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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Wednesday 11th March 2009  
  A Black Kite lingered to the east of Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire this afternoon before flying south. In Glamorgan both the Bonaparte's Gull and Lesser Scaup remained in Cardiff, the Lesser Scaup was still in Nottinghamshire, the American Herring Gull lingered in Galway, a Penduline Tit reappeared in Paignton, Devon and four Cattle Egrets and a Great White Egret were recorded.

Elsewhere the Black-bellied Dipper lingered in Norfolk, a White Stork alighted on a Didsbury roof, Greater Manchester, the drake American Wigeon remained on Mainland Orkney and a total of eight Great Grey Shrikes were reported.

Late news from Monday related to the presence of the long-staying Snowy Owl in Cornwall, which is still near Zennor.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 10th March 2009  
  The highlight of the day was the earliest ever arrival of a Caspian Tern to the British Isles, it was watched briefly at Duncannon, County Wexford in the early afternoon. From Cornwall news arrived of a Gyr at Porthcothan, reported to have been present in the area for several days.

Lingering rarities comprised both Bonaparte's Gull and Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan, King Eider in Fife, Lesser Scaup in Nottinghamshire and Great White Egret in Clyde with Cattle Egrets in Cornwall (2), Devon, Pembrokeshire, Suffolk and Wiltshire.

Scarcities included eight Great Grey Shrikes, three Ring-billed Gulls, two each of American Wigeon, Surf Scoter, Rough-legged Buzzard, Caspian Gull and Kumlien's Gull and singles of Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Snow Goose and Green-winged Teal.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 9th March 2009  
  Rarities today included the American Herring Gull again in Devon, Bonaparte's Gull and Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan, King Eider in Fife, Lesser Scaup in Nottinghamshire, Small Canada Goose in Argyll, Black-bellied Dipper in Norfolk and Great White Egret in Clyde.

Cattle Egret reported totaled eight birds in five counties comprising four in Devon and singles in Pembrokeshire, Suffolk, Wiltshire and the Isle of Man.

Scarcities included eleven Great Grey Shrikes, four Ring-billed Gulls, three Ring-necked Ducks, two each of Rough-legged Buzzard, Caspian Gull and Green-winged Teal and singles of American Wigeon, Lesser Snow Goose and Kumlien's Gull.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 8th March 2009  
  Four Penduline Tits were discovered in the Ingrebourne Valley, London, but the birds were only on show until mid morning. In Glamorgan the Cardiff area produced both an adult Bonaparte's Gull and the lingering Lesser Scaup, whilst in Ireland highlights included the Ivory Gull at Baltimore and an American Herring Gull in Castletown Bearhaven in Co Cork and a flyover white morph Gyr at Nimmo's Pier, Co Galway.

Elsewhere lingering rarities included Red-breasted Goose in West Sussex, Lesser Scaup in Nottinghamshire and King Eider in Fife. Great White Egrets remained in Clyde and Suffolk and at least 13 Cattle Egrets were logged. Twelve Great Grey Shrikes, three Green-winged Teals, two Rough-legged Buzzards, a Grey Phalarope and a Lesser Snow Goose were also recorded.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 7th March 2009  
  On the Isles of Scilly, the juvenile Gyr once again toured the islands, being present on St Mary's, Bryher and Tresco. Further possible Gyrs were reported from Norfolk and Cornwall. Single American Herring Gulls were still present in Devon and County Galway, and the Ivory Gull remained in County Cork.

King Eiders were in Fife and County Sligo (2), with other rare wildfowl consisting of Lesser Scaup in Nottinghamshire and Ferruginous Duck in Surrey. A White-billed Diver was seen on Mull, Argyll, and the Red-breasted Goose was still at East Head, Sussex. Good numbers of Cattle Egrets and Great White Egrets were still present around the country.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 6th March 2009  
  On the Isles of Scilly the juvenile Gyr relocated to Tresco this afternoon, with the Cattle Egret remaining on St Mary's. In Devon, the American Herring Gull was again on the Otter Estuary at Budleigh Salterton, with the adult again at Nimmo's Pier, County Galway. Also in Ireland, the Ivory Gull continued its stay in Baltimore Harbour, County Cork.

Other lingering rarities included the Red-breasted Goose in Sussex and Lesser Scaup in Nottinghamshire, with Cattle Egrets in Cornwall (4), Norfolk, Scilly and on the Isle of Wight, and Great White Egrets in Sussex and Clyde.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 5th March 2009  
  The star bird today must be the juvenile Gyr on the Isles of Scilly, watched for almost an hour at very close range, feeding on a domestic duck on a lawn. In County Galway, the adult Forster's Tern reappeared at Claddagh Beach, Galway, after an absence of almost a month. Also in Ireland, the juvenile Ivory Gull continued to show well at Baltimore, County Cork.

In Norfolk, the Black-bellied Dipper put on its best show yet, remaining at Hunworth all day. The Siberian Thrush nearby at Glandford was not located, so the Dipper provided a welcome distraction. Other lingering rarities included Lesser Scaup in Nottinghamshire, Red-breasted Goose in Sussex and several Cattle Egrets and Great White Egrets.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 4th March 2009  
  The hot news today related to the finding of a first-winter male Siberian Thrush in Glandford, Norfolk. The bird was picked up in a bedraggled state and taken into care, where it recovered in an aviary before being released mid afternoon. The bird, the third for Norfolk, then showed well on and off until dusk.

Elsewhere lingering rarities included Ivory Gull at Baltimore harbour, Co Cork, Lesser Scaup in Nottinghamshire, two King Eiders in Co Sligo and 18 Cattle Egrets were recorded, including seven together in Co Cork. In Norfolk the Black-bellied Dipper was still at Hunworth and four Ring-necked Ducks and three American Wigeons were logged.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 3rd March 2009  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of the first Ivory Gull in Ireland in a decade. Found at Baltimore, County Cork, this juvenile bird showed well into the evening and appears likely to be the same bird as earlier present 600 miles to the southeast on the Atlantic coast of France at Gujan-Mestras, Gironde between 21st January and 26th February 2009. Gull news from elsewhere included the American Herring Gull still in County Galway and totals of 42 Glaucous Gulls (including 21 on the Western Isles), 34 Iceland Gulls (including 16 in County Galway), eight Ring-billed Gulls, four Caspian Gulls and three Kumlien's Gulls.

Lingering rarities included the Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan, Black-bellied Dipper in Norfolk, Cackling Canada Goose and Taverner's Canada Goose together in Dumfries and Galloway, and a Great White Egret in Suffolk.

Cattle Egret reports totaled eleven birds in seven counties comprising five in Devon and one each in Norfolk, Pembrokeshire, Wiltshire, Isle of Man, Isles of Scilly and the Isle of Wight.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 2nd March 2009  
  Rarity headlines included the Snowy Owl still in Cornwall, Penduline Tits in Devon and Norfolk (2), Lesser Scaups in both Glamorgan and Nottinghamshire, Great White Egrets in Cambridgeshire, Hampshire and Suffolk and the Hooded Merganser remained in Dorset.

Cattle Egret reports totaled twenty birds in eight counties comprising seven in County Cork, five in Devon, three in Cornwall and singles in Norfolk and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Man, Isles of Scilly and the Isle of Wight.

Scarcities included eight each of Ring-billed Gull and Great Grey Shrike, seven Caspian Gulls, three each of Black Brant and Green-winged Teal, two each of American Wigeon and Rough-legged Buzzard and singles of Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Snow Goose and Lapland Bunting.
-  Chris Batty, RBA