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 25th September 2010  
  In Norfolk an Empidonax flycatcher was discovered on Blakeney Point, where it showed into the evening. This species group is notoriously difficult to identify but photos posted on the internet this evening seem to suggest the bird is most likely an Alder Flycatcher or Willow Flycatcher.

In Argyll a Northern Parula was on Tiree, the first record for Scotland.

Elsewhere new rarities came in the form of Greenish Warbler in Cornwall and Great Reed Warbler in Devon, whilst in Ireland a Lesser Yellowlegs joined the Baird's Sandpiper and Wilson's Phalarope at Tacumshin (Co Wexford), a White-rumped Sandpiper arrived in Co Kerry and Blue-winged Teals were discovered in Co Kerry (2) and Co Waterford.

The House Crow lingered in Co Cork and the King Eider was still in Suffolk.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 24th September 2010  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on the Farne Islands, Northumberland, whilst another remained in the Orkney Isles, as did the House Crow in County Cork, Whiskered Tern in Cheshire, Baird's Sandpiper and Wilson's Phalarope together in County Wexford, Wilson's Phalarope in County Wicklow, Spotted Sandpipers in both Devon and the Isles of Scilly, Long-billed Dowitcher in Flintshire, King Eider in Suffolk, three Ferruginous Ducks together in Somerset, Ross's Geese in Dumfriesshire and Lothian (2) and six Glossy Ibises spread across four counties. A Lesser Scaup was identified in Warwickshire at Draycote Water.

On the Shetland Isles both the American Buff-bellied Pipit and Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll remained on Fair Isle with a supporting cast around the archipelago of two Arctic Warblers, Little Bunting, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, two Barred Warblers, two Common Rosefinches, 125 Lapland Buntings, seven Greenland Redpolls and a Grey-headed Wagtail.

Seawatching from North Sea coasts proved productive with maxima comprising 10 Long-tailed Skuas (East Yorkshire), two Sabine's Gulls (Kent, Lincolnshire and Norfolk), two Leach's Petrels (Norfolk), thirty Pomarine Skuas (Lincolnshire) and 627 Great Skuas (Norfolk).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 23rd September 2010  
  Shetland once again produced a fine selection of rarities, which included Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler, Citrine Wagtail and Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on Fair Isle, as well as two Arctic Warblers on Mainland, at Sumburgh Head and Kergord.

Elsewhere new rarities included Blue-winged Teal in Cheshire, Citrine Wagtail on Lewis (Western Isles), Red-footed Falcon in Cambridgeshire and Little Bunting on Tresco (Isles of Scilly). A third Ferruginous Duck arrived at Chew Valley Lake (Somerset).

Lingering goodies came in the form of Whiskered Tern (Cheshire), Spotted Sandpipers (Devon and Isles of Scilly), Ortolan Bunting (Dorset), Wilson's Phalaropes (Kent and Co Wicklow), King Eider (Suffolk), Glossy Ibises (Devon and Somerset), Ross's Goose (Dumfries and Galloway). House Crow (Co Cork) and White-rumped Sandpiper (Kent).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 22nd September 2010  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Brown Flycatcher on the Shetland Isles at Sumburgh Head. Elsewhere around that archipelago were a Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler, American Buff-bellied Pipit, Citrine Wagtail and Buff-breasted Sandpiper (all on Fair Isle), Bluethroat, Ring-necked Duck, five Barred Warblers, six Yellow-browed Warblers, seven Common Rosefinches and 27 Lapland Buntings.

Elsewhere, lingering rarities included the Whiskered Tern in Cheshire, House Finch in Devon, King Eider in Suffolk, Spotted Sandpipers in both Devon and the Isles of Scilly, Baird's Sandpiper in County Wexford, Wilson's Phalarope in County Waterford, Ortolan Buntings in Dorset (2), Ross's Geese in Dumfrieshre and Lothian (2), White-rumped Sandpiper in Kent, American Golden Plover on the Orkney Isles, Ferruginous Ducks in Somerset (2) and single Glossy Ibises in Devon, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire.

Away from the Shetland Isles, scarcities comprised 158 Lapland Buntings, twenty Pectoral Sandpipers, eight Buff-breasted Sandpipers, five each of Common Rosefinch, Wryneck and Yellow-browed Warbler, three Great White Egrets, two each of Spotted Crake, Red-backed Shrike and Ring-billed Gull, and single White-winged Black Tern (Northumberland), Rose-coloured Starling (Cornwall), Purple Heron (Norfolk), Red-necked Phalarope (Essex), Barred Warbler (East Yorkshire), Ring-necked Duck (Somerset), Cattle Egret (Cambridgeshire)
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 21st September 2010  
  A quieter day today, with new rarities comprising just two Glossy Ibises (at Ynyslas, Ceredigion and Breydon Water, Norfolk; neither of which lingered), five Ortolan Buntings (three on Portland, Dorset and singles at Sennen, Cornwall and St.Mary's, Isles of Scilly) and a Tawny Pipit was heard flying over Sennen early morning. A Ross's Goose was present for its fifth day at Caerlaverock WWT, Dumfries and Galloway.

In Cleveland, the adult Sharp-tailed Sandpiper was still in Greatham Creek all day, and the American Buff-bellied Pipit remained on Fair Isle, Shetland.. Other rarity highlights included single Spotted Sandpipers in Devon and Scilly, Wilson's Phalarope and White-rumped Sandpiper in Kent, two Blue-winged Teals in County Wexford, King Eider in Suffolk, Whiskered Tern in Cheshire, House Finch in Devon and three Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls on the Northern Isles.

Scarcity totals were headlined by two Red-breasted Flycatchers, seven Barred Warblers, eight Common Rosefinches, six Wrynecks, a Woodchat Shrike, six Red-backed Shrikes, ten Buff-breasted Sandpipers, two Spotted Crakes, a White-winged Black Tern, a Cattle Egret and two Dotterel.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Monday 20th September 2010  
  The first American passerines of the Autumn were discovered today, the highlight being a Bobolink in Glamorgan. This bird was found late afternoon at Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir, near Port Talbot, where it remained elusive all evening. An American Buff-bellied Pipit on Fair Isle, Shetland continues this species' now regular appearances in Britain and Ireland in Autumn. Other Megas today included an adult Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Greatham Creek, Cleveland this evening, and a River Warbler at Quendale, Shetland.

Two new Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls were found on Shetland and Orkney, with up to five birds lingering on the former. A Citrine Wagtail was on Yell, Shetland, and an Ortolan Bunting remained for its second day on Fair Isle, with another at Hengistbury Head, Dorset. Other new rarities included Spotted Sandpiper on the Exe Estuary, Devon, an American Golden Plover at Carrahane, County Kerry, a White-billed Diver in Ardmore Harbour, County Waterford and a second Glossy Ibis joined the one at pit 95 of the Cotswold Water Park in Wiltshire.

Other rarity highlights included Whiskered Tern in Cheshire, House Crow in County Cork, House Finch in Devon, Wilson's Phalarope in Kent, Spotted Sandpiper on the Isles of Scilly, King Eider in Suffolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in Flintshire and Blue-winged Teal in County Galway.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 19th September 2010  
  New discoveries today were headlined by five Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls on the Shetland Isles, and, with the newly arrived Pink-footed Geese, three Ross's Geese (two together in Lothian and one over-flying Lincolnshire) and in Aberdeenshire a Small Canada Goose.

American waders consisted of 23 Pectoral Sandpipers, 10 Buff-breasted Sandpipers, three White-rumped Sandpipers, two each of Wilson's Phalarope, Lesser Yellowlegs and American Golden Plover, and single Baird's Sandpiper (County Wexford) and Spotted Sandpiper (Isles of Scilly). Associated with these waders were three Blue-winged Teals in Ireland (two in County Wexford , one in County Cork).

Lingering rarities comprised the Whiskered Tern still in Cheshire, King Eider in Suffolk, American Herring Gull in County Kerry, House Crow in County Cork, House Finch in Devon, single Ferruginous Ducks in both Bedfordshire and Somerset and Glossy Ibises in Devon, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire.

Scarcities included 431 Lapland Buntings, eight Wrynecks, six each of Barred Warbler and Red-backed Shrike, five Common Rosefinches (all on the Shetland Isles), two each of Ring-billed Gull and Great White Egret, a Melodious Warbler (Shetland Isles), White-winged Black Tern (Orkney Isles), Richard's Pipit (East Yorkshire), Red-necked Phalarope (Lancashire), Spotted Crake (Suffolk) and White Stork (West Sussex).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 18th September 2010  
  A Whiskered Tern in Cheshire, Red-rumped Swallow in Dorset, Red-footed Falcon in Kent and Lesser Yellowlegs on Western Isles were all discovered today.

In East Yorkshire a Fea's Petrel was tracked flying south past Grimston and Kilnsea, before it flew back north past Easington.

Ireland produced the lingering House Crow, along with a flock of seven Blue-winged Teals (including a flock of five in Co Mayo), Semipalmated Sandpiper in Co Kerry, American Golden Plover, Wilson's Phalarope and Baird's Sandpiper in Co Wexford, Woodchat Shrike in Co Cork and Snowy Owl in Co Mayo.

Lingering rarities included House Finch in Devon, Spotted Sandpiper on Isles of Scilly, King Eider in Suffolk, Wilson's Phalarope in Kent, Ortolan Bunting in Cornwall and White-rumped Sandpiper in Kent. At least ten Glossy Ibises were also recorded, along with Spotted Crake in Suffolk, Red-necked Phalarope in Lancashire, Red-breasted Flycatcher on Shetland and White-winged Black Tern in Northumberland.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 17th September 2010  
  Newly discovered rarities today comprised a Citrine Wagtail on the Shetland Isles, Red-throated Pipit and Ortolan Bunting together in Cornwall, single Glossy Ibises in each of County Londonderry, Northamptonshire and Somerset, and in Ireland a Long-billed Dowitcher in County Galway, an American Golden Plover in County Cork and a White-rumped Sandpiper in County Kerry.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present included the House Crow in County Cork, House Finch and three Glossy Ibises in Devon, Snowy Owl on the Western Isles, Spotted Sandpiper on the Isles of Scilly, King Eider in Suffolk, American Golden Plover on the Orkney Isles, White-rumped Sandpiper in Kent, two Ferruginous Ducks together in Somerset, and in County Wexford a Wilson's Phalarope, two Blue-winged Teals and two Glossy Ibises all noted at Tacumshin.

Scarcities were represented by 25 Pectoral Sandpipers, 10 Buff-breasted Sandpipers, nine Long-tailed Skuas, six Wrynecks, five Sabine's Gulls, four Great White Egrets, three each of Common Rosefinch and Red-backed Shrike, and single Rose-coloured Starling (Cornwall), Woodchat Shrike (County Cork), American Wigeon (Gwynedd), Snow Goose (Dumfries and Galloway), Hoopoe (Pembrokeshire), Purple Heron and Red-necked Phalarope (both Lancashire).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 16th September 2010  
  Attention again turned to the sea, with most of the action focussed around North Wales and The Wirral. However, the headline seabird was seen in Cornwall, a Barolo Little Shearwater that lingered off St Ives Island for ten minutes early afternoon. Another Barolo Little Shearwater was reported off Rhos Point (Conwy). Impressive Leach's Petrel counts included 341 past Leasowe (Wirral) and at least 240 past Rhos Point (Conwy), whilst smaller numbers of Long-tailed Skuas, Sabine's Gulls and Grey Phalaropes were also record.

New discoveries included a White-rumped Sandpiper in Kent, Red-rumped Swallow in Hampshire, two Blue-winged Teals and a Wilson's Phalarope in Co Wexford, American Golden Plover in West Sussex and Citrine Wagtail on Orkney. A flock of 19 Glossy Ibises flew over Catford (London).

A Spotted Sandpiper and Greenish Warbler on Isles of Scilly, House Crow in Co Cork, House Finch in Devon, Arctic Warbler in Norfolk, King Eider in Suffolk, Whiskered Tern in Leicestershire and Black Duck in Co Kerry all lingered.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA