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 1st October 2010  
  New rarities discovered today were at Little Shearwater in Cornwall off Porthgwarra, a Great Snipe in Suffolk at Covehithe, a Blyth's Reed Warbler on the Orkney Isles on North Ronaldsay with a Little Bunting on South Ronaldsay, a Ferruginous Duck in West Yorkshire at Wintersett Reservoir, and single Glossy Ibises over-flying both Denbighshire and Hampshire.

On the Shetland Isles the American Buff-bellied Pipit remained on Mainland where a Booted Warbler was found, an Olive-backed Pipit and Short-toed Lark were on Out Skerries and elsewhere around the archipelago were Little Bunting, Bluethroat, Lapland Bunting, three each of both Red-breasted Flycatcher and Greenland Redpoll, four Buff-breasted Sandpipers and 13 Yellow-browed Warblers.

On the Isles of Scilly the Spotted Sandpiper remained alongside Pectoral Sandpiper, two Yellow-browed Warblers and six Lapland Buntings.

Elsewhere, lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised a Snowy Owl still on the Western Isles, House Crow in County Cork, American Herring Gull in County Kerry, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll in Northumberland, Spotted Sandpiper in Devon and Glossy Ibises in Devon (3) and County Tyrone.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 30th September 2010  
  Today the Shetland Isles stole the show with, on Mainland, River Warbler, American Buff-bellied Pipit, Arctic Warbler and Rustic Bunting and, on off-islands, Paddyfield Warbler, Little Bunting and Ortolan Bunting (Foula), Red-flanked Bluetail (Whalsay), American Buff-bellied Pipit, Olive-backed Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and Little Bunting (Fair Isle), Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll (Unst) and Little Bunting (Out Skerries), supported by 187 Lapland Buntings, 31 Yellow-browed Warblers, 10 Common Rosefinches, nine Red-breasted Flycatchers, seven Barred Warblers, five Bluethroats, four Buff-breasted Sandpipers, three Great Grey Shrike and single Short-toed Lark, Richard's Pipit, Corncrake and Greenland Redpoll.

Meanwhile, on the Scilly Isles the Spotted Sandpiper remained with single Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Wryneck, Yellow-browed Warbler and Spoonbill.

Elsewhere, new discoveries included Red-flanked Bluetail in Suffolk at Pakefield, Blyth's Reed Warbler in Aberdeenshire at Foveran, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cornwall at Colliford Lake, Red-footed Falcon in London over Rainham Marshes, Little Bunting in East Yorkshire at Buckton, Red-throated Pipit in County Kerry at Dunquin and, on the Orkney Isles, Blyth's Reed Warbler on North Ronaldsay, Little Bunting on Mainland and Ortolan Bunting on South Ronaldsay. Lingering rarities comprised the Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll in Northumberland, Whiskered Tern in Glamorgan, King Eider in Suffolk, Spotted Sandpiper in Devon, Wilson's Phalarope and Lesser Yellowlegs together in County Wexford, Wilson's Phalarope in Gloucestershire, Lesser Scaup in Warwickshire, White-rumped Sandpipers in both County Kerry and Kent, three Ferruginous Ducks together in Somerset, and Ross's Geese in both Lothian (2) and Dumfries and Galloway.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 29th September 2010  
  New rarities discovered today comprised a Gyr in Devon at Morte Point, a Wilson's Phalarope in Gloucestershire at Dowdeswell Reservoir, a Red-footed Falcon briefly in County Durham at Dawdon and single Little Buntings in Norfolk at Thornham, and on the Farne Islands, Northumberland.

Around the Shetland Isles two American Buff-bellied Pipits remained, as did two Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls, single Little Bunting, Short-toed Lark and Corncrake, two each of Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Red-breasted Flycatcher, five each of Bluethroat, Barred Warbler and Common Rosefinch, twelve each of Yellow-browed Warbler and Greenland Redpolls and 161 Lapland Buntings.

Meanwhile, on the Isles of Scilly the Spotted Sandpiper remained, as did a Pectoral Sandpiper, Yellow-browed Warbler, Spoonbill and three Wrynecks.

Elsewhere, lingering rarities comprised the Northern Parula in Argyll, House Crow in County Cork, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll in Northumberland, Whiskered Tern in Glamorgan, Spotted Sandpiper in Devon, Wilson's Phalarope and Lesser Yellowlegs together in County Wexford, Lesser Yellowlegs in Gwent, King Eider in Suffolk, Lesser Scaup in Warwickshire, Glossy Ibis in Dorset, White-rumped Sandpipers in both County Kerry and Kent, three Ferruginous Ducks together in Somerset and Ross's Geese in Lothian (2) and Dumfries and Galloway.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 28th September 2010  
  An excellent day on the east coast and the Northern Isles produced Red-flanked Bluetails in Suffolk, Fife and Shetland, Lanceolated Warbler, two Arctic Warblers and American Buff-bellied Pipit on Shetland, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Radde's Warbler and Red-throated Pipit in Norfolk, Red-throated Pipit on Orkney and Rustic Bunting in East Yorkshire.

In Argyll the Northern Parula lingered on Tiree, and in Gwent a Lesser Yellowlegs was discovered at Newport Wetlands. American Golden Plovers arrived on Western Isles and Co Kerry and in Co Cork the House Crow remained on show.

Elsewhere lingering rarities comprised Rustic Bunting, on Shetland, Spotted Sandpipers on Isles of Scilly and in Devon, Western Bonelli's Warbler in Norfolk, Whiskered Tern in Glamorgan, King Eider in Suffolk, Wilson's Phalarope in Co Wexford, Greenish Warbler in Cornwall, American Golden Plover in Co Cork, White-rumped Sandpiper in Kent, two Blue-winged Teals in Co Waterford, two Ferruginous Ducks in Somerset and Lesser Scaup in Warwickshire.

The best of the rest included a White-winged Black Tern in London, Hoopoe in Lancashire, Woodchat Shrike in Cleveland, Short-toed Lark on Shetland, Cattle Egret in Essex and Rose-coloured Starling in Co Cork.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 27th September 2010  
  Despite an arrival of migrants all down the east coast, it was the northern isles that stole the limelight today. New rarities on Shetland were as follows: 2.Red-flanked Bluetails and a Red-throated Pipit on Fair Isle; 2.Blyth's Reed Warblers, a Paddyfield Warbler and a Rustic Bunting on Mainland; a Siberian Stonechat on Fetlar and a new Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on Unst. There was also belated news of a Subalpine Warbler yesterday on Fair Isle. Orkney boasted an American Buff-bellied Pipit on Mainland and a Little Bunting on North Ronaldsay. Elsewhere new rarities included a Blyth's Reed Warbler in County Cork for its second day and a Savi's Warbler reported at East Hills at Wells, in Norfolk. A Little Bunting was at Spurn in Yorkshire and an American Golden Plover was at Ballycotton in County Cork. New Glossy Ibises were found in County Tyrone and Herefordshire.

The two Mega-rarities remained on show - the Alder or Willow Flycatcher at Blakeney Point (Norfolk) and Northern Parula on Tiree (Argyll). Other lingering rarities included American Buff-bellied Pipit on Fair Isle and Arctic Warbler on Mainland (both Shetland), Greenish Warbler in Cornwall, King Eider in Suffolk, Whiskered Tern in Glamorgan, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on the Farne Islands, Spotted Sandpipers in Devon and on Scilly and White-rumped Sandpiper in Kent. A White-winged Black Tern proved very popular at Hyde Park in London.

Among the large numbers of common migrants along the east coast were a good smattering of Yellow-browed Warblers, Barred Warblers, Wrynecks, Red-breasted Flycatchers, Great Grey Shrikes and Ring Ouzels.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Sunday 26th September 2010  
  Both of yesterday's new Mega-rarities remained on show - the Alder or Willow Flycatcher at Blakeney Point (Norfolk) and Northern Parula on Tiree (Argyll).

Elsewhere new rarities included a White's Thrush on Mainland Shetland, along with a Citrine Wagtail and Arctic Warbler, Radde's Warbler, Western Bonelli's Warbler and Whiskered Tern in Norfolk, Citrine Wagtail in Northumberland and Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on Orkney. In Ireland a Western Bonelli's Warbler, Baird's Sandpiper and four Blue-winged Teals were discovered.

Lingering rarities came in the form of House Crow (Co Cork), House Finch (Devon), Spotted Sandpipers (Isles of Scilly and Devon), Whiskered Tern (Glamorgan), Lesser Scaup (Warwickshire), Greenish Warbler (Cornwall), Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler (Shetland), Long-billed Dowitcher (Flintshire) and White-rumped Sandpiper (Kent).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
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