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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Saturday 11th September 2010  
  A Western Bonelli's Warbler at Bempton Cliffs RSPB, East Yorkshire proved very popular this afternoon, with another still on Whalsay, Shetland for its third day. A Thrush Nightingale was also on Shetland, on Foula, and an Ortolan Bunting was at Quendale, with another of the latter at Beachy Head, East Sussex. In Ireland, a Lesser Yellowlegs was on Achill Island, County Mayo, and two Wilson's Petrels flew past the Bridges of Ross, County Clare, amongst large numbers of scarce seabirds, which included a Great Shearwater, 170 Leach's Petrels, 35 Grey Phalaropes and a Pectoral Sandpiper amongst others.

Lingering rarities included the Daurian Shrike in Hampshire, Lesser Grey Shrike on Scilly, single Wilson's Phalaropes on Scilly and in Kent, Arctic Warbler in Norfolk, single Ortolan Buntings in Northumberland and Shetland, Broad-billed Sandpiper in Cleveland, Bonaparte's Gull in County Durham, Whiskered Tern in Leicestershire and 20 Glossy Ibises in Devon.

The first Yellow-browed Warbler of the autumn was on Shetland, with other scarcity highlights including two Spotted Crakes (Oxfordshire and County Durham), two Red-necked Phalaropes (Norfolk and Gloucestershire), Red-breasted Flycatcher (Shetland), Melodious Warbler (Cornwall), two White-winged Black Terns (Leicestershire and Cambridgeshire), Woodchat Shrike (County Cork), two Dotterels (Yorkshire and Cornwall) and twelve Buff-breasted Sandpipers in six counties.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 10th September 2010  
  An Isabelline Shrike of the form isabellinus, Daurian Shrike, was discovered at Gosport (Hampshire) this evening, but it was only positively identified from photographs after dark.

Elsewhere new discoveries included a presumed Western Bonelli's Warbler and Citrine Wagtail on North Ronaldsay (Orkney), Broad-billed Sandpiper at South Gare (Cleveland), Aquatic Warbler at Dungeness RSPB (Kent), Paddyfield Warbler and Ortolan Bunting on Mainland Shetland, White-rumped Sandpiper on Lewis (Western Isles) and Greenish Warbler on Isle of May (Fife).

Lingering rarities came in the form of Wilson's Phalaropes (Kent and Isles of Scilly), Lesser Grey Shrike (Isles of Scilly), Black Stork (Highland), Arctic Warbler (Norfolk), House Finch (Devon), Greenish Warbler (Northumberland), Ferruginous Duck (Northamptonshire) and twenty Glossy Ibises were still in Devon.

In Ireland a Spotted Sandpiper and White-rumped Sandpiper were both found at Leam Lough, Co Mayo, the American Herring Gull lingered in Co Kerry and flocks of Buff-breasted Sandpipers included groups of eight in Cork and at least five in Wexford.

The best of the rest included White-winged Black Terns in Cambridgeshire and Leicestershire, Great White Egrets in Kent and Nottinghamshire, Short-toed Lark on Fair Isle, three Buff-breasted Sandpipers on Isles of Scilly and Melodious Warbler in Cornwall.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
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