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| Saturday 17th October 2009 | ||
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| New rarities included both Red-flanked Bluetail and Radde's Warbler
on the Spurn peninsula and a Black-browed Albatross that flew past
the Fife coastline. On Fair Isle a Desert Lesser Whitethroat was trapped,
having initially been seen yesterday.
Shetland hosted Taiga Flycatcher, Western Bonelli's Warbler, two Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls, Spotted Sandpiper and American Golden Plover whilst Isles of Scilly held a lingering Radde's Warbler. Away from the extremities of Britain lingering rarities included Brown Shrike in Surrey, Western Bonelli's Warbler on Isle of Man, Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan, four Long-billed Dowitchers (two in Lancashire and two in Cheshire), Red-flanked Bluetail in Suffolk, Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in Oxfordshire, Blue-winged Teal in Cleveland, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian and White-rumped Sandpiper in Essex. Ireland produced Forster's Tern in Co Louth, Blackpoll and Arctic Warblers in Co Cork and American Golden Plover in Co Kerry. Seven Glossy Ibises, up to seven Great White Egrets and five Cattle Egrets were also recorded. |
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| - Stuart Piner, 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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| Friday 16th October 2009 | ||
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| Shetland continued to host Blackpoll Warbler, Western Bonelli's
Warbler, Taiga Flycatcher, two Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls,
Spotted Sandpiper and Rustic Bunting.
On Isles of Scilly Radde's Warblers were observed on St Mary's and St Martin's and a Red-throated Pipit flew over the former island. Elsewhere a Black Stork spent the afternoon at Bishop Middleham (Co Durham) and on Orkney the adult Franklin's Gull reappeared. Lingering rarities included Brown Shrike in Surrey, Red-flanked Bluetail in Suffolk, King Eider in Lincolnshire, Long-billed Dowitchers in Cheshire (2) and Lancashire, Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in Oxfordshire, Lesser Scaup in Warwickshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian and American Golden Plover in Fife. Eleven Glossy Ibises were recorded, including five in Somerset. In Ireland Blackpoll Warbler and Arctic Warbler both remained in Co Cork, the America Buff-bellied Pipit lingered in Co Clare and an American Golden Plover was discovered in Co Kerry. Late news from yesterday related to a Western Bonelli's Warbler on Calf of Man (Isle of Man). |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 15th October 2009 | ||
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| On the Shetland Isles a Blackpoll Warbler and a Siberian Stonechat both arrived on Fair Isle with other rarities around the archipelago comprising the
Taiga Flycatcher, two Red-flanked Bluetails, Lanceolated
Warbler, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Arctic Warbler, Spotted
Sandpiper, Siberian Stonechat, Rustic Bunting, two Bluethroats,
Barred Warbler, Richard's Pipit, Pectoral Sandpiper, Lapland Bunting, and three
Yellow-browed Warblers. Meanwhile, on the Isles of Scilly two Radde's Warblers and a Red-throated Pipit proved elusive, but were supported by a cast of a Little Bunting, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Common Rosefinch, Lapland Bunting, Balearic Shearwater, two each of both Rose-coloured Starling and Wryneck, four Spoonbills and five Yellow-browed Warblers. Elsewhere, new discoveries comprised an Eastern Olivaceous Warbler in County Mayo on Achill Island, a Paddyfield Warbler in Norfolk at Snettisham, a Red-flanked Bluetail in County Durham at Whitburn, an Arctic Warbler in Staffordshire at Newcastle-uner-Lyme, a Dusky Warbler in Lothian at Skateraw, a Lesser Yellowlegs in County Mayo on The Mullet and a Black Kite in Essex at Ramsey Marsh. Disappointingly, all of these birds were seen only briefly, and could not be relocated. More accommodating were the many lingering rarities: the Brown Shrike in Surrey, Blackpoll Warbler and Arctic Warbler in County Cork, Red-flanked Bluetail in Suffolk, Pied Wheatear in Norfolk, Long-billed Dowitchers in Cheshire (2), Lancashire (3) and the Western Isles, American Golden Plovers in both Fife and the Western Isles, White-rumped Sandpiper in Essex, King Eider in Lincolnshire, Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan, Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in Oxfordshire, Glossy Ibises in Aberdeenshire, County Kerry (9), Kent, Gloucestershire, Somerset (2) and County Wexford, Cattle Egrets in Hampshire (2) and Kent and Great White Egrets in both Kent and Suffolk. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 14th October 2009 | ||
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| Highlights of another busy day were led by a Cedar
Waxwing on Inishbofin Island, County Galway, Black-throated Thrush
on Shetland at Sumburgh Head, Pied Wheatear in Norfolk at Horsey Gap,
Red-flanked Bluetail in Suffolk at Minsmere and a belated report of a
Ross's Gull in Gwynedd at Bangor yesterday. Also Baird's Sandpiper
in Nottinghamshire, another Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll in the Western
Isles on North Uist, and a Radde's Warbler on St.Martin's, Isles of
Scilly. Other notable birds included two fly over Red-throated Pipits
(Yorkshire and Surrey), Rustic Bunting on Fair Isle, Shetland and a
Cattle Egret in Cornwall.
Plenty of rare birds were still present from previous days,
including the Brown Shrike in Surrey, Western Bonelli's Warbler
on Shetland and both Blackpoll and Arctic Warblers Co.Cork. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 13th October 2009 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was a claim of a Northern Rough-winged Swallow flying in off the sea at St Finan's Bay, County Kerry, but unfortunately it was not relocated. This is the Western Palearctic record of this species, and the eleventh Nearctic landbird to be discovered in the British Isles this autumn. Elsewhere, other brief encounters included a
Booted Warbler in Cornwall at Nanquidno and a Red-throated Pipit at Rainham Marshes, London. On the Shetland Isles lingering rarities comprised the River Warbler, Red-flanked Bluetail, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Arctic Warbler, Spotted Sandpiper and three Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls with a supporting cast of Red-breasted Flycatcher, Bluethroat, Common Rosefinch, Barred Warbler, Lapland Bunting and three Yellow-browed Warblers. Meanwhile, on the Isles of Scilly a Little Bunting showed briefly along with a Rose-coloured Starling, Richard's Pipit, two Wrynecks and seven Yellow-browed Warblers. Other rarities included the Brown Shrike still in Surrey, the American Buff-bellied Pipit in County Clare, Radde's Warbler in Kent, Arctic Warbler in County Cork, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on the Western Isles, Blue-winged Teal in County Dublin, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lancashire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian, White-rumped Sandpiper in Essex, single American Golden Plovers in both Argyll and the Orkney Isles, Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in Oxfordshire, Glossy Ibises in Aberdeenshire, Cambridgeshire, Kent, County Kerry (11) and Northumberland, Cattle Egrets in both Kent and Somerset and Great White Egrets in Cornwall (2), Lancashire (2) and Somerset. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Monday 12th October 2009 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the identification of a Brown Shrike at Staines Moor, Surrey. First found yesterday and believed to be a Red-backed Shrike, the true identity was not confirmed until well into the afternoon today, but the bird remained on site until dusk. On the Shetland Isles a Red-flanked Bluetail and two Lanceolated Warblers were discovered whilst the Taiga Flycatcher remained along with the River Warbler, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Olive-backed Pipit, Arctic Warbler, Spotted Sandpiper, American Golden Plover, two Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls, four Bluethroats, two each of Little Bunting and Lapland Bunting, a Barred Warbler, Sabine's Gull and Ring-necked Duck and eight Yellow-browed Warblers. Two Red-throated Pipits headlined on the Isles of Scilly with a supporting cast of nine Yellow-browed Warblers, three Wrynecks, two each of both Red-breasted Flycatcher and Rose-coloured Starling, a Lapland Bunting and a brief Ring-billed Gull. Elsewhere, a Lanceolated Warbler was found on the Orkney Isles whilst the Blackpoll Warbler and Arctic Warbler remained in County Cork, and likewise the American Buff-bellied Pipit in County Clare, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on the Western Isles, Radde's Warbler in East Yorkshire, two Long-billed Dowitchers together in Lancashire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian, White-rumped Sandpiper in Essex, American Golden Plovers in each of Argyll, County Cork and Fife, Blue-winged Teal in County Dublin, Hooded Merganser in Cleveland, Glossy Ibises in Aberdeenshire, County Wexford, Gwynedd, Kent (3) and Northumberland, Cattle Egrets in Gloucestershire (2) and Kent and single Great White Egrets in Hampshire, Somerset and Suffolk. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 11th October 2009 | ||
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| Shetland continued to host a plethora of rarities, including Taiga
Flycatcher, Lanceolated Warbler, Blyth's Reed Warbler,
Western Bonelli's Warbler, Spotted Sandpiper, American Golden
Plover and two each of Pechora Pipit, Olive-backed Pipit,
Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and Arctic Warbler.
At the other end of the British Isles, the best Isles of Scilly could offer was a Red-throated Pipit on St Martin's. New discoveries away from Shetland comprised Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan (presumably a returning bird), American Golden Plovers in Fife and Wirral, Long-billed Dowitcher in Hampshire and Radde's Warbler in East Yorkshire. A Blackpoll Warbler arrived a Garinish Point, Co Cork and elsewhere in Ireland an American Buff-bellied Pipit, Forster's Tern, Arctic Warbler and Glossy Ibis were all recorded. Lingering rarities came in the form of Lesser Yellowlegs in Aberdeenshire, Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in Oxfordshire, Subalpine Warbler in Gwynedd and White-rumped Sandpiper in Essex. Nine Glossy Ibises, five Cattle Egrets and three Great White Egrets were logged. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 10th October 2009 | ||
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| A White's Thrush was present on Fair Isle, Shetland briefly, and a
Western Bonelli's Warbler was at Bigton, Mainland. Further south, a
Subalpine Warbler was on Bardsey Island, Gwynedd, a Red-throated Pipit
on the Isles of Scilly, two Arctic Redpolls and an American Golden
Plover on the Western Isles and a Glossy Ibis in Suffolk. A
Bonelli's warbler species was seen, and heard, briefly on St Mary's, Isles
of Scilly.
Late news from yesterday concerned a Little Shearwater in Highland, Paddyfield Warbler on the Isles of Scilly and an Olive-backed Pipit on the Western Isles. The floodgates were well and truly opened on the east coast today, headlined by five Radde's Warblers from Northumberland to Kent, along with four Red-breasted Flycatchers, Short-toed Lark, Corncrake, Red-backed Shrike, two Barred Warblers and two Shorelarks. At least 92 Yellow-browed Warblers were seen around the country, with the vast majority on the east and south coasts. Lingering rarities included single Long-billed Dowitchers in Cheshire and on the Isles of Scilly, River Warbler, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll, Olive-backed Pipit and Arctic Warbler on Shetland (with another of the latter in County Cork), Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in Oxfordshire, White-rumped Sandpiper in Essex, Lesser Scaup in Warwickshire, Snowy Owl in County Mayo, Blue-winged Teal in Cleveland and at least eleven Glossy Ibises at seven sites. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Friday 9th October 2009 | ||
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| On Shetland, a first-winter Taiga Flycatcher was on Yell, at Gloup.
Two Olive-backed Pipits were nearby at Kergord, Mainland, with a juvenile
American Golden Plover at Boddam. Two Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls
remain on Out Skerries, and the two Arctic Warblers were still at Wester
Quarff, Mainland. Another Arctic Warbler was a new arrival on Cape Clear,
County Cork, with two American Golden Plovers also on the island.
The tenth Glossy Ibis for Aberdeenshire was at the Loch of Strathbeg RSPB reserve today, and single new Great White Egrets were in Essex and Gwynedd. On Scilly, the Long-billed Dowitcher was still on Tresco, with small numbers of scarcities starting to trickle through the archipelago. Other lingering rarities included Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in Oxfordshire, King Eider in Lincolnshire, Glossy Ibises in Cambridgeshire, Northumberland and Somerset (4), White-rumped Sandpipers in Aberdeenshire and Essex, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cheshire and Lesser Scaup in Warwickshire. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 8th October 2009 | ||
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| New discoveries on Shetland included yet another Pechora Pipit, this
time at Scalloway, Mainland and an Olive-backed Pipit at Sullom
Plantation, also Mainland. Lingering rarities on Mainland Shetland comprised
Pechora Pipit near Dales Voe, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll at
Cunningsburgh and two Arctic Warblers at Wester Quarff.
In Nottinghamshire the Steppe Grey Shrike lingered at Lound and in Oxfordshire the adult Azorean Yellow-legged Gull remained near Didcot. Other rarities came in the form of Long-billed Dowitcher on Isles of Scilly, White-rumped Sandpiper in Essex, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian and Snowy Owl on Western Isles. In Ireland Blue-winged Teal (Co Dublin) and American Golden Plover (Co Cork) were both still available. Up to seven Glossy Ibises, four Great White Egrets and three Cattle Egrets were recorded and in Dumfries and Galloway a Baird's Sandpiper was reported in Carse Bay. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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