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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Sunday 19th April 2009  
  Lingering rarities confirmed as still present today comprised the White-throated Sparrow in Hampshire, Snowy Owl in Cornwall, Subalpine Warbler in East Yorkshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Essex, Lesser Scaup in East Yorkshire, two White-billed Divers together on the Western Isles and the Hooded Merganser in Dorset.

Cattle Egret reports concerned three each in both County Cork and Cornwall and singles in Devon and East Sussex.

Scarcities included two Kentish Plovers together in Cornwall, single Hoopoes in County Cork, Dorset and the Isle of Man, three each of Ring-necked Duck and Green-winged Teal, two Surf Scoters, a Rough-legged Buzzard in Cambridgeshire, American Wigeon in Aberdeenshire, Wryneck on the Orkney Isles, Pectoral Sandpiper on the Western Isles and a Great Grey Shrike in Gloucestershire.
Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 18th April 2009  
  Three new Subalpine Warblers were found today, with birds at Spurn, Yorkshire, Bardsey Island, Gwynedd and Great Saltee Island, County Wexford. Also in County Wexford, a Bonaparte's Gull was seen at Tacumshin. Two Great White Egrets were at Christchurch, Dorset, whilst another was at the Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire, and the long staying bird remained in Clyde.

In Hampshire, the White-throated Sparrow became more elusive at Old Winchester Hill. The Red-rumped Swallow in Wirral was seen at Leasowe this evening, and the Lesser Yellowlegs was seen again at Heybridge Basin, Essex. Other lingering rarities included Bonaparte's Gull in Oxfordshire, single Lesser Scaups in Forth and Glamorgan and lesser golden plover in Norfolk.
Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 16th April 2009  
  New rarities today included a Black Kite on the Isles of Scilly and a Great White Egret in Suffolk, with another of the latter still in Clyde.

Lingering rarities included Red-rumped Swallow in Wirral, White-throated Sparrow in Hampshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Oxfordshire and lesser golden plover in Norfolk. The Lesser Scaup remained in County Down, and four Cattle Egrets were in County Cork.

A drake Wood Duck was present on Shetland this afternoon.
Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 15th April 2009  
  The common hirundines continued to move north today, bringing with them three Red-rumped Swallows, in Highland, Wirral and Norfolk, and a probable Crag Martin at Attenborough Nature Reserve, Nottinghamshire. An Alpine Swift was seen briefly in Lancashire, a Subalpine Warbler was in County Cork and single Black Kites were in East Sussex and on the Staffordshire /Derbyshire border.

Lingering rarities included the White-throated Sparrow in Hampshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Oxfordshire, American Golden Plover in Norfolk, White-billed Divers in Highland and Orkney, and Lesser Scaups in East Yorkshire, Glamorgan and Forth. A probable Glaucous-winged Gull was reported from Dumfries and Galloway.

The Great White Egret remained in Clyde and Cattle Egrets were still present in Cornwall, Devon and County Cork.
Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 14th April 2009  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a male Lesser Scaup at Hornsea Mere, East Yorkshire. Elsewhere, brief encounters included a Whiskered Tern in Essex at Hanningfield Reservoir, a Red-rumped Swallow in Worcestershire at Lower Bittell Reservoir, a Black Kite in East Sussex over Seaford and a Great White Egret in London over Rainham Marshes.

Lingering rarities comprised the White-throated Sparrow still in Hampshire, Snowy Owl on the Western Isles, Bonaparte's Gull in Oxfordshire, American Golden Plover in Norfolk, two King Eiders in County Sligo, Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan, Great White Egrets in both Ceredigion and Clyde and single Cattle Egrets in Cheshire, County Cork, Devon and Pembrokeshire.

Scarcities included three Great Grey Shrikes, two Lesser Snow Geese together in Aberdeenshire, a Kentish Plover in Norfolk, Rough-legged Buzzard in Cambridgeshire, Ring-necked Duck in Dorset, Green-winged Teal in Leicestershire and a Surf Scoter on the Orkney Isles.
Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 12th April 2009  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery in the evening of five White-billed Divers together in Loch Ewe, Highland. Elsewhere, in Lincolnshire an Alpine Swift paused briefly over Gibraltar Point, in Ireland a Subalpine Warbler was found at Carnsore Point, County Wexford and a Lesser Scaup was at Bracklagh Lough, County Cavan. A Great White Egret was seen briefly in Dorset and single Black Kites flew over both Kent and West Sussex during the afternoon.

Lingering rarities comprised the White-throated Sparrow still in Hampshire, Red-rumped Swallow in Leicestershire, Forster's Tern in County Galway, American Golden Plover in Norfolk, Lesser Scaup in Clyde and Cattle Egrets in Cheshire, Cornwall (4), Devon and Dorset (2).

Scarcities included five Ring-necked Ducks, four Great Grey Shrikes, three Surf Scoters, two each of both Lesser Snow Goose and Green-winged Teal and singles of Little Bunting, Kentish Plover, Hoopoe, Pectoral Sandpiper, Greenland Redpoll, Montagu's Harrier and White Stork.

Belated news concerned a Great Spotted Cuckoo at Pentire Point East, Cornwall on 12th April - the fourth individual so far this spring, so equaling the previous best spring for this species (four between Devon, Kent and West Sussex during 23rd February-1st May 1990).
Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 11th April 2009  
  The highlight of the day was a White-throated Sparrow in Hampshire at Old Winchester Hill. Discovered by birders early this morning, it later transpired that it has been present at this site since 8th November 2008. This is only the fifth instance of this species wintering in the British Isles.

Elsewhere, new rarities comprised a Bonaparte's Gull in Oxfordshire, Alpine Swifts in both Essex and West Sussex, a Red-rumped Swallow in Leicestershire, Subalpine Warblers on the Isle of Scilly and in Couunty Cork (2), White-billed Divers in Ayrshire and Highland (2) and single Great White Egrets in both Ceredigion and Norfolk.

Lingering rarities included the Forster's Tern in County Galway, American Golden Plover in Norfolk, Lesser Scaup in Nottinghamshire, Great White Egret in Clyde, Hooded Merganser in Dorset and Cattle Egrets in Cheshire, Cornwall (3), Dorset (2) and Pembrokeshire.
Chris Batty, RBA
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