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 13th March 2010  
  In Dorset the adult drake Bufflehead remained on show on The Fleet throughout the day. Elsewhere wintering wildfowl included Lesser Scaups in Glamorgan (2), Cornwall and Clyde, Hooded Merganser in Cleveland and American Wigeons in Lancashire and Dumfries & Galloway.

In Co Clare the Pacific Diver reappeared and in Co Galway the Forster's Tern lingered at Nimmo's Pier.

A Penduline Tit at Rainham Marshes RSPB (London), Black-bellied Dipper on Shetland and a Laughing Gull claimed at Porthcawl (Glamorgan) were all new reports whilst lingering rarities not already mentioned included Little Bunting (Highland), Black Kite (Powys) and Snowy Owl (Western Isles).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 12th March 2010  
  Long staying rarities seen today included the Bufflehead in Dorset, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lancashire, Snowy Owl on the Western Isles, Black Kite in Powys, three Glossy Ibises in Somerset, Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan, Little Bunting in Highland and single Lesser Scaups in Cornwall and Clyde.

Scarcity highlights included five Great Grey Shrikes, a Rough-legged Buzzard, a Shorelark, 46 Waxwings, a Ring-billed Gull, five Glaucous Gulls, an Iceland Gull, two Caspian Gulls, six Snow Geese, two Great White Egrets, two Ring-necked Ducks and an American Wigeon.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 11th March 2010  
  The lingering Bufflehead in Dorset continued to make the headlines, whilst other rarities seen today comprised both Bonaparte's Gull and Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan, Bonaparte's Gull and Little Bunting in Highland, Lesser Scaup and Little Bunting in Cornwall, Hooded Merganser in Cleveland and on the Western Isles the Snowy Owl reappeared on Lewis.

Scarcities included 47 Waxwings across six counties, six Great Grey Shrikes, five Glaucous Gulls, three each of Surf Scoter (together in Conwy) and Lesser Snow Goose (together in Highland), two each of American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck and Tundra Bean Goose (together in Lancashire) and single Rough-legged Buzzard (Norfolk), Great White Egret (Gwent), Iceland Gull (Argyll) and Caspian Gull (Cheshire).

Late news from Wednesday concerned the continued presence of the Black Kite in Powys, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lancashire and the party of three Glossy Ibises in Somerset.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 10th March 2010  
  Lingering rarities confirmed as still present today comprised the Bufflehead in Dorset, Pied-billed Grebe in County Clare and Hooded Merganser in Cleveland, with in Glamorgan a Bonaparte's Gull and two Lesser Scaups, and in Highland a Bonaparte's Gull and a Little Bunting.

Scarcities included 18 Waxwings across three counties, six Glaucous Gulls, four each of Ring-necked Duck and Iceland Gull, three each of Ring-billed Gull, Great Grey Shrike and Caspian Gull, two each of American Wigeon, Great White Egret, Green-winged Teal (County Clare) and Shorelark (Norfolk) and singles of Surf Scoter (Conwy), Rough-legged Buzzard (Norfolk) and Black Brant (County Cork). 

Significant late news from Cornwall concerned the reappearance of the juvenile Pallid Harrier yesterday near Zennor. First noted in the area on 4th December 2009, the bird had recorded irregularly until 25th January but had not been since.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 9th March 2010  
  An adult Bonaparte's Gull was discovered in Highland, at the River Thurso mouth late morning, with another still lingering in Glamorgan. In Dorset, the adult drake Bufflehead was still on The Fleet near Langton Herring, whilst in County Limerick the Pied-billed Grebe remained on Lough Gur. Wintering rarities seen today included the Little Bunting in Highland and single Lesser Scaups in Glamorgan and Clyde.

Scarcities logged today included a Cattle Egret, a Great White Egret, nine Spoonbills, six Black Brants, five Snow Geese, four Surf Scoters, two American Wigeons, four Ring-necked Ducks, three Ring-billed Gulls, six Caspian Gulls, six Glaucous Gulls, an Iceland Gull, two Rough-legged Buzzards, 29 Waxwings, two Shorelarks and two Great Grey Shrikes.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Monday 8th March 2010  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Bufflehead on The Fleet, Dorset. Elsewhere in Britain the Bonaparte's Gull and a Lesser Scaup showed again in Glamorgan, as did the Long-billed Dowitcher in Lancashire, a King Eider in Moray, Lesser Scaup in Cornwall and Little Bunting in Highland. In Ireland both the Pacific Diver and Pied-billed Grebe remained in County Clare, as did the Black Duck in County Mayo, Ferruginous Duck in Co Armagh and two Richardson's Canada Geese were noted together in County Sligo.

Scarcities recorded around the British Isles today included 29 Waxwings across four counties, 11 Shorelarks (Norfolk), five Great Grey Shrikes, four each of Surf Scoter, Ring-necked Duck, Ring-billed Gull and Glaucous Gull, three each of Black Brant and Tundra Bean Goose (Lancashire) and single American Wigeon (Dumfries and Galloway), Rough-legged Buzzard (Norfolk), Cattle Egret (Somerset), Great White Egret (Lancashire) and Caspian Gull (Kent).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 7th March 2010  
  All of the rarities discovered today are actually quite likely to be birds returning to favoured old haunts: the Bonaparte's Gull in Cardiff, Glamorgan had been present there on 8th-30th March 2009, a Long-billed Dowitcher at Banks Marsh, Lancashire was where up to two were seen on 12th-31st October 2009, and a Lesser Scaup arrived at Chew Valley Lake, Somerset - where one had been noted on 7th April-1st May 2008.

The continued presence of the Bufflehead in Dorset headlined the cast of lingering rarities, supported by both Pacific Diver and Pied-billed Grebe in County Clare, Forster's Tern in County Galway, Black Kite in Powys, three Glossy Ibises together in Somerset, single Lesser Scaups in both Cornwall and Glamorgan and Little Buntings in Cornwall and Highland.

Scarcities included 23 Waxwings across five counties, 14 Shorelarks (Norfolk), nine Ring-billed Gulls, seven Great Grey Shrikes, five each of Surf Scoter and Little Auk (together off Northumberland), four each of Ring-necked Duck and Great White Egret, three Glaucous Gulls, two each of Rough-legged Buzzard (Norfolk), Cattle Egret and Tundra Bean Goose (Lancashire) and single American Wigeon (Dumfries and Galloway), Green-winged Teal (County Waterford), Lapland Bunting (Lincolnshire) and Caspian Gull (Oxfordshire).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 6th March 2010  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of the first Bufflehead for Dorset, and what will probably prove to be the first acceptable individual in England since 2004. First seen briefly offshore from West Bexington, the identity of this adult male was only confirmed at dusk when it was relocated on The Fleet at Abbotsbury.

In Ireland the Pacific Diver and Forster's Tern both showed again in County Galway, as did the Pied-billed Grebe in County Limerick whilst another Pied-billed Grebe was present for a second day at Lough Atedaun, County Clare. The Glossy Ibis remained in County Wexford as did the Richardson's Canada Goose in County Sligo. Elsewhere, lingering rarities comprised the Black Duck still in Cornwall, single Lesser Scaups in both Clyde and Cornwall and Little Buntings in both Cornwall and Highland.

Around the British Isles scarcities included 40 Waxwings across seven counties, seven each of Ring-billed Gull and Shorelark, five Ring-necked Ducks, four each of Cattle Egret (all Cornwall), Great White Egret and Black Brant, three each of Great Grey Shrike and Tundra Bean Goose, two each of Rough-legged Buzzard (Norfolk), Lapland Bunting (Lincolnshire) and Iceland Gull and single Surf Scoter (Devon), American Wigeon (Dumfries and Galloway), Snow Goose (Forth) and Green-winged Teal (County Wexford).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 5th March 2010  
  The highlight of the day was the reappearance of the white morph Gyr on Tresco, Isles of Scilly.

In County Tipperary a Long-billed Dowitcher was a new discovery at Ashton's Callows, whilst rarities elsewhere comprised the Black Kite still in Powys, three Glossy Ibises together in Somerset, single Little Buntings in both Cornwall and Highland and Lesser Scaups in Clyde, Cornwall and Glamorgan (2).

Scarcities included 27 Waxwings scattered across five counties, 18 Tundra Bean Geese, nine Shorelarks, six Ring-billed Gulls, five each of Ring-necked Duck and Iceland Gull, three each of Great Grey Shrike and Glaucous Gull, two each of Great White Egret and Green-winged Teal and single Rough-legged Buzzard (Norfolk) and American Wigeon (Dumfries and Galloway).

Spring migrants included a Little Ringed Plover in Devon, Garganey in Cheshire and Kent and Wheatears in Ceredigion (2), Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 4th March 2010  
  In County Galway, the wintering adult Pacific Diver was relocated off Doorus Pier, near Kinvara, where it was showing well mid afternoon but could not be found later. Nearby, the Forster's Tern remained at Claddagh Beach, and the Pied-billed Grebe was still on Lough Gur, County Limerick. The American Eider was seen in County Donegal again yesterday.

In Britain, wintering rarities consisted only of single Little Buntings in Cornwall and Highland and single Lesser Scaups in Cornwall, Glamorgan and Clyde. A Red-breasted Goose was seen on Gifford Marsh, Essex, consorting with a small number of Canada Geese.

Scarcities logged today included two Great Grey Shrikes, four Rough-legged Buzzards, nine Shorelarks, three Lapland Buntings, a Cattle Egret, three Great White Egrets, two Snow Geese, two Black Brants, Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon, three Ring-necked Ducks, two Ring-billed Gulls, five Iceland Gulls, three Glaucous Gulls, nine Spoonbills and 76 Waxwings.
-  Will Soar, RBA