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| Monday 29th March 2010 | ||
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| Suffolk was, once again, the place to be today, with the Lesser Kestrel
still on Westleton Heath (although it wasn't seen after 2.50pm), Pallid Swift
at Kessingland (not seen after 11.15am) and at least three Alpine Swifts
(two roosting all day in Lowestoft, where one also flew south, and one at
Southwold). Another new Alpine Swift was seen at North Foreland, Kent,
with one still at Cromer, Norfolk.
Other lingering rarities included the Two-barred Crossbill in Bedfordshire, three Penduline Tits in Kent, Little Bunting in Highland, two King Eiders in Moray, Ferruginous Duck, Lesser Scaup and three Glossy Ibises in Somerset and Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan. Scarcities included a Dotterel (Leicestershire), a Rough-legged Buzzard (Norfolk), a Hoopoe (Dorset), three Great Grey Shrikes, three Ring-necked Ducks, two American Wigeon, a Cattle Egret, at least three Great White Egrets and 47 Waxwings. |
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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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| Sunday 28th March 2010 | ||
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| An adult male Lesser Kestrel was a surprise find at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk this
evening. Initially showing extremely well along the entrance track, it later
relocated to nearby Westleton Heath, where it showed distantly until mid
evening, and was then later reported going to roost in a holm oak. An Alpine
Swift flew over the site early evening, whilst, nearby, the Pallid Swift
remained at Kessingland with another Alpine Swift. Two Alpine Swifts were still
in Lowestoft, with other singles in Norfolk (2) and Dorset.
A Fan-tailed Warbler was present at Bockhill, Kent briefly mid morning, with other new discoveries today including Ferruginous Duck in Suffolk and Long-billed Dowitcher in Merseyside. Yesterday, the Pallid Harrier was seen again at Zennor, Cornwall, and a King Eider was found in Dunnet Bay, Highland, where it was still present today. Other lingering rarities included Bufflehead in Dorset, Two-barred Crossbill in Bedfordshire, three Penduline Tits in Kent, Lesser Scaup and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset, Pacific Diver in County Clare, Forster's Tern in County Galway, Little Bunting in Highland and Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 27th March 2010 | ||
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| A female Two-barred Crossbill was found at The Lodge RSPB,
Bedfordshire early afternoon, and showed very well from the hide. It wasn't
reported again late afternoon, after news was released. A white morph Gyr
was discovered in Glamorgan, seen briefly on the downs above Rhosilli Bay, where
it was photographed on the ground, and a Bonaparte's Gull spent a short
time at Rye Harbour NR, Sussex, before flying out to sea.
Five Alpine Swifts were found today, in London, Devon, Kent and Suffolk (2). Lingering birds elsewhere were in Norfolk (2) and Dorset. A Pallid Swift was seen for its second day at Kessingland, Suffolk, up until 12.15pm only. In Kent, a Penduline Tit reappeared at Grove Ferry NNR, with three birds still at Dungeness RSPB. The Arctic Redpoll was re-found and confirmed near Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. Other long staying rarities seen today included Bufflehead in Dorset, Pied-billed Grebe in County Clare, Forster's Tern in County Galway, Snowy Owl on Western Isles, Little Bunting in Highland and Lesser Scaup in Somerset. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Friday 26th March 2010 | ||
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| Once again, Alpine Swift was today's headline species, with two birds
still in Norfolk, and singles in both Cambridgeshire and Dorset. Another classic
spring rarity, a Black Kite, flew south over Norwich, Norfolk early
afternoon.
In Suffolk, the drake aythya resembling Canvasback remained at Cavenham. Other lingering rarities included Bufflehead in Dorset, Pacific Diver and Pied-billed Grebe in County Clare, Forster's Tern in County Galway, Little Bunting in Highland, King Eider in Moray and Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 25th March 2010 | ||
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| A significant proportion of today's rarity news once again related to
Alpine Swifts - four were reported (at Marazion and Land's End in Cornwall
and Hunstanton and Cromer in Norfolk).
In Suffolk a drake Aythya closely resembling a Canvasback was discovered at Cavenham Pit. This is more than likely the same bird that was seen in Suffolk last year, thought by many to be a hybrid Canvasback x Pochard. In Glamorgan a Great Spotted Cuckoo was reported at Kenfig Pool NNR, a Red-rumped Swallow flew over Sennen Cove (Cornwall) and lingering rarities included Bufflehead (Dorset) and Little Bunting (Highland). Elsewhere a Hoopoe lingered in Dorset, American Wigeons remained in Dumfries & Galloway and Cumbria, the Purple Heron was still in Pembrokeshire and two each of Great White Egret and Cattle Egret were logged. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 24th March 2010 | ||
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| Three more Alpine Swifts were discovered today, with one briefly near
Upper Beading, West Sussex and two in Cornwall, at Penzance and St Just. Both
Norfolk birds were seen again, with one lingering over Hunstanton for much of
the day, and one leaving its roost at Cromer and flying east along the coast,
before being seen for an hour at Great Yarmouth.
Three Penduline Tits were seen at Dungeness RSPB, Kent, whilst lingering rarities included Bufflehead in Dorset, Little Bunting in Highland, King Eider in Moray and Lesser Scaup in Clyde. Scarcities included a Purple Heron, six Hoopoes, a Surf Scoter, three Ring-necked Ducks, two American Wigeons, three Green-winged Teals, six Snow Geese, six Great White Egrets, 14 Shorelarks, five Ring-billed Gulls, a Rough-legged Buzzard and a Great Grey Shrike. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 23rd March 2010 | ||
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| Alpine Swifts stole the headlines once again with seven birds today taking the potential total to as many as nineteen individuals in five days, although duplication is becoming increasingly likely. Other than two together briefly over Alnmouth, Northumberland all records today were of singles in East Anglia: in Essex at The Naze, in Suffolk at both Lakenheath and Lowestoft, and in Norfolk where individuals remained between Holkham and Hunstanton, and between Overstrand and West Runton into the evening. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised the Bufflehead in Dorset, the King Eider in Moray, Glossy Ibis in County Wexford, Lesser Scaup in Clyde, Little Bunting in Highland and Richardson's Canada Goose in Argyll. Scarcities included seven Waxwings (Clyde), four each of Ring-billed Gull, Great Grey Shrike and Green-winged Teal, two each of Hoopoe (Dorset), Surf Scoter (Orkney Isles), Shorelark (Lothian), Great White Egret and Glaucous Gull and single Purple Heron (Pembrokeshire), Yellow-browed Warbler (Oxfordshire), American Wigeon (Dumfries and Galloway), Rough-legged Buzzard (Norfolk) and Black Brant (East Yorkshire). |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Monday 22nd March 2010 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the presence of seven Alpine Swifts: singles in Cornwall at Marazion, Devon at Exminster Marshes, Essex at Frinton-on-Sea, Norfolk at Winterton, London at Leyton Flats, County Louth at Drogheda and Somerset at Dunster Beach; although only the Cornish bird lingered. Although duplication is possible, perhaps 14
Alpine Swifts have been recorded across 12 counties over the last four days. Lingering rarities comprised the Bufflehead still in Dorset, the Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan, King Eider in Moray, Lesser Scaup in Cornwall and Little Bunting in Highland. The best of the rest was a Purple Heron in Pembrokeshire, whilst other scarcities included 64 Waxwings across five counties, four Cattle Egrets, three each of Great White Egret and Great Grey Shrike, two each of Hoopoe, American Wigeon, Ring-billed Gull, Black Brant and Shorelark (Norfolk) and single Serin (East Sussex), Surf Scoter (Devon), Ring-necked Duck (Buckinghamshire), Snow Goose (Aberdeenshire), Iceland Gull (County Galway), Caspian Gull (Suffolk), Rough-legged Buzzard, Lapland Bunting and Glaucous Gull (all Norfolk). |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 21st March 2010 | ||
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| Five new Alpine Swifts were discovered today, with birds in Dorset,
Cornwall (2), Sussex and Isle of Wight. A Black Kite was reported at
Fineshade Wood, Northamptonshire, and seven Penduline Tits were seen at
Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk. The drake Black Duck was seen again on Tresco,
Isles of Scilly.
Lingering rarities included the Bufflehead in Dorset, Glossy Ibises in County Wexford and Somerset (3), Little Bunting in Highland, two King Eiders in Moray, Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan, Snowy Owl in Western Isles, single Lesser Scaups in Somerset, Glamorgan (2) and Clyde and Richardson's Canada Goose in Argyll. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 20th March 2010 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Pallid Swift at Cefn Sidan Sands, Carmarthenshire: only the third March record in the British Isles, and the earliest ever to arrive here by five days. Associated arrivals included an
Alpine Swift lingering in Berkshire near Wargrave, at least one Red-rumped Swallow between Marazion and Gwithian, Cornwall, and a
Little Bittern reported briefly at Easebourne, West Sussex. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised the Pacific Diver in County Clare, the Bufflehead in Dorset, Snowy Owl on the Western Isles, Penduline Tit in Suffolk, King Eider in Moray, Little Bunting in Highland, Richardson's Canada Goose in Argyll, three Glossy Ibises in Somerset, single Lesser Scaups in each of Clyde, Glamorgan and Somerset, Ferruginous Ducks in both County Armagh and Somerset and the Hooded Merganser still in Cleveland. Scarities included eight each of both Glaucous Gull and Waxwing, six Ring-billed Gulls, four Great White Egrets, three each of Cattle Egret and Green-winged Teal, two each of American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, Great Grey Shrike and Iceland Gull and single Hoopoe (Dorset), Surf Scoter (Devon), Rough-legged Buzzard (Norfolk) and Tundra Bean Goose (Aberdeenshire). |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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