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| Sunday 27th September 2009 | ||
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| The main news was the identification of a first-winter Taiga Flycatcher
on Fetlar, Shetland for its fifth day, and a probable Brown Shrike in
Cornwall for its second day. Other new arrivals today comprised an
Isabelline Wheatear at Great Bromley, and a Gyr Falcon at Harlow,
both Essex, an Aquatic Warbler at Salford Priors Gravel Pits,
Warwickshire, a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on Foula, Shetland, a
Bonaparte's Gull on Anglesey and a second Long-billed Dowitcher at
Inner Marsh Farm RSPB, Cheshire.
New American Golden Plovers were on Shetland and in Somerset, whilst Glossy Ibises were seen in Cornwall, Cambridgeshire (4), South Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Norfolk (2), Somerset, Kent (5), Northumberland, County Wexford, Suffolk (3) and West Sussex. The Sandhill Crane remained on Orkney, as did the Arctic Warbler on Shetland, White-rumped Sandpiper in Essex, Blue-winged Teals in Cleveland and County Dublin, Long-billed Dowitchers on Scilly and in Somerset, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian and Citrine Wagtail in County Waterford. |
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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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| Saturday 26th September 2009 | ||
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| On what was a busy day for birders, new discoveries included a Semipalmated Sandpiper in Gloucestershire, a
Citrine Wagtail in County Waterford, Long-billed Dowicher in Cheshire, Rustic Bunting
in Cornwall, Red-throated Pipit in Norfolk, Black Kite in Dumfries and Galloway and
American Golden Plovers in County Cork and County Londonderry with a further two together in County Wexford. The Sandhill Crane remained on the Orkney Isles as did the Fan-tailed Warbler in Kent, Snowy Owls in both County Mayo and the Western Isles, Arctic Warbler on the Shetland Isles, single Blue-winged Teals in both Cleveland and County Dublin, Long-billed Dowitcher in Somerset, Baird's Sandpiper in Argyll, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian, White-rumped Sandpiper in Essex, American Golden Plovers in Argyll, County Waterford and the Orkney Isles (2), Cattle Egrets in Gloucestershire (3) and Hampshire and Great White Egrets in Hampshire, Lancashire (2), Suffolk and Somerset (2). On the Isles of Scilly the Steppe Grey Shrike remained (but had transferred islands from St Martin's to St Mary's) along with the Long-billed Dowitcher, two Rose-coloured Starlings, Pectoral Sandpiper and Lapland Bunting, whilst a Night Heron flew over St Mary's at dusk. The Glossy Ibis influx continued unabated with a total of 23 recorded in 11 counties comprising five in both Kent and Somerset, three in both Norfolk and Suffolk and singles in each of Anglesey, County Wexford, Cornwall, Devon, Lincolnshire, Northumberland, West Sussex. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Friday 25th September 2009 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the discovery, by a novice birdwatcher, of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo at Deerness, Orkney
Isles; only the second Nearctic landbird to be recorded in the British Isles so far
this autumn. After the true identity had been noticed (from photographs posted on the internet) the bird was relocated and showed well until dusk. Nearby, the
Sandhill Crane remained on South Ronaldsay as did three American Golden
Plovers; one on North Ronaldsay and two in Deerness. On the Isles of Scilly the first Steppe Grey Shrike for the archipelago was discovered on St Martin's. Elsewhere around the islands a Long-billed Dowitcher, two Rose-coloured Starlings, a Richard's Pipit and a Pectoral Sandpiper were recorded. Lingering rarities comprised the Fan-tailed Warbler still in Kent, Snowy Owls in each of County Donegal, County Mayo and the Western Isles, Arctic Warbler and Citrine Wagtail on the Shetland Isles, Blue-winged Teals in both Cleveland and County Dublin, Long-billed Dowitchers in Merseyside and Somerset, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian, American Golden Plovers in Argyll, County Cork, County Limerick, County Waterford and the Western Isles, a Ferruginous Duck in Somerset, Cattle Egrets in Hampshire and Gloucestershire (2) and Great White Egrets in Hampshire, Lancashire (2), Somerset (2) and Suffolk. Glossy Ibises totaled 24 in ten counties comprising six in Cumbria, five in Kent, three in both Suffolk and West Midlands, two in Norfolk and singles in Devon, Lincolnshire, Northumberland, Norfolk and West Sussex. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 24th September 2009 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Sandhill Crane in the Orkney Isles on South Ronaldsay. The bird showed throughout the day at Windwick before again returning to Liddel Loch at dusk. Rarities elsewhere comprised the Fan-tailed Warbler still in Kent, an Arctic Warbler on the Shetland Isles, Blue-winged Teal in Cleveland, Baird's Sandpiper in Cornwall, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian, White-rumped Sandpiper in Essex, single Long-billed Dowitchers in each of Merseyside, Isles of Scilly and Somerset, American Golden Plovers in County Cork, Orkney Isles (3) and County Waterford, three Cattle Egrets together in Gloucestershire, Glossy Ibises in Kent (5), Lancashire (6), Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk (2) and West Sussex and Great White Egrets in Cumbria, Hampshire, Lancashire, London, Somerset (2) and Suffolk Scarcities included nine Lapland Buntings, eight Wrynecks, seven Pectoral Sandpipers, four Spotted Crakes, three each of Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Red-backed Shrike, two each of Ortolan Bunting, Rose-coloured Starling, Barred Warbler, Richard's Pipit and Yellow-browed Warbler and singles of Tawny Pipit (Suffolk), Melodious Warbler (Cornwall), Woodchat Shrike (Cornwall), Red-breasted Flycatcher (Isle of Scilly), Icterine Warbler (Gwynedd) and Red-necked Phalarope (Norfolk). |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 23rd September 2009 | ||
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| The main news of the day was the continued presence of the Sandhill Crane
on South Ronaldsay in the Orkney Islands, much to the delight of all those that
made the long journey north.
In Somerset a Long-billed Dowitcher was found at Chew Valley Lake, whilst in Cleveland a drake Blue-winged Teal was found at Haverton but unfortunately it was in an area with no general access. Eleven Glossy Ibises were seen in southern England today, with a new sighting in Lincolnshire, plus birds remaining in Kent, Sussex, Norfolk and Suffolk. New Great White Egrets were found in Flintshire, Northamptonshire and Lancashire, with others remaining in Somerset and Cumbria. A new American Golden Plover was in County Mayo, whilst birds remained on Mainland Orkney and in County Waterford. Other remaining rarities included the Long-billed Dowitcher on Tresco, Scilly, the Lesser Yellowlegs at Aberlady Bay in Lothian, White-rumped Sandpipers at Abberton Reservoir in Essex and Black Rock Strand in County Kerry and the Blue-winged Teal in County Dublin Ortolan Buntings were on St.Martin's in the Scillies, at Corton in Suffolk and briefly at Christchurch in Dorset. A Tawny Pipit was seen briefly at Durlston Head in Dorset. Seven Pectoral Sandpipers were reported. |
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| - Pete Hayman, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 22nd September 2009 | ||
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| Paul Higson hit the jackpot this afternoon when he found a Sandhill Crane
on South Ronaldsay (Orkney). There have been only two previous records in Britain
(both on Shetland, in 1981 and 1991, and only one record in Ireland, in Co Cork, way back in 1905. A
local farmer has suggested that this bird has been present for around ten days; fingers (and toes) will be crossed by those travelling north overnight.
In Kent a large raptor, believed by some to possibly be a dark morph Booted Eagle, was seen several times in the Dungeness area between 11.10am and 2pm, with a final possible sighting around 5pm. Elsewhere new rarities included Solitary Sandpiper on Annagh Head (Co Mayo), where a Black-browed Albatross was also observed flying past, Long-billed Dowitcher on Tresco (Isles of Scilly) and Arctic Warbler on Mainland Shetland. Lingering rarities comprised Arctic Warbler on Unst (Shetland), Ferruginous Duck in Somerset, American Golden Plovers in Orkney and Argyll and White-rumped Sandpiper in Essex. At least twelve Glossy Ibises were logged and in Ireland the Spotted, Baird's and White-rumped Sandpipers all remained at Black Rock Strand (Co Kerry) and an American Golden Plover lingered in Co Waterford. Late news from yesterday of the reappearance of the Fan-tailed Warbler at Pegwell Bay Country Park, Kent. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Monday 21st September 2009 | ||
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| Bird of the day was a Black-browed Albatross which lingered off St
Mary's (Isles of Scilly) this evening. After initially being reported from a
boat it was later seen from the end of Peninnis Head, where it remained on view
until dusk.
Other new discoveries included Citrine Wagtail on Mainland Shetland, White-rumped Sandpiper in Co Kerry and American Golden Plover in Orkney. Lingering rarities comprised Baird's Sandpipers in Cornwall and Co Kerry, Spotted Sandpiper in Co Kerry, American Golden Plovers in Co Waterford, Argyll and Western Isles, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset and Citrine Wagtail and Arctic Warbler on Shetland. At least thirteen Glossy Ibises were reported (including five in Kent). |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 20th September 2009 | ||
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| Two Mega-rarities were reported this afternoon - an Eleonora's Falcon
over Rainham Marshes RSPB, London and Yellow-breasted Bunting on St
Mary's, Isles of Scilly, but neither were on view for very long.
Elsewhere new rarities comprised Arctic Warbler on Unst (Shetland), American Golden Plovers on St Agnes (Isles of Scilly), Mainland Shetland, Lewis (Western Isles) and Tiree (Argyll) and Ferruginous Duck at Belvide Reservoir (Staffordshire). Lingering rarities included King Eider in Lincolnshire, Baird's Sandpipers in Cornwall and Co Kerry, Blyth's Reed Warbler in Norfolk, American Golden Plovers in Co Dublin and Co Waterford, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian, Snowy Owls in Co Donegal and Co Mayo, White-rumped Sandpiper in Co Wexford, Blue-winged Teal in Co Dublin and Arctic Warbler and Citrine Wagtail on Shetland. Glossy Ibis reports involved six in Cambridgeshire, two in Suffolk and one in Norfolk and four Great White Egrets and three Cattle Egrets were logged. The best of the rest included fifteen Pectoral Sandpipers, twelve Buff-breasted Sandpipers, four Common Rosefinches, Red-backed Shrikes and Richard's Pipits, three Ortolan Buntings and Barred Warblers, two Woodchat Shrikes, two Rose-coloured Starlings and single Red-breasted Flycatcher, Tawny Pipit, Great Grey Shrike, Marsh Warbler and Red-necked Phalarope. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 19th September 2009 | ||
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| New arrivals today included a Thrush Nightingale trapped at Gibraltar
Point NNR, Lincolnshire, a Long-billed Dowitcher near Fleetwood,
Lancashire, a Citrine Wagtail on Unst, Shetland, a Red-throated Pipit
at Northam Burrows, Devon, an American Golden Plover in County
Waterford, a White-rumped Sandpiper in County Wexford, a Baird's
Sandpiper in Argyll and a Ferruginous Duck in Perth and Kinross.
Glossy Ibises continued to attract attention, with at least one very mobile group of six in Devon, Dorset and Hampshire, a further six in Cambridgeshire, one in Essex, two in Suffolk, three in Norfolk, one in County Wexford and one in Kent. Other lingerers included Arctic Warbler, Greenish Warbler, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Snowy Owl and Spotted Sandpiper. Good numbers of scarce drift migrants continued to arrive on the east coast, with multiple Barred Warblers, Yellow-browed Warblers, Wrynecks, Red-backed Shrikes and Red-breasted Flycatchers. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Friday 18th September 2009 | ||
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| New eastern vagrants today included another Arctic Warbler on
Shetland, on Whalsay, and a Rustic Bunting at Spurn, Yorkshire. Other new
arrivals included a Bee-eater over Tolleshunt D'Arcy, Essex, at least one
Glossy Ibis in Norfolk (with a roaming flock of nine or ten in South Wales,
six in Cambridgeshire and one in each of Suffolk and County Wexford) and single
Great White Egrets in Dorset and Kent.
Lingering rarities included Long-billed Dowitcher in Fife, Spotted Sandpiper in County Kerry, Blue-winged Teal in County Dublin, Snowy Owl in County Mayo, Greenish Warbler in Suffolk, Lesser Yellowlegs' in Aberdeenshire and Lothian, White-rumped Sandpiper in Essex and King Eider in Lincolnshire. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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