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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Thursday 10th September 2009  
  An Eastern Olivaceous Warbler at Mizen Head, Co Cork was today's star discovery. Elsewhere in Ireland a Terek Sandpiper arrived in Co Kerry, where the Baird's Sandpiper also remained.

A brief Stilt Sandpiper on Isle of Man, an Aquatic Warbler in Devon, Baird's Sandpiper on Western Isles and Citrine Wagtail on Isles of Scilly were all new discoveries. The King Eider lingered in Lincolnshire, as did the Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian, Ferruginous Duck in Northamptonshire, Hooded Mergansers in Cleveland and Dorset and Cattle Egret in Hampshire.

Glossy Ibis records comprised two over Minsmere RSPB and one at Boyton Marshes RSPB (Suffolk) and singles in Somerset and Kent. Great White Egrets were recorded in Kent (2), Somerset and Merseyside.

Scarcities included seven Buff-breasted Sandpipers, four Spotted Crakes, three Pectoral Sandpipers, two Purple Herons, two Dotterels and Ring-necked Duck, as well as a Rose-coloured Starling, Marsh Warbler, seven Barred Warblers, at least six Wrynecks, three Icterine Warblers and two Red-backed Shrikes.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 9th September 2009  
  The first Lanceolated Warbler of the year was reported today, from the unlikely location of Langness, Isle of Man. A Black Kite lingered in the Marazion area of Cornwall, and another Citrine Wagtail was in County Wexford, this time a first-winter at Churchtown,

Lingering rarities included the Pallid Harrier in Cambridgeshire early morning only, King Eider in Lincolnshire, single Glossy Ibises in Kent and Somerset, American Golden Plover in the Western Isles, single Baird's Sandpipers in Cornwall, County Kerry  and Anglesey, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Kerry and Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian, but there was no sign of the Fan-tailed Warbler at Pegwell Bay, Kent.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 8th September 2009  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Citrine Wagtail at Nethertown, County Wexford. Elsewhere, brief encounters included a Glossy Ibis on the Blyth Estuary, Suffolk, a Greenish Warbler on the Wirral at Hoylake and Alpine Swifts in Kent at Pegwell Bay and over King's Lynn, Norfolk.

The Fan-tailed Warbler remained in Kent as did the Pallid Harrier in Cambridgeshire, although both proved elusive. Other lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Citrine Wagtail in Cornwall, Baird's Sandpipers on Anglesey and in Cornwall, Glossy Ibis in Kent, Cattle Egret in Hampshire, Ferruginous Duck in Northamptonshire, Hooded Merganser in Cleveland and Great White Egret in each of Cambridgeshire (2), Kent, Leicestershire, Somerset and Suffolk.

Scarcities included a Melodious Warbler (County Cork), Icterine Warbler (Cornwall), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Western Isles), Woodchat Shrike (Somerset), Purple Heron (Cleveland), Ring-necked Duck (Staffordshire), Lapland Bunting (Orkney Isles), two each of Barred Warbler and Pectoral Sandpiper, three Common Rosefinches, four Spotted Crakes and five Wrynecks.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 7th September 2009  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Fan-tailed Warbler in Kent at Pegwell Bay and the near-adult male Pallid Harrier at Haddenham, Cambridgeshire - the latter disturbing a party of seven Glossy Ibises from the Ouse Washes in the evening.

In County Clare a Long-billed Dowitcher was a new discovery at Doonbeg whilst elsewhere lingering rarities comprised the Snowy Owl still in County Mayo, King Eider in Lincolnshire, Glossy Ibis in Somerset, Citrine Wagtail in Cornwall, Baird's Sandpipers in Anglesey, Cornwall (2) and County Kerry, Spotted Sandpiper in County Wexford, Wilson's Phalarope in Devon, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian, American Golden Plover on the Western Isles, Greenish Warbler in Northumberland, Ferruginous Duck in Northamptonshire, Hooded Merganser in Cleveland, single Cattle Egrets in both Gloucestershire and Hampshire and Great White Egrets in Cambridgeshire (2), Kent, Leicestershire and Somerset.

Scarcities included a Buff-breasted Sandpiper and two Pectoral Sandpipers on the Western Isles, single Purple Herons in both Cleveland and Shropshire, Spotted Crakes in Kent and Somerset and Ring-necked Ducks in County Mayo and Staffordshire, whilst landbirds were represented by a Woodchat Shrike (Somerset), Ortolan Bunting (East Yorkshire), Red-breasted Flycatcher (County Cork), Red-backed Shrike (Kent), Lapland Bunting (County Mayo), two each of both Common Rosefinch and Wryneck and four Barred Warblers.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 6th September 2009  
  The second Fan-tailed Warbler of the year was seen at Pegwell Bay, Kent, late morning, but disappeared soon afterwards. Two Greenish Warblers were seen in County Durham today, with one at Marsden Quarry and another at Whitburn, for its second day. Single Glossy Ibises were seen in Kent, Somerset and Glamorgan, whilst the flock of ten remained in Carmarthenshire. An Alpine Swift was in Alexandra Park, London, for much of the afternoon, and a Ferruginous Duck was found at Pitsford Reservoir, Northamptonshire.

In Lincolnshire, the King Eider was seen off Freiston Shore RSPB throughout the day, and was present once again off the River Witham mouth this evening. Other lingering rarities included Baird's Sandpipers in Anglesey, Cornwall (2) and County Kerry, Citrine Wagtail in Cornwall, Snowy Owl in County Mayo, American Golden Plovers in County Derry and on the Western Isles, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian and Spotted Sandpiper in County Wexford.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 5th September 2009  
  A King Eider was an unexpected discovery in Lincolnshire this evening, at the River Witham mouth near Boston, representing the first record for the county. In Dorset, a Little Crake was seen at Radipole Lake, Dorset, early evening, but not again by dusk. A Wilson's Petrel was a superb record for the north-west, being seen off Seaforth, Merseyside, a few times early afternoon. Ten Glossy Ibises remained in Carmarthenshire, with another eight in County Wexford and seven in Essex.

An Alpine Swift was found in Hertfordshire this evening, and continued to show very well until mid evening. A Spotted Sandpiper was seen in County Wexford, and lingering rarities consisted of Citrine Wagtail and two Baird's Sandpipers in Cornwall, with others of the latter in Anglesey and County Kerry, American Golden Plovers in County Derry and on the Western Isles, Wilson's Phalarope in Devon, single Great White Egrets in Somerset, Kent and Leicestershire, Hooded Merganser in Cleveland and single Cattle Egrets in Gloucestershire and Hampshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 4th September 2009  
  The highlight of the day was the early morning discovery of a flock of 25 Glossy Ibises at Pembrey, Carmarthenshire; although fifteen soon departed leaving ten on show for the rest of the day. A Baird's Sandpiper was a new arrival on Anglesey at Traeth Dulas, as was a Greenish Warbler in Aberdeenshire at Loch of Strathbeg and an American Golden Plover on South Uist, Western Isles. Other rarities confirmed as still present comprised the Snowy Owl in County Mayo, Wilson's Phalarope in Devon, Baird's Sandpipers in both Cornwall (2) and County Kerry, Cattle Egret in Hampshire, Great White Egrets in both Leicestershire and Somerset and the Hooded Merganser in Cleveland.

On another good day for seawatching from western coastlines, maximum counts of scarcer seabirds comprised 12 Great Shearwaters, 11 Sabine's Gulls and five Pomarine Skuas all passing County Mayo, 56 Balearic Shearwaters and 23 Grey Phalaropes from Cornwall, a Long-tailed Skua and 12 Leach's Petrels off Wirral and a Cory's Shearwater passing East Yorkshire.

Terrestrial scarcities included three each of Barred Warbler and Wryneck and singles of Ortolan Bunting (Norfolk), Common Rosefinch (Dorset), Icterine Warbler (Northumberland), Spotted Crake (Cambridgeshire) and Ring-necked Duck (Staffordshire).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 3rd September 2009  
  The highlight of the day was a Madeiran Petrel passing Pendeen Watch, Cornwall in the evening - the fourth British record, but the third to be recorded at this site in less than two years. In addition, single Wilson's Petrels passed both Pendeen Watch and Bridges of Ross, County Clare, 12 Cory's Shearwaters comprised six each off Porthgwarra, Cornwall and Kilcummin Head, County Mayo, four Great Shearwaters (including two off County Galway,) 32 Sabine's Gulls (including 19 passing Kilcummin Head), two Long-tailed Skuas off Flintshire, nine Leach's Petrels (including six past Kilcummin Head), 42 Grey Phalaropes (including 30 past Pendeen Watch) and 132 Balearic Shearwaters across twelve counties (peaking at 33 from Porthgwarra).

Other new rarities comprised a Glossy Ibis in Carmarthenshire at Kidwelly, a Greenish Warbler on the Shetland Isles on Fair Isle, a Great White Egret in Leicestershire and two Baird's Sandpipers in Cornwall; at Davidstow and Marazion.

Lingering rarities were represented by the American Black Tern and White-winged Black Tern still together in Oxfordshire, Semipalmated Sandpipers in both County Cork and County Kerry, Wilson's Phalarope in Devon, Baird's Sandpiper in County Kerry, Hooded Merganser in Cleveland, Cattle Egret in Hampshire and Great White Egrets in both Kent and Somerset.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 2nd September 2009  
  A Wilson's Phalarope was at Bowling Green Marsh RSPB, Devon this evening, and there was yet another sighting of a/the Fea's Petrel off Gwennap Head, Cornwall. In Suffolk, the first Mainland Arctic Warbler since the 2005 Portland, Dorset, individual stayed for its second day, and was re-trapped twice, remaining elusive for the rest of the time.

In Ireland, rare waders included Baird's Sandpiper and Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Kerry and another of the latter in County Cork. The Citrine Wagtail continued to show well at Marazion, Cornwall, as did the American Black Tern and White-winged Black Tern in Oxfordshire, with another of the latter still in Aberdeenshire. The Hooded Merganser was still in Cleveland, as was the Great White Egret in Somerset and Cattle Egret in Hampshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 1st September 2009  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of an Arctic Warbler in a mistnet at Landguard, Suffolk during the evening. New arrivals elsewhere included a Great White Egret at Brandon Marsh, Warwickshire and a flock of 12 Glossy Ibises seen flying over Killag, County Wexford.

Lingering rarities comprised the American Black Tern and White-winged Black Tern still together in Oxfordshire, the Pacific Golden Plover in Argyll, Citrine Wagtail in Cornwall, single Semipalmated Sandpipers in both County Cork and County Kerry, Baird's Sandpiper in County Kerry, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian, White-winged Black Tern in Aberdeenshire, Ferruginous Duck in Fife, Great White Egrets in both Kent and Somerset and the Hooded Merganser again in Cleveland.

Scarce landbirds included two Wrynecks (Devon and Lancashire) and one each of Ortolan Bunting (East Yorkshire), Rose-coloured Starling (Dorset), Golden Oriole (Cheshire), Barred Warbler (Shetland Isles), Common Rosefinch (Orkney Isles) and Red-backed Shrike (Kent).

Seawatching highlights from the Bridges of Ross, County Clare concerned three Cory's, 251 Great, 1,200 Sooty and two Balearic Shearwaters, 25 Sabine's Gulls, one Long-tailed Skua, seven Leach's Petrels and 12 Grey Phalaropes.
-  Chris Batty, RBA