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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Monday 5th April 2010  
  Three new rarities were reported today: a Black Kite flew over Ipplepen, near Newton Abbot, in Devon and there were Alpine Swifts at two new locations: at Folkestone in Kent; and briefly at Rainham Marshes in London. Another Alpine Swift remained at Chafford Hundred in Essex, and in Suffolk the Pallid Swift spent another day in the Kessingland sewage works area. The Iberian Chiffchaff was again singing at Stiffkey in Norfolk. A Rose-coloured Starling was found in Weymouth this afternoon.

Other lingering rarities included Lesser Scaups still at Cardiff Bay and Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir in Glamorgan, and the Bonaparte's Gull at Cardiff, also in Glamorgan. The Little Bunting remained in Highland and the King Eider could still be found in Moray. In south east Scotland the Bluethroat was again at Skateraw, with the Hoopoe still nearby at Dunglass, whilst in Cornwall the Woodchat Shrike was still on The Lizard. Of winter birds there were still up to 16 Shorelarks at Holkham and Waxwings could still be found in Yorkshire and Suffolk.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Sunday 4th April 2010  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Pallid Swift in Suffolk at Kessingland, whilst other rarities comprised the three Penduline Tits still together in Kent, Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan, Alpine Swift in Essex, King Eider in Moray, Little Bunting in Highland and a Ferruginous Duck newly discovered at Holmethorpe, Surrey. Elsewhere, brief encounters included a Black Kite in Somerset, the Iberian Chiffchaff in Norfolk and Two-barred Crossbill in Bedfordshire: the latter two are proving to be most elusive.

Scarce spring migrants consisted of four Hoopoes and single Kentish Plover (Kent), Woodchat Shrike (Cornwall) and Bluethroat (Lothian). Lingering winter visitors included 24 Waxwings, 12 Shorelarks, five Iceland Gulls, three each of Great White Egret and Green-winged Teal, two each of Great Grey Shrike, Glaucous Gull and Black Brant and single American Wigeon (Dumries and Galloway), Tundra Bean Goose (Cumbria) and Caspian Gull (Suffolk).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 3rd April 2010  
  A couple of top class passerines were discovered today - a Black-throated Thrush at Hartlepool Headland (Cleveland) and a singing Iberian Chiffchaff in Stiffkey (Norfolk).

Lingering rarities included Pied-billed Grebe in Co Clare, four Penduline Tits in Kent, Pallid Swift in Suffolk, Little Bunting in Highland and Black Duck on Isles of Scilly. An Alpine Swift reappeared at Fleet Pond (Hampshire) whilst another made a brief appearance at Warren Gorge, Essex.

In Cornwall a Woodchat Shrike lingered on The Lizard, Hoopoes remained in Co Cork and Dorset (whilst another was seen briefly in Kent) and a female Kentish Plover was on Isle of Sheppey for its second day.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 2nd April 2010  
  The highlight of the day was the reappearance of the Lesser Kestrel in Suffolk at Westleton Heath, although it only showed briefly and could not be relocated later in the day. Nearby the Pallid Swift remained at Kessingland, as did two of the Penduline Tits in Kent, the Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan, Little Bunting in Highland, single Lesser Scaups in both Glamorgan and Somerset, and the Hooded Merganser in Cleveland. A Black-bellied Dipper was discovered on the Shetland Isles on Bressay and in Lancashire a Glossy Ibis flew over Caton.

Spring scarcities comprised Woodchat Shrike and Montagu's Harrier in Cornwall, Kentish Plover in Kent, Serin in Dorset, Bluethroat in Northumberland and single Hoopoes in both County Cork and Pembrokeshire. Whilst vestiges of winter included 12 Waxwings, six Iceland Gulls, five Ring-necked Ducks, four Ring-billed Gulls, two each of American Wigeon, Great White Egret and Glaucous Gull and single Surf Scoter (Devon), Cattle Egret (Dorset), Green-winged Teal (Leicestershire) and Shorelark (Norfolk).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 1st April 2010  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Fan-tailed Warbler in Kent at Pegwell Bay. Elsewhere, rarities comprised the Pallid Swift still in Suffolk, the Two-barred Crossbill still in Bedfordshire, single Alpine Swifts over each of Cornwall, Dorset, Kent, London and Norfolk, three Penduline Tits together in Kent, Little Bunting in Highland, Lesser Scaups in both Glamorgan and Somerset, and in Suffolk the Canvasback (or perhaps a hybrid Canvasback x Pochard) remains.

Scarcities included 28 Waxwings, four Ring-billed Gulls (all in Ireland), three Iceland Gulls, two each of American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck and Great Grey Shrike and single Hoopoe and Cattle Egret (both Dorset), Surf Scoter (Aberdeenshire), Rough-legged Buzzard (East Yorkshire), Green-winged Teal (Leicestershire) and migrant Dotterel (Cornwall).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 31st March 2010  
  In Suffolk, the Lesser Kestrel remained on Westleton Heath, giving distant views throughout the day. The Great Grey Shrike was also still on site, and the Pallid Swift was present for much of the day at Kessingland. An Alpine Swift was seen here briefly this afternoon, with one still in Lowestoft until midday. Elsewhere, Alpine Swifts were seen in Kent, Hampshire and Norfolk.

The Two-barred Crossbill was present this morning at least at The Lodge RSPB, Bedfordshire, with other lingering rarities including Pied-billed Grebe in County Limerick, two Penduline Tits in Kent, Little Bunting in Highland and Lesser Scaup in Somerset.

Scarcities seen today include a Bluethroat, Common Crane and White-tailed Eagle in Northumberland, a Hoopoe in Dorset, a Purple Heron on the Isles of Scilly, an American Wigeon in Dumfries and Galloway, a Surf Scoter in Devon, two Ring-necked Ducks, four Great Grey Shrikes, a Great White Egret in Gloucestershire, a Lapland Bunting in Lincolnshire and six Waxwings in Suffolk.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 30th March 2010  
  The adult male Lesser Kestrel lingered at Westleton Heath (Suffolk), although it only showed distantly and intermittently throughout the day. Of the 16 Lesser Kestrels that have previously been found in Britain only two have occurred earlier in the spring than the Westleton bird, both on the Isles of Scilly (on 24th February 1926 and 3rd March 1891).

Suffolk also continued to host a Pallid Swift (at Kessingland), at least three Alpine Swifts (including two still in Lowestoft), two Penduline Tits (at Minsmere RSPB) and a Great Grey Shrike joined the Lesser Kestrel on Westleton Heath.

Elsewhere rarities came in the form of the Two-barred Crossbill in Bedfordshire, Little Bunting in Highland, three Penduline Tits in Kent, Pied-billed Grebe in Co Clare, Alpine Swifts in Kent and Norfolk, Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan, Pallid Swift in Kent and Black Kite in Norfolk.

The best of the rest included Purple Heron on Isles of Scilly, Great White Egrets in Gloucestershire, Hampshire and Lincolnshire/East Yorkshire, American Wigeons in Dumfries & Galloway and Lancashire and Cattle Egret in Cornwall.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 29th March 2010  
  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.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 28th March 2010  
  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.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 27th March 2010  
  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.
-  Will Soar, RBA