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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Tuesday 18th May 2010  
  New discoveries today included a Red-rumped Swallow (Shetland), Alpine Swift (Glamorgan) and Black Stork (Western Isles). The Spotted Sandpiper in Lancashire, Oriental Pratincole in Lincolnshire, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset, Great Reed Warbler in Derbyshire, Iberian Chiffchaffs in Gwent, Kent and South Yorkshire and King Eider in Aberdeenshire all remained on show.

Elsewhere a Buff-breasted Sandpiper lingered in Leicestershire for its second day, a Short-toed Lark arrived in Hampshire and a Common Rosefinch was logged in Lincolnshire. Other new birds included a Woodchat Shrike in Essex (another remained in East Yorkshire), Bluethroat on Shetland, Great Grey Shrike in West Yorkshire, Red-backed Shrike in Devon and Melodious Warbler in Conwy, whilst Purple Herons (Kent and East Yorkshire), Hoopoe (Hampshire) and White-spotted Bluethroat (Norfolk) all lingered.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 17th May 2010  
  New rarities included a Spotted Sandpiper at Stocks Reservoir (Lancashire), Bee-eater at Radipole (Dorset) and a White-billed Diver off North Uist (Western Isles). A Black Kite was logged between Warham and Wighton (Norfolk) whilst probable sightings of perhaps the same Black Kite were reported between Docking and Choseley and just south of Wells.

In Lincolnshire the Oriental Pratincole remained on show at Frampton Marsh RSPB, whilst the Great Reed Warbler (Derbyshire), King Eiders (Aberdeenshire and Shetland) and Iberian Chiffchaffs (South Yorkshire and Gwent) all lingered.

The best of the rest came in the form of five Temminck's Stints, two each of Hoopoe, Purple Heron, Woodchat Shrike, Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Great White Egret and single Wryneck, White-spotted Bluethroat, Grey-headed Wagtail and Ring-necked Duck.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 16th May 2010  
  A fine selection of lingering rarities were headlined by the Oriental Pratincole in Lincolnshire and Black-eared Wheatear in Co Wexford. Elsewhere the Great Reed Warbler continued to sing in Derbyshire, Iberian Chiffchaffs lingered in Kent, South Yorkshire and Gwent and in Scotland the Broad-billed Sandpiper (Highland) and King Eider (Lothian) were both still present. In addition to the aforementioned Black-eared Wheatear the Forster's Tern and Glossy Ibis remained in Co Wexford, in Somerset the long-staying Ferruginous Duck remained at Chew Valley Lake and in Norfolk a Black Kite flew over Welney WWT (where the White-spotted Bluethroat continued to perform).

East Yorkshire produced three Purple Herons (two at Welwick and one a Tophill Low NR), whilst others were recorded in Suffolk and Kent. Hoopoes were noted in Orkney, Hampshire and Hertfordshire, a Serin flew over Bockhill Farm (Kent) and Woodchat Shrikes remained in Cornwall and on Isles of Scilly. The best of the rest included four Temminck's Stints, 23 Dotterels and at least three Great White Egrets.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 15th May 2010  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a female Black-eared Wheatear on Great Saltee Island (Co Wexford) - the fifth Irish record.

Back across the Irish Sea, the Oriental Pratincole continued to perform in Lincolnshire, whilst other lingering rarities included Iberian Chiffchaffs in South Yorkshire, Gwent and Kent, Great Reed Warbler in Derbyshire, Broad-billed Sandpiper in Highland, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, American Golden Plover in Co Mayo, Forster's Tern in Co Wexford and Pacific Diver in Co Clare.

Elsewhere ten Temminck's Stints, four Woodchat Shrikes, two Purple Herons, two Great White Egrets, two Serins and a White-spotted Bluethroat were all logged.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 14th May 2010  
  Rarities today comprised the Oriental Pratincole still in Lincolnshire, an American Golden Plover new in County Mayo, Great Reed Warbler in Derbyshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall, Red-rumped Swallow in South Yorkshire, Broad-billed Sandpipers in both Highland and Lothian, King Eiders in both Aberdeenshire and the Shetland Isles and territorial Iberian Chiffchaffs in Gwent, Kent and South Yorkshire. A Black Kite was seen briefly in Norfolk and the Spotted Sandpiper was heard again in Lothian.

Scarcities included 48 migrant Dotterel in four trips, 10 Temminck's Stints, three Woodchat Shrikes, two each of American Wigeon and Glaucous Gull, White-spotted Bluethroat (Norfolk), Purple Heron (Kent) and Surf Scoter (Lothian).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 13th May 2010  
  The highlight of the day was a wader-double for Lothian with the discovery of a Broad-billed Sandpiper at Tyninghame Bay soon being followed by a Spotted Sandpiper at North Berwick. Elsewhere in Scotland, a White-billed Diver was found at Deerness, Orkney Isles.

Lingering rarities comprised the Oriental Pratincole still in Lincolnshire, Forster's Tern in County Wexford, Great Reed Warbler in Derbyshire, Broad-billed Sandpiper in Highland, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall, Red-rumped Swallow in South Yorkshire and territorial Iberian Chiffchaffs in each of Gwent, Kent and South Yorkshire.

Scarcities included 25 Dotterel in four trips, 10 migrant Temminck's Stints, three Woodchat Shrikes, two Iceland Gulls and single White-spotted Bluethroat (Norfolk), Serin (Dorset), Red-necked Phalarope (Kent), Surf Scoter (Lothian), American Wigeon (Western Isles), Ring-necked Duck (County Mayo) and Great White Egret (Cambridgeshire).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 12th May 2010  
  Derbyshire's first Great Reed Warbler was discovered this evening, a singing male near Ilkeston. A Broad-billed Sandpiper showed very well in Broadford Bay, Isle of Skye, Highland this evening, whilst other new discoveries included Pallid Swift briefly in Merseyside, a flyover Black Kite in South Yorkshire and a flyover Red-rumped Swallow in Hampshire.

Lingering rarities included House Finch and Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall, Oriental Pratincole in Lincolnshire, Iberian Chiffchaffs in Kent, South Yorkshire and Gwent, Savi's Warbler in Lancashire, Forster's Tern in County Wexford, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, American Golden Plover on the Western Isles and Red-rumped Swallows in East Sussex (two) and South Yorkshire.

Scarcity highlights were a Red-necked Phalarope and Purple Heron in Kent, Woodchat Shrikes in Norfolk and Cornwall, Rose-coloured Starling in Pembrokeshire and White-spotted Bluethroat in Norfolk.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 11th May 2010  
  Several rarities were discovered today - Eastern Subalpine Warbler in Cornwall, Red-rumped Swallow in Aberdeenshire and American Golden Plover on Western Isles. The most popular new rarity however, was an Iberian Chiffchaff at Potteric Carr YWT (South Yorkshire). Other reports of new birds included a Black Stork in Kent and Glossy Ibis in East Sussex.

Highlights amongst the lingering rarities included the House Finch and Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall, Oriental Pratincole in Lincolnshire, two Red-rumped Swallows in East Sussex, Forster's Tern and Glossy Ibis in Co Wexford and Iberian Chiffchaffs in Gwent and Kent.

Elsewhere scarcities included Woodchat Shrikes in Cornwall and on Isles of Scilly, Surf Scoter in Lothian, Temminck's Stints in South Yorkshire and Norfolk (3), Rose-coloured Starling in Pembrokeshire, Red-necked Phalarope in Kent, Hoopoe in Suffolk, Great White Egret in Cambridgeshire, American Wigeon on Western Isles and Golden Orioles in East Sussex and Suffolk (2). Thirty Dotterels were also recorded.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 10th May 2010  
  In Lincolnshire the Oriental Pratincole lingered at Frampton Marsh RSPB for its second day and in Cornwall the male House Finch remained at Land's End.

New rarities included a Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall and Iberian Chiffchaff in Gwent (another Iberian Chiffchaff remained in Kent) whilst three Red-rumped Swallows were counted at Arlington Reservoir (East Sussex). Lingering rarities comprised Savi's Warbler in Lancashire, Glossy Ibis in Wexford and Red-rumped Swallow in South Yorkshire.

The best of the rest included Woodchat Shrikes on Isles of Scilly, in Norfolk and Cornwall, Hoopoes in Suffolk and on Shetland, American Wigeon on Western Isles, Surf Scoter in Lothian, Short-toed Lark in Cork and White-spotted Bluethroat in Norfolk.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 9th May 2010  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of an Oriental Pratincole at Frampton Marsh, Lincolnshire. Initially thought to be a Collared Pratincole the true identity was soon realised and the bird then showed well into the evening. This is only Britain's seventh record of this species - although probably actually only the fifth individual - following the bird present last spring between West Sussex and Kent on 28th May-3rd June.

Elsewhere, the House Finch remained in Cornwall at Land's End, as did the Pacific Diver in County Clare, the Forster's Tern in County Wexford, Iberian Chiffchaff in Kent and Red-rumped Swallows in East Sussex (2), East Yorkshire and South Yorkshire. An Ortolan Bunting showed briefly at South Walney, Cumbria.

Scarcities included 29 Dotterel in eight trips, three each of both Woodchat Shrike and Temminck's Stint, two each of both Bluethroat and Hoopoe and single Short-toed Lark (County Cork), Purple Heron (Cornwall), Rose-coloured Starling (Pembrokeshire), American Wigeon (Western Isles), Ring-necked Duck (County Donegal), Pectoral Sandpiper (Cleveland), Snow Goose (Aberdeenshire), Great White Egret (Norfolk), Green-winged Teal (Carmarthenshire) and Tundra Bean Goose (Lancashire).
-  Chris Batty, RBA