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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Thursday 9th September 2010  
  A Fan-tailed Warbler was heard at Pegwell Bay, Kent mid morning. A juvenile Black Stork was discovered in Highland this evening, where it showed very well in a field by the River Spey at Grantown. A juvenile Wilson's Phalarope was at Grove Ferry NNR, Kent this evening, a Western Bonelli's Warbler was on Whalsay, Shetland and new Glossy Ibises were in Kent (5), Cornwall (4) and County Kildare.

On Scilly, the Lesser Grey Shrike remained on St Mary's and the Wilson's Phalarope did likewise on Tresco. The 20 Glossy Ibises were also still at Budleigh Salterton, Devon, with other lingering rarities including Semipalmated Sandpiper in Lothian, Little Bunting in Fife, Arctic Warbler in Norfolk, Greenish Warbler in Northumberland, single Ortolan Buntings in Yorkshire and Cornwall, single American Golden Plovers in Orkney and the Western Isles and Whiskered Tern in Leicestershire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 8th September 2010  
  Find of the day was a Frigatebird species observed flying south past Peterhead (Aberdeenshire) at 3.15pm.

Elsewhere new discoveries included both Lesser Grey Shrike and Wilson's Phalarope on Isles of Scilly, Booted Warbler, Greenish Warbler and Ortolan Bunting in Northumberland, Arctic Warbler on Western Isles, Glossy Ibis in Dorset and Marbled Duck in Bedfordshire.

The Whiskered Tern (Leicestershire), American Golden Plovers (Shetland, Argyll and Orkney), Ferruginous Duck (Somerset) and Semipalmated Sandpiper (Lothian) all lingered and a flock of 20 Glossy Ibises remained in Devon.

Six Ortolan Buntings and a Little Bunting were also recorded amongst at plethora of scarce migrants.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 7th September 2010  
  The highlight of the day was the arrival of 21 Glossy Ibises in Devon (twenty together at Budleigh Salterton and one at Teignmouth), with another briefly in Dorset, at Burton Bradstock. As with previous influxes of this species, five of the birds were bearing colour-rings showing them to originate from Spain. Elsewhere, an American Golden Plover was discovered on the Shetland Isles on Yell, whilst brief encounters included, in East Yorkshire a Red-rumped Swallow at Kilnsea and a Greenish Warbler at Flamborough Head, and in Somerset a Citrine Wagtail at Chew Valley Lake.

Lingering rarities comprised single Arctic Warblers in both County Cork and Norfolk, Citrine Wagtail in Cornwall, Wilson's Phalarope in County Kerry, Whiskered Tern in Leicestershire, single Greenish Warblers in both County Cork and Suffolk, the House Finch in Devon, Ferruginous Duck in Northamptonshire and thirteen Ortolan Buntings (5 in Cornwall, 3 in East Yorkshire, 2 in Northumberland and singles in Dorset, the Isles of Scilly and North Yorkshire).

Scarcities included 92 Lapland Buntings (including 44 on Western Isles), 45 Wrynecks, 21 Barred Warblers (including 9 in East Yorkshire), eleven Icterine Warblers, nine Common Rosefinches (including 7 in East Yorkshire), seven each of Pectoral Sandpiper and Red-backed Shrike, four Buff-breasted Sandpipers, three each of Red-breasted Flycatcher, Red-necked Phalarope and Spotted Crake, two each of Melodious Warbler (together in Gwynedd), White-winged Black Tern, Ring-billed Gull and Great White Egret, and single Short-toed Lark (Norfolk), Woodchat Shrike (County Cork), Marsh Warbler (Northumberland) and Temminck's Stint (Essex).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 6th September 2010  
  New discoveries today include single Wilson's Phalaropes on the Hayle Estuary, Cornwall and at Ventry, County Kerry, single Arctic Warblers at Holme, Norfolk and Dursey Sound, County Cork, Ortolan Bunting at Kelling, Norfolk, Citrine Wagtail on Unst, Shetland, American Golden Plover on South Uist, Western Isles and single Greenish Warblers at Thorpeness, Suffolk and Saltfleet Haven, Lincolnshire.

The Brown Flycatcher was glimpsed at Buckton, Yorkshire early morning, but eluded most observers for the rest of the day. A Red-breasted Flycatcher in the car park was little consolation. Six Ortolan Buntings remain at Nanquidno, Cornwall, as does the Citrine Wagtail, with other lingering rarities including American Herring Gull in County Kerry, single Semipalmated Sandpipers in County Kerry and Lothian, Greenish Warbler and Ortolan Bunting in County Cork, Glossy Ibis in County Clare and single American Golden Plovers on Orkney and the Western Isles.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 5th September 2010  
  The hot news today related to the discovery of a Brown Flycatcher at Buckton (East Yorkshire). This is the third Brown Flycatcher to be recorded in the last four years, and by far the earliest of the three autumn records. Today's bird made landfall just under five miles from Old Fall Plantation, Flamborough Head, the site of the famous October 2007 Brown Flycatcher.

Elsewhere rarities included the House Finch in Devon, Whiskered Tern in Leicestershire, Citrine Wagtail in Cornwall, Ferruginous Ducks in Northamptonshire and Somerset, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Lothian, Arctic Warbler on Shetland and American Golden Plovers on Orkney and in Argyll. A Black Kite was seen in Cornwall.

In Ireland a Booted or Sykes's Warbler was on Tory Island (Co Donegal), Co Cork hosted Greenish Warbler, Woodchat Shrike and American Golden Plover, Co Kerry hosted Semipalmated Sandpiper and American Herring Gull, and Glossy Ibises were in Co Clare and Co Dublin. At Cobh (Co Cork) a possible House Crow was reported.

Thirteen Barred Warblers, nine Ortolan Buntings, eight Red-backed Shrikes, six Pectoral Sandpipers, five Icterine Warblers, four Common Rosefinches, three Melodious Warblers, two Buff-breasted Sandpipers, two Spotted Crakes, two Red-necked Phalaropes, Marsh Warbler and Short-toed Lark were all logged in Britain and Ireland, along with the exceptional numbers of Lapland Buntings.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 4th September 2010  
  Three Arctic Warblers were discovered on Shetland today, with two on the Mainland and one on Out Skerries, one of which (at Scatness) was with a Greenish Warbler. A Booted Warbler was further south, at Grimston, Yorkshire, with a Great Snipe present nearby at Spurn Point. A Semipalmated Sandpiper was discovered on the estuary at Blennerville, County Kerry, where it joined the lingering American Herring Gull. An Aquatic Warbler was trapped at Steart, Somerset and a Whiskered Tern was seen briefly at Annesley, Nottinghamshire.

New American Golden Plovers were in County Cork, Argyll and on the Western Isles, and there was a significant arrival of Ortolan Buntings in the south-west, including at least five together at Nanquidno, Cornwall and singles at Polgigga, Cornwall, on Bryher, Isles of Scilly, on Bardsey Island, Gwynedd and at Galley Head, County Cork.

Lingering rarity highlights included House Finch in Devon, Citrine Wagtails on Scilly and in Cornwall, Snowy Owl in County Mayo, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Lothian and Whiskered Tern in Leicestershire. Scarcity totals included 13 Common Rosefinches, c27 Wrynecks, seven Melodious Warblers, five Icterine Warblers, c25 Barred Warblers, Marsh Warbler, Bluethroat, Woodchat Shrike, six Red-backed Shrikes and a Short-toed Lark.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 3rd September 2010  
  A Citrine Wagtail and at least one Ortolan Bunting were found near Nanquidno in Cornwall this morning. Elsewhere a second Ortolan Bunting was found at Mizen Head in County Cork which joined an impressive list of birds at this site including Woodchat Shrike, Icterine Warbler, Barred Warbler and Wryneck. A drake Ferruginous Duck was at Pitsford Reservoir in Northamptonshire and a new Glossy Ibis was at Lough Atedaun in County Clare in addition to four others present in Ireland: two at Shannon in County Clare, one in County Dublin and one in County Wexford.

In East Yorkshire the Eastern Olivaceous Warbler remained at Flamborough, although it proved very elusive this afternoon. In Leicestershire, the Whiskered Tern was still to be found at Rutland Water, and in County Durham the Bonaparte's Gull moved to Seaham for a while. Two Greenish Warblers were still in the north east this morning but could not be found this afternoon. Other lingering rarities included American Golden Plovers in Orkney and County Clare and the Long-billed Dowitcher in Flintshire.

Scarcities included 15 Wrynecks, 12 Barred Warblers, 6.Icterine Warblers, 3 Spotted Crakes and 3 Red-necked Phalaropes. A movement of Common Buzzards along the east coast included a record 70 over Spurn.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Thursday 2nd September 2010  
  An Ortolan Bunting was discovered at Mizen Head, County Cork, where it was present on Three Castles Head with a Woodchat Shrike. New Greenish Warblers were at Spurn Point, Yorkshire and South Shields, County Durham, an Azorean Yellow-legged Gull was at Blennerville, County Kerry and a White-rumped Sandpiper was at Ballycotton, County Cork.

In Yorkshire, the elusive Eastern Olivaceous Warbler occasionally showed well at Flamborough Head. Other lingering rarities included Whiskered Tern at Rutland Water, Leicestershire, Semipalmated Sandpiper at Tyninghame Bay, Lothian, Greenish Warbler on St Mary's Island, Northumberland, American Herring Gull in County Kerry and American Golden Plover in County Clare.

The impressive influx of Lapland Buntings continued, with at least 375 seen, including birds filtering as far south as the Isles of Scilly, County Wexford (5) and Norfolk.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 1st September 2010  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of an Eastern Olivaceous Warbler at Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire. Found during the morning and present until late in the evening, this popular rarity represents the eighteenth record of the species in Britain and Ireland and the first ever in Northern England; an earlier record of this species from Flamborough Head (on 22nd October 1976) is no longer accepted. Elsewhere, a Citrine Wagtail was located in the Isles of Scilly on St Agnes, and an Aquatic Warbler was found at Slimbridge, Gloucestershire.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised the Whiskered Tern in Leicestershire, the Semiplamated Sandpiper in Lothian, Greenish Warbler in Northumberland, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset, Glossy Ibis in County Wexford, single American Golden Plovers in both County Clare and the Orkney Isles, and in East Yorkshire the probable Collared Flycatcher remained at Spurn.

Scarce migrants included a total of 199 Lapland Buntings spread across eleven counties (including 123 on the Western Isles alone), seven Wrynecks, six Barred Warblers, five Icterine Warblers, four Red-backed Shrikes, three Meldoious Warblers and single Woodchat Shrike, Common Rosefinch and Hoopoe.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 31st August 2010  
  New discoveries included an Arctic Warbler on Fair Isle (Shetland), Ortolan Bunting at Rainham Marshes RSPB (London) and Greenish Warbler at St Mary's Island (Northumberland).

A Semipalmated Sandpiper in Lothian, Ortolan Bunting on Isles of Scilly, Bonaparte's Gull in Co Durham, American Golden Plover on Orkney, Glossy Ibises in Co Wexford and Co Clare, American Herring Gull in Co Kerry and probable Collared Flycatcher in East Yorkshire all lingered.

The best of the rest included a flyover Black Kite in London, at least 144 Lapland Buntings, fourteen Barred Warblers, seven Wrynecks, four Red-backed Shrikes, three Red-necked Phalaropes, two Pectoral Sandpipers, two White Storks, Spotted Crake, Short-toed Lark, Melodious Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Common Rosefinch and Richard's Pipit.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA