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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Monday 31st August 2009  
  Rare nearctic waders continued to arrive today, with single juvenile Semipalmated Sandpipers at Smerwick Harbour, County Kerry and Clonakilty, County Cork, juvenile Spotted Sandpiper on Tiree, Argyll and a Buff-breasted Sandpiper on Cape Clear, County Cork. A juvenile Blue-winged Teal was found in Portsmouth, Hampshire, remaining all afternoon.

Fea's Petrels were seen off Prawle Point, Devon and Gwennap Head, Cornwall, with sightings at the latter site at 2.25pm and 3.25pm. Lingering rarities included both the American Black and White-winged Black Terns in Oxfordshire, (with another of the latter still in Aberdeenshire), Citrine Wagtail in Cornwall, Baird's Sandpiper in County Kerry, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian, Cattle Egret in Gloucestershire and Great White Egrets in Cambridgeshire (2), Kent and Somerset.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 30th August 2009  
  A Fea's Petrel flew past Gwennap Head, Cornwall late morning, adding to the superb seabird tally in the county this autumn. Other new arrivals included a Marsh Sandpiper at Levington, Suffolk, Pacific Golden Plover on Tiree, Argyll, Baird's Sandpiper at Black Rock, County Kerry, Red-footed Falcon at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk and a White-winged Black Tern at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB, Aberdeenshire, for its second day.

In Oxfordshire, the three marsh terns were still present, with American Black Tern, White-winged Black Tern and Black Tern all showing well together. The Citrine Wagtail was still in Cornwall, and other lingerers included Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian, Snowy Owl in County Mayo, American Golden Plover on the Western Isles, Ferruginous Ducks in Suffolk and Fife, Great White Egrets in Somerset (2), Cambridgeshire (2) and Kent (2) and Cattle Egrets in Gloucestershire and Hampshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 29th August 2009  
  In Oxfordshire, the juvenile American Black Tern remained all day, alongside the juvenile White-winged Black Tern and a juvenile Black Tern, at Farmoor Reservoir and often showed well, although it was mobile. In Somerset, a Little Shearwater flew past Hurlstone Point.

New rarities included single adult American Golden Plovers in County Dublin and on the Western Isles, a Wilson's Petrel in County Cork, a Cattle Egret in Gloucestershire and a Great White Egret in Norfolk. The Citrine Wagtail was re-found at Marazion Marsh, Cornwall, now present for its fourth day.

Lingering rarities included Wilson's Phalarope in Lancashire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian, Ferruginous Duck in Suffolk and Snowy Owl in County Mayo, along with five Great White Egrets, two more Wilson's Petrels and a Cattle Egret.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 28th August 2009  
  The third American Black Tern  C. n. surinamensis for Britain was identified today, joining a White-winged Black Tern and three Black Terns at Farmoor Reservoir, Oxfordshire, where it showed until 8.20pm at least. Other new rarities included an Aquatic Warbler in Powys, trapped and ringed at Llangorse Lake, a Citrine Wagtail briefly at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB, Aberdeenshire, a Blue-winged Teal in Hampshire, a Ferruginous Duck in Suffolk and a Great White Egret at Spurn, East Yorkshire.

Seawatching was the main feature of the day, however, with excellent north-westerly winds bringing large numbers of seabirds to the west coast. Pendeen Watch, Cornwall, scored with Little Shearwater, a possible Yelkouan Shearwater, two Wilson's Petrels, two Cory's Shearwaters, nine Great Shearwaters, a Red-necked Phalarope, seven Sabine's Gulls, 91 Balearic Shearwaters and a Long-tailed Skua amongst the many highlights. The Bridges of Ross, County Clare, had just one Wilson's Petrel, but also had 56 Sabine's Gulls, 40 Grey Phalaropes, 12 Leach's Petrels and a Long-tailed Skua, amongst others.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 27th August 2009  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of two juvenile White-winged Black Terns on the English east coast in the evening; at Hornsea Mere, East Yorkshire and at Woodhorn, Northumberland. Lingering rarities included the Wilson's Phalarope back in Lancashire, Lesser Yellowlegs still in both Lothian and the Isles of Scilly, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset, Cattle Egret in Hampshire and single Great White Egrets in each of East Yorkshire, Kent and Somerset.

Scarcities included five Wrynecks, four Barred Warblers, three Pectoral Sandpipers, two each of Icterine Warbler, Red-backed Shrike, Spotted Crake and Ring-billed Gull, along with a brief Kentish Plover in Kent, Red-necked Phalarope in Hampshire, Ring-necked Duck in Staffordshire and White Stork on the Isle of Man.

Notable seabirds comprised a Great Shearwater passing Cornwall, two Leach's Petrels off County Clare, three Grey Phalaropes, ten Sabine's Gulls recorded from five counties and 65 Balearic Shearwaters between County Clare, Cornwall and County Durham.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 26th August 2009  
  Rarities today comprised the Wilson's Phalarope still in Merseyside, Lesser Yellowlegs on the Isles of Scilly, Greenish Warbler on the Shetland Isles, a brief Red-footed Falcon and a Great White Egret in Kent, both the Ferruginous Duck and Great White Egret still in Somerset, a Cattle Egret in Hampshire and a Great White Egret in East Yorkshire.

Scarcities included four Spotted Crakes, two each of Barred Warbler, Red-backed Shrike, Wryneck and Pectoral Sandpiper as well as a Red-necked Phalarope in Hampshire, Ring-necked Duck in Staffordshire and and Icterine Warbler on the Shetland Isles.

Seabirds were headlined by Wilson's Petrels off both County Clare and County Galway (2), three Cory's Shearwaters, a Long-tailed Skua, six Leach's Petrels, 89 Balearic Shearwaters spread over six counties and 16 Sabine's Gulls across seven counties; including three inland in Worcestershire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 25th August 2009  
  More Wilson's Petrels were again discovered in Irish waters today; one passing the Bridges of Ross, County Clare and three recorded offshore over the Porcupine Bank. Other rarities recorded today comprised the Semipalmated Sandpiper still in Northumberland, Lesser Yellowlegs on the Isles of Scilly, Red-footed Falcon in Norfolk, Ferruginous Duck in Fife, single Great White Egrets in both Kent and Somerset and a Hooded Merganser in Cleveland.

Scarcities included four Spotted Crakes, three Pectoral Sandpipers, two each of Red-backed Shrike and Ring-necked Duck as well as a Hoopoe in Kent, Temminck's Stint in East Sussex, Red-necked Phalarope in Hampshire, Sabine's Gull in Worcestershire, Barred Warbler and Icterine Warbler on the Shetland Isles and what was believed to be an Ortolan Bunting in Suffolk.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 24th August 2009  
  Headline discoveries today comprised an Alpine Swift in Devon and White-winged Black Terns in Kent and Isle of Wight (2). The Wilson's Phalarope previously at Martin Mere WWT (Lancashire) relocated to nearby Marshside RSPB (Merseyside) and lingering goodies included Citrine Wagtail in Cleveland, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian and Isles of Scilly, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Northumberland, Ferruginous Duck in Fife, Cattle Egret in Hampshire, Great White Egrets in Powys, Kent, Somerset and Hampshire and Red-footed Falcon in Norfolk.

An Ortolan Bunting on Farne Islands caused great excitement this afternoon when it was misidentified as a Yellow-breasted Bunting. Other scarcities included Red-backed Shrike in Norfolk, Icterine Warblers in East Yorkshire and Shetland, Spotted Crakes in Hampshire, Cornwall and Kent, Barred Warbler on Orkney, Pectoral Sandpipers in Norfolk, Northamptonshire and Shetland, Ring-necked Duck in Staffordshire and a drake Surf Scoter in Moray.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 23rd August 2009  
  A juvenile Citrine Wagtail at Saltholme Pools RSPB (Cleveland) was today's star discovery. Elsewhere new rarities comprised a White-winged Black Tern in Kent and a Great Reed Warbler on Isles of Scilly (where the Lesser Yellowlegs also remained and at least 8 Wilson's Petrels were logged from a pelagic).

Lingering rarities included Semipalmated Sandpiper in Northumberland, Wilson's Phalarope in Lancashire, Ferruginous Duck in Fife, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian, Cattle Egret in Hampshire and Great White Egrets in Kent, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire (2).

Intriguing reports came in the form of a possible Bridled Tern south past Spurn, East Yorkshire and a possible Little Whimbrel seen in a high tide Curlew roost in Gwent; the previous two Little Whimbrels were found on 30th August (Glamorgan, 1982) and on 24th August (Norfolk, 1985), so the date and location would certainly be appropriate.

Late news from yesterday involved a Fea's Petrel seen from a pelagic in Lyme Bay, Dorset.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 22nd August 2009  
  Two Aquatic Warblers were trapped and ringed this morning, one at Titchfield Haven NNR (Hampshire) and the other at Newport Wetlands (Gwent). A Caspian Tern visited the Swords Estuary (Co Dublin) and lingering rarities included Wilson's Phalarope in Lancashire, Red-footed Falcon in Norfolk, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian and Isles of Scilly, Ferruginous Duck in Fife and Snowy Owl in Co Mayo. A Cattle Egret remained in Hampshire and four Great White Egrets were logged, including two together in Cambridgeshire.

Scarcities comprised Pectoral Sandpipers in Shetland, Co Wexford, Co Derry and Northamptonshire, a brace of Spotted Crakes in Kent and another in South Yorkshire, Ring-necked Ducks in Staffordshire and Fife, Sabine's Gull in Worcestershire, Ortolan Bunting in Devon, three Icterine Warblers and a Common Rosefinch on Shetland, Melodious Warbler in East Sussex, Wryneck on Isles of Scilly, Buff-breasted Sandpiper in Co Wexford and Ring-billed Gull in London.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA