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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Friday 11th June 2010  
  Today's highlights came from Gwynedd where both a White-throated Sparrow (the sixth British record so far this spring) and a Greenish Warbler were discovered on Bardsey Island, whilst a Bee-eater was located at Llandegwning on the adjacent Lleyn Peninsula. Elsewhere, a Red-footed Falcon showed at Exminster Marshes, Devon and two more Bee-eaters flew over Tow Law, County Durham.

Lingering rarities comprised the Marmora's Warbler still in Gwent, Broad-billed Sandpiper in Cleveland, Great Reed Warbler in Derbyshire and the Barolo Little Shearwater still singing unseen on Lundy Island, Devon.

Scarcities included two each of Marsh Warbler and Great White Egret, a territorial White-spotted Bluethroat in Norfolk, Purple Heron in Suffolk, Ring-necked Duck in Fife, Cory's Shearwater in West Sussex and a migrant Golden Oriole in Cleveland.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 10th June 2010  
  New discoveries today included a Blyth's Reed Warbler on Fair Isle, Shetland, a Black Kite at Redruth, Cornwall and a drake King Eider in Aberdeenshire.

Offshore in the North Sea, a Pallas's Reed Bunting was discovered on a research vessel in the Dogger Bank yesterday, although it died on board this morning.

The Little Shearwater was heard again overnight on Lundy, Devon, whilst the Marmora's Warbler remained in Gwent, as did the Iberian Chiffchaff. Other lingering rarities included Broad-billed Sandpiper in Cleveland, Red-footed Falcon in Cambridgeshire and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset. The probable Booted Eagle was seen once again near Kingscleare, Hampshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 9th June 2010  
  Despite being another very quiet day overall, several rarities were found. A Greenish Warbler was seen briefly at Flamborough Head, Yorkshire, a female Subalpine Warbler was on Lundy, Devon, a Tawny Pipit was on Six Mile Point, County Wicklow and single Bee-eaters were seen in Cornwall, Gwynedd and Anglesey.

The Little Shearwater was heard again overnight on Lundy, Devon, whilst the Marmora's Warbler remained in Gwent. Other lingering rarities included Broad-billed Sandpiper in Cleveland, Great Reed Warbler in Derbyshire, Iberian Chiffchaffs in Gwent and Kent and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset. A probable Booted Eagle was reported again from Hampshire.

Scarcities were represented by Marsh Warblers in Suffolk and Dorset, Hoopoes in Devon and Surrey, Cattle Egret in Gloucestershire, Common Rosefinch and Red-backed Shrike in Northumberland (with another of the latter in County Durham), two Purple Herons in Kent, a Golden Oriole on the Isle of Man and a Corncrake in Gwynedd.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 8th June 2010  
  Once again, the male Little Shearwater was heard singing overnight on Lundy, Devon, although the bird still hasn't been seen. In Gwent, the male Marmora's Warbler continued to build its nest at Blorenge, with other lingering rarities including Broad-billed Sandpiper in Cleveland, Great Reed Warbler in Derbyshire, Iberian Chiffchaff in Yorkshire and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset.

Two Bee-eaters were seen flying west over Samphire Hoe Country Park, Kent mid morning. Scarcities logged included a Woodchat Shrike in Devon, Red-backed Shrike in County Durham, singing Marsh Warblers in Suffolk, Northumberland, Dorset and Shetland, Common Rosefinch on Shetland, migrant Golden Oriole in Lincolnshire, Hoopoe in Surrey, Pectoral Sandpiper in Lincolnshire and Spotted Crake in Argyll.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Monday 7th June 2010  
  The headline today is the news of a male Little Shearwater of the form baroli on Lundy, Devon. Present last night for at least its second night, it was heard singing from its chosen burrow, but not seen. This is the second time a Little Shearwater has been found in a Manx Shearwater breeding colony, following a returning bird on Skomer, Pembrokeshire in 1981 and 1982.

In Norfolk, a drake Blue-winged Teal spent the evening at Cley NWT, whilst the male Western Subalpine Warbler remained nearby on Blakeney Point. A drake King Eider was off Chanonry Point, Highland briefly this evening and a Snowy Owl was present yesterday on St Kilda, Western Isles.

Long staying rarities included both the Marmora's Warbler and Iberian Chiffchaff in Gwent, with other singles of the latter still in Yorkshire and Kent, Red-footed Falcon in Cambridgeshire, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Great Reed Warbler in Derbyshire and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset. A Broad-billed Sandpiper was present for its second day at Port Clarence, Cleveland.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 6th June 2010  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a White-throated Sparrow in Suffolk at Woodbridge, although unfortunately at a site with no general access. Other new arrivals included at Broad-billed Sandpiper in Cleveland at Port Clarence, a Western Subalpine Warbler in Norfolk at Blakeney Point, a Great Reed Warbler on the Shetland Isles on Unst, a Bee-eater in Devon on Lundy and a Black Kite in Wiltshire seen flying over Baydon.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised the Marmora's Warbler in Gwent, Black Stork on the Shetland Isles, five Black-winged Stilts together in Norfolk, Great Reed Warbler in Derbyshire, Red-footed Falcon in Cambridgeshire, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset and territorial Iberian Chiffchaffs in Gwent, Kent and South Yorkshire.

Scarcities included five migrant Golden Orioles, three each of Red-backed Shrike and Red-necked Phalarope (together in County Offaly), two each of Common Rosefinch and Temminck's Stint and single White-winged Black Tern (Shropshire), Marsh Warbler (Suffolk), Pectoral Sandpiper (Linclonshire) and Green-winged Teal (Cumbria).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 5th June 2010  
  Another dark morph Booted Eagle was seen today, this time in Hampshire, where it lingered in the Portsmouth area mid to late morning. It or another was reported 30 miles away near Andover late afternoon.

At Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk a Gull-billed Tern was seen twice as it flew east then west over the reserve, seen by birders watching five Black-winged Stilts on the freshmarsh. A Red-footed Falcon was seen in Yorkshire, whilst a Black Kite was in Northumberland.

In Gwent, the Marmora's Warbler continued it's stay at Blorenge, although it couldn't be located after 2.50pm. The Iberian Chiffchaff was also in that county, with others in Kent and Yorkshire. Other long staying rarities included Black Stork on Shetland, Red-footed Falcons in Kent and Cambridgeshire, Great Reed Warbler in Derbyshire and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 4th June 2010  
  In Gwent the singing male Marmora's Warbler remained near Blorenge. The first British record involved a singing male on an inland moor (at Midhope, South Yorkshire), present for 71 days in 1982. Hopefully the Gwent bird will also linger for a few weeks, unlike the four other British records, which have all involved birds on the coast, each present for periods lasting between one and seven days.

Elsewhere Shetland's first Iberian Chiffchaff was discovered on Unst, an Arctic Warbler was reported on Westray (Orkney) and lingering rarities included Red-footed Falcons in Cambridgeshire and Kent, Iberian Chiffchaff in Gwent, Great Reed Warbler in Derbyshire, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset and King Eider in Aberdeenshire.

The best of the rest came in the form of Red-backed Shrike (East Yorkshire), Spotted Crake (Western Isles), Marsh Warbler (Fair Isle), Hoopoe (Bedfordshire), White-spotted Bluethroat (Norfolk) and Great White Egret (Aberdeenshire).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Thursday 3rd June 2010  
  The highlight of the day was of a singing male Marmora's Warbler at Blorenge, Gwent. First suspected in the morning, the identity was confirmed by midday and the bird showed until late in the evening.

Elsewhere, a dark morph Booted Eagle was reported again in Suffolk: today recorded passing over both Stowmarket and Baylham. On the Shetland Isles the Black Stork remained, as did the Iberian Chiffchaff in South Yorkshire, single Red-footed Falcons in both Cambridgeshire and Kent and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset. A Black Kite flew over Chester, Cheshire.

Scarcities included four Red-backed Shrikes, three Bluethroats, two migrant Golden Orioles and a single Common Rosefinch (Gwynedd), Purple Heron (Kent), Surf Scoter (Shetland Isles), Ring-necked Duck (Fife), Great White Egret (Pembrokeshire) and Green-winged Teal (Cumbria).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 2nd June 2010  
  New discoveries today comprised a brief Broad-billed Sandpiper at Rutland Water, Leicestershire, a Pacific Golden Plover on Lewis, Western Isles, a Black Stork on Unst, Shetland Isles and six Bee-eaters flew over Pett Level, East Sussex. A White-billed Diver was off Holy Island, Northumberland.

Lingering rarities included Trumpeter Finch in Norfolk, Great Reed Warbler in Derbyshire, Glossy Ibis in County Wexford and single Red-footed Falcons in Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Kent.

Scarcities logged today included Red-necked Phalarope in Lancashire, Bluethroat in Norfolk, Marsh Warbler in Suffolk, Red-backed Shrikes in Norfolk, Yorkshire and Shetland, Temminck's Stint in Aberdeenshire, Icterine Warbler in Shetland, Golden Orioles in Lincolnshire and Shetland and Short-toed Lark and Common Rosefinch also in Shetland.
-  Will Soar, RBA