and one in Essex. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 4th January 2009 | ||
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| In Cleveland the closure of Cowpen Bewley landfill site resulted in
significantly fewer gulls visiting the area and consequently the
Glaucous-winged Gull failed to make an appearance.
The Gyr reappeared on Isles of Scilly, back on St Mary's and in neighbouring Cornwall the Snowy Owl remained on show. Twenty one Cattle Egrets were logged, including birds in Essex and Cheshire, three King Eiders were still available (two in Co Sligo and one in Fife), Lesser Scaups remained in Nottinghamshire and Glamorgan and in Hampshire the Red-breasted Goose continued to frequent the Keyhaven area. A probable Gyr was noted over Yell, Shetland, the Ross's Goose was still in Norfolk, Caerlaverock WWT hosted an impressive selection of scarcities (the drake American Wigeon and both Cackling and Taverner's Canada Geese) but in Northamptonshire the adult drake Falcated Duck at Earls Barton was unfortunately seen to be sporting a yellow ring. The Angus Short-toed Lark continued to show well, as did the Kent Night Heron and the highest Waxwing counts included 107 in Longbenton, Northumberland, 80 in Newport, Gwent and counts of 70 in Darley Dale, Derbyshire and Bingley, West Yorkshire. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 3rd January 2009 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Glaucous-winged Gull at Cowpen Bewley and Holme Fleet, Cleveland, where - although elusive - it was present for much of the day. New discoveries included two King Eiders together in County Sligo at Lissadell, a Falcated Duck in Northamptonshire at Earls Barton, a Ferruginous Duck in Nottinghamshire at Girton and a brief Great White Egret at Capel, Surrey. Lingering rarities included the Gyr on the Isles of Scilly, Snowy Owl in Cornwall, White-billed Diver in Highland, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, King Eider in Fife, single Lesser Scaups in both County Fermanagh and Glamorgan, Ross's Goose in Norfolk, Hooded Merganser in Dorset and Cackling Canada Goose in Dumfries and Galloway. Cattle Egret reports totalled 33 birds in nine counties comprising ten in County Cork, eight in both Cornwall and Devon, two in Dorset and singles in Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Pembrokeshire, Isle of Scilly and County Waterford. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Friday 2nd January 2009 | ||
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| The days news was dominated by the confirmation of Britain's second
Glaucous-winged Gull at Cowpen Bewley in Cleveland. It is an adult bird but,
as it is unringed, is a different individual to that present in the winter of
2006/7. It was present on and off in the morning and again in mid afternoon.
Elsewhere, a White-billed Diver was found at John O'Groats harbour in Highland, five new Cattle Egrets were in Devon and a Richardson's Canada Goose was found at Caerlaverock along with the Taverner's that has been present for a while. The Snowy Owl remained in Cornwall, King Eiders were still to be found in Fife and on the Shetlands, and the Forster's Tern was still in County Galway. A Short-toed Lark was an unseasonal find at Arbroath in Angus. |
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| - Pete Hayman, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 1st January 2009 | ||
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| Exciting breaking news this evening concerns an adult gull in Cleveland that appears to be a strong candidate for Britain's second
Glaucous-winged Gull. First photographed yesterday at Saltholme Pools, it was seen again late this afternoon at nearby Cowpen Bewley but the true identity was not suspected until the photographs were posted on the internet and outside opinions sought. All other newly discovered rarities were in Ireland where an American Herring Gull was found in County Cork at Bantry, a Lesser Scaup in County Westmeath at Lough Owel, and - most significantly of all - a Snowy Owl at Foxford, County Mayo; although, sadly, it was found injured and had to be destroyed. Lingering rarities included the Snowy Owl in Cornwall, Gyr on the Isles of Scilly, two Penduline Tits in London, Forster's Tern in County Galway, White-billed Diver and King Eider on the Shetland Isles, King Eider in Fife, Cackling Canada Goose in Dumfries and Galloway, Richardson's Canada Goose on the Western Isles, Hooded Merganser in Dorset, Red-breasted Goose and Great White Egret in Hampshire and single Lesser Scaups in both Glamorgan and Nottinghamshire. Cattle Egret reports totalled 21 birds in seven counties comprising five each in both Cornwall and County Cork, three each in County Waterford and Somerset, two in the Isles of Scilly and Pembrokeshire and one in Oxfordshire. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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