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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Wednesday 28th April 2010  
  Rarities today comprised a Black Stork in Cornwall at Landulph, a Long-billed Dowitcher in Dumfries and Galloway at Caerlaverock, a Red-rumped Swallow in Kent at Samphire Hoe, a Tawny Pipit in Norfolk at Waxham, and in Cleveland a Black-headed Wagtail (or similar hybrid) at Saltholme - but all but the last bird were nothing more than brief encounters.

Scarce migrants included Short-toed Lark (Isle of Scilly), White-spotted Bluethroat and Kentish Plover (Norfolk), Rose-coloured Starling (Pembrokeshire), Serin (Suffolk), Purple Heron (Kent), Ring-necked Duck (Orkney Isles), Spotted Crake (Staffordshire), Ring-billed Gull (Cornwall), Temminck's Stint (Lincolnshire), six Dotterels, three each of both Woodchat Shrike and Hoopoe and two each of Wryneck, Montagu's Harrier and Green-winged Teal.

In Cornwall a black-and-white wagtail thought probably to be the first Moroccan Wagtail Motacilla alba subpersonata, for the British Isles was present during the morning near Sennen, Cornwall but it soon flew off and was not reported again.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 27th April 2010  
  Spring rarities seen today included a male Red-footed Falcon lingering over Oakham, Leicestershire this afternoon, a Black Stork near Porlock, Somerset (with another in Dorset near Lopwell for its second day), a Bee-eater on the Isles of Scilly and an Alpine Swift at Trimley Marshes SWT, Suffolk, where there was also a grey morph Gyr.

The White-billed Diver remained in Moray, as did the White-spotted Bluethroat in Norfolk. Other scarcities seen included a Pectoral Sandpiper (Suffolk), Richard's Pipit (Norfolk), Short-toed Lark (Scilly), three Purple Herons (Devon, Kent and Somerset), Woodchat Shrike (Scilly), Wryneck (Shetland), Golden Oriole (Scilly) and good numbers of Dotterels.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Monday 26th April 2010  
  New rarities came in the form of a Subalpine Warbler at Land's End (Cornwall) and a Red-rumped Swallow at Gibraltar Point NNR (Lincolnshire). Elsewhere a White-billed Diver lingered in Moray, two Bee-eaters remained on Mull (Argyll) and in North Yorkshire the Black-winged Stilt visited Clifton Backies near York before returning to Nosterfield NR.

Scarcities included White-spotted Bluethroat in Norfolk, nine Dotterels in Lincolnshire (whilst singles remained in Lancashire and Co Donegal), Kentish Plover in Devon, Woodchat Shrikes in Cornwall, Co Cork and on Isles of Scilly, Richard's Pipit in Kent, Serin in Dorset, Hoopoe in Pembrokeshire and Great White Egret in Aberdeenshire.

Late news from yesterday related to a Gull-billed Tern on Tiree (Argyll).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 25th April 2010  
  The highlight of the day was a Calandra Lark watched migrating south over Skegness, Lincolnshire. Other brief encounters included a Gyr on the Western Isles on Lewis, a Black-winged Stilt in North Yorkshire at Nosterfield, a Bee-eater in Norfolk between Cromer and Sheringham, and single Red-rumped Swallows in County Cork at Old Head of Kinsale and on the Wirral at Leasowe.

Otherwise, rarities comprised two Bee-eaters together on Mull, Argyll, two White-billed Divers together on Lewis, Western Isles, the Subalpine Warbler still in Dorset at Hengistbury Head and the long-staying Hooded Merganser still in Cleveland.

Scarcities included four each of Woodchat Shrike, Ring-necked Duck and Green-winged Teal, three Great White Egrets, two each of Purple Heron, Surf Scoter and Glaucous Gull and single Kentish Plover (Devon), White-spotted Bluethroat (Norfolk), Golden Oriole (Kent), Spotted Crake (Gloucestershire), Snow Goose (Aberdeenshire), American Wigeon (Cleveland), Ring-billed Gull (County Down), Shorelark (Somerset), Iceland Gull (Argyll) and Black Brant (Lincolnshire).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 24th April 2010  
  Spring rarities seen today included a brief Roller at Tacumshin, County Wexford, a male Subalpine Warbler at Christchurch, Dorset this evening, a Bee-eater at Land's End, Cornwall until mid morning when it flew out to sea and a Red-rumped Swallow on Cape Clear, County Cork. Two White-billed Divers were off Lewis, Western Isles, with another on Shetland and one in Moray.

Scarcities included White-spotted Bluethroat in Norfolk, Woodchat Shrikes in County Cork and County Wexford, Dotterels in Lancashire, Cheshire and County Galway, Shorelark in Somerset, Hoopoes in Pembrokeshire, Hampshire and Norfolk, Kentish Plover in Devon, Golden Oriole in County Cork, Serin in Dorset, Wrynecks in County Cork and on Scilly and Purple Heron in Cornwall.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 23rd April 2010  
  New discoveries included a singing male White-spotted Bluethroat at Welney WWT (Norfolk), Kentish Plover at Dawlish Warren NNR (Devon) and flyover Red-rumped Swallow in Devon, Bee-eater in Cornwall and Tawny Pipit in Co Cork. The Whiskered Tern (Cornwall) and Red-rumped Swallow (Kent) both remained on show, as did the Southern European wagtail (either an Ashy-headed, Iberian or hybrid) in Lancashire.

Elsewhere scarcities came in the form of a Hoopoe in Pembrokeshire, Dotterels in Cheshire, Lancashire, Co Galway and the Conwy/Gwynedd border, Great White Egret in Aberdeenshire, Woodchat Shrike in Co Cork, American Wigeon in Cleveland, Serin in Dorset, Wryneck in Norfolk and Great Grey Shrike in Lincolnshire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Thursday 22nd April 2010  
  The highlight of the day was a showy Red-rumped Swallow at Minster, Kent. Rarities elsewhere included the Whiskered Tern still in Cornwall and the Bonaparte's Gull still in East Sussex. In Lancashire a male Ashy-headed or Spanish Wagtail (or perhaps a hybrid between the two) showed well at Brockholes Wetland in the evening.

Scarcities comprised three each of Hoopoe and Green-winged Teal, two each of Ring-billed and Iceland Gull and single Woodchat Shrike (Somerset), American Wigeon (Cleveland), Snow Goose and Great White Egret (both Aberdeenshire), Ring-necked Duck (Orkney Isles), Spotted Crake (Cambridgeshire), Great Grey Shrike (Lincolnshire), Glaucous Gull (Western Isles) and Tundra Bean Goose (Lothian). Single migrant Honey Buzzard, Corncrake and Dotterel were logged in Devon, Conwy and Lancashire respectively.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 21st April 2010  
  In Cornwall, the adult Whiskered Tern remained on the Camel Estuary at Tregunna all day. In Sussex, the adult Bonaparte's Gull was again on Arlington Reservoir, often showing well. Further north, the Long-billed Dowitcher reappeared at Banks Marsh NNR, Lancashire, whilst the male Black-headed Wagtail or hybrid was again on Cresswell Pond NWT, Northumberland. A Glossy Ibis was still at Tacumshin, County Wexford.

Spring scarcities logged today included three Serins, four Hoopoes, a Woodchat Shrike, four White Storks and a Montagu's Harrier, whilst winter leftovers included an American Wigeon, four Green-winged Teals, a Ring-necked Duck, three Lesser Snow Geese, two Shorelarks and a Great Grey Shrike.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 20th April 2010  
  The highlight of the day was a Whiskered Tern in Cornwall on the Camel Estuary, whilst elsewhere in that county the Savi's Warbler remained at Marazion and at Polgigga both Tawny Pipit and Bee-eater showed briefly.

Otherwise, rarities included a brief Red-rumped Swallow in Greater Manchester, the Bonaparte's Gull still in East Sussex, the Black-headed Wagtail or hybrid still in Northumberland and what was probably a Spanish Wagtail was at King George V Reservoir, London

Scarcities included three each of both Hoopoe and Green-winged Teal, two each of Surf Scoter, Great White Egret, Glaucous Gull and Serin (together in Dorset) and single Night Heron (East Sussex), American Wigeon (Cleveland), Great Grey Shrike (Lincolnshire), Tundra Bean Goose (Lothian) and, in Cornwall, Wryneck, Ring-billed Gull and Iceland Gull.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 19th April 2010  
  In Cornwall the Savi's Warbler continued to sing at Marazion Marsh RSPB, but it remained elusive only showing very occasionally. In neighbouring Devon a possible Blue Rock Thrush was again reported - the bird was initially sighted on Friday.

Hoopoes were logged in London, West Sussex and Pembrokeshire, Wrynecks were recorded in Cornwall and Devon (2) and in Cleveland an American Wigeon arrived at Saltholme Pools RSPB.

Late news from yesterday related to a Red-rumped Swallow in Cornwall and a Subalpine Warbler in East Sussex, but there was no sign of either bird today.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA