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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Monday 11th October 2010  
  Today, on the Scilly Isles the Western Black-eared Wheatear remained as did American Golden Plover, Tawny Pipit, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Common Rosefinch, Yellow-browed Warbler, two Wrynecks, three Little Buntings and five each of both Red-breasted Flycatcher and Lapland Bunting.

On the Shetland Isles the American Buff-bellied Pipit remained alongside Blyth's Reed, Western Bonelli's, Radde's and Dusky Warblers, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll, Olive-backed Pipit, Spotted and Buff-breasted Sandpipers, Shorelark, two Common Rosefinches, three each of Barred Warbler and Great Grey Shrike, seven Greenland Redpolls, 13 Yellow-browed Warblers and 67 Lapland Buntings.

Elsewhere, Nearctic landbirds comprised a Hermit Thrush still on the Western Isles, Myrtle Warblers in both County Cork and County Galway, Bobolink again in Pembrokeshire and Red-eyed Vireos in Cleveland and the Western Isles (2). Nearctic waders included Solitary Sandpiper (Devon), Baird's Sandpiper (Essex), Lesser Yellowlegs (County Wexford) and two Wilson's Phalaropes (Norfolk and County Wicklow). Rare passerines from Eurasia comprised five Red-flanked Bluetails (Lothian, Norfolk (2), Northumberland and the Orkney Isles), Paddyfield Warbler and Red-throated Pipit (together in County Clare), Penduline Tit (Devon), two Dusky Warblers (Northumberland and North Yorkshire), Little Bunting (East Yorkshire) and either a Pied or Eastern Black-eared Wheatear on the Orkney Isles. The best of the rest included the Green Heron still in Cornwall, House Crow in County Cork, Squacco Heron in Pembrokeshire, Lesser Scaup in Warwickshire, King Eiders in both Moray and Suffolk, three Ferruginous Ducks together in Suffolk, Ross's Goose in Dumfries and Glossy Ibises in Devon (2), Dumfries, Kent (7) and County Tyrone.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 10th October 2010  
  Another Mega day produced several Mega rarities - another Hermit Thrush on South Uist, Western Isles (the Barra bird found yesterday also remained on show), another Myrtle Warbler in Ireland (this time in Co Galway - the Co Cork bird also lingered), Isabelline Wheatear in Suffolk and Solitary Sandpiper in Devon.

New discoveries included Red-flanked Bluetail in Cleveland, Dusky Warblers in Northumberland and Cleveland, Red-throated Pipits in Co Cork (2), Isles of Scilly and Essex, Black-throated Thrush, Ortolan Bunting and Citrine Wagtail on Shetland, Paddyfield Warbler in Co Clare, Radde's Warbler in East Yorkshire and Northumberland, Olive-backed Pipit on Fair Isle, Red-eyed Vireo on Western Isles, Squacco Heron in Pembrokeshire, Black Kite in Kent, Daurian Shrike in Lincolnshire, Pied Wheatear on Orkney, three Little Buntings on Isles of Scilly and Black Kite in Co Donegal.

Lingering rarities included Black-eared Wheatear on Isles of Scilly, Red-flanked Bluetail in Northumberland, Olive-backed Pipit and Wilson's Phalarope in Norfolk, Baird's Sandpiper in Essex and Green Heron in Cornwall.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 9th October 2010  
  A sensational selection of new birds included several Megas - Hermit Thrush on Barra (Western Isles; only the fourth Scottish record, and the first away from Shetland or Fair Isle), Yellow-breasted Bunting briefly on Dursey Island (Co Cork), Black-eared Wheatear on Isles of Scilly and a brief Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler in Whitburn (Co Durham).

The east coast was riddled with rarities, including three Red-flanked Bluetails (two in Northumberland and one in Norfolk), four Radde's Warblers (two in Norfolk and singles in Aberdeenshire and North Yorkshire), four Little Buntings (three in East Yorkshire and one in Fife) two Dusky Warblers in Northumberland, two Rustic Buntings (in East Yorkshire and Cleveland) and Olive-backed Pipit in Norfolk.

Elsewhere a Dusky Warbler, Little Bunting and Penduline Tit were located in Kent and an Olive-backed Pipit was on Western Isles.

Shetland hosted Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler, Lanceolated Warbler, Citrine Wagtail, two Dusky Warblers, Sykes's Warbler, Olive-backed Pipit and Ortolan Bunting.

In addition to the aforementioned Black-eared Wheatear, Isles of Scilly produced Little Bunting and American Golden Plover.

In Ireland the House Crow and Myrtle Warbler lingered in Co Cork, where a Black Kite was also discovered, an American Golden Plover and Lesser Yellowlegs lingered in Co Galway, the Wilson's Phalarope was still in Co Wicklow, Blue-winged Teals were in Co Limerick and Co Clare, Long-billed Dowitcher in Co Waterford and American Golden Plover in Co Kerry.

Lingering rarities included Baird's Sandpiper and Semipalmated Sandpiper in Essex, Wilson's Phalarope in Norfolk, Green Heron in Cornwall, House Finch and Spotted Sandpiper in Devon and Long-billed Dowitcher in Flintshire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 8th October 2010  
  The big news of the day was the discovery of the second Bobolink of the year, this time in Pembrokeshire on Skomer Island. A third was also possibly seen at St David's Head, also Pembrokeshire, but was only seen briefly. Other new arrivals included Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and Rustic Bunting in Orkney, on South Ronaldsay and Sanday respectively, Rustic Bunting at Kilnsea, Yorkshire, Radde's Warbler at Tynemouth, Northumberland, King Eider at Burghead, Moray and Red-throated Pipit at Prawle Point, Devon.

Shetland highlights included two Red-flanked Bluetails, Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler, Dusky Warbler and Radde's Warbler, whilst lingering rarities there included Syke's Warbler, Black-headed Bunting and Citrine Wagtail.

The Myrtle Warbler remained in County Cork, as did the Green Heron in Cornwall, single Wilson's Phalaropes in Norfolk and County Wicklow, Semipalmated Sandpiper and Baird's Sandpiper in Essex, King Eider in Suffolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in Flintshire and Spotted Sandpiper in Devon.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 7th October 2010  
  On Scilly a first winter Black-headed Bunting was found on St. Agnes this afternoon and a Little Bunting was seen briefly on St.Mary's. Elsewhere American waders were the main finds of the day, with a White-rumped Sandpiper at Walmsley in Cornwall, a Baird's Sandpiper at Holland Haven in Essex and an American Golden Plover at Shannon in County Offaly. On Orkney there is an Olive-backed Pipit for its second day at Deerness on Mainland.

In Cornwall the Green Heron was still to be found at the Lost Gardens of Heligan, and in County Cork, both the Myrtle Warbler on Cape Clear and the Red-eyed Vireo at Firkeel, were still present. On Shetland lingering rarities included a confiding Lanceolated Warbler on Unst along with 2 Little Buntings, a Blyth's Reed Warbler on Fetlar and a Sykes's Warbler on Mainland.

On Scilly the American Golden Plover was still on St.Mary's along with a Buff-breasted Sandpiper and elsewhere the Semi-palmated Sandpiper and a Pectoral Sandpiper could both still be found at Abberton Reservoir in Essex. Other lingering rarities included Wilson's Phalaropes in Norfolk and in County Wicklow, American Golden Plovers in Yorkshire and County Kerry, Black Duck in County Mayo, King Eider in Suffolk, Lesser Scaup in Warwickshire, Spotted Sandpiper in Devon, House Crow in County Cork and four Glossy Ibises - three in Devon and one in Dorset. There are now three Buff-breasted Sandpipers at Scotney on the Kent/Sussex border with a further three in Shetland, and singles in Argyll and Cornwall.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Wednesday 6th October 2010  
  The highlight of the day was discovery of a Green Heron in Cornwall at Pentewan. In County Cork a Red-eyed Vireo was new at Firkeel Glen and in County Galway an American Golden Plover was located at Truska.

Around the Shetland Isles, Fetlar hosted both Sykes's Warbler and Blyth's Reed Warbler, Mainland held Sykes's Warbler and American Buff-bellied Pipit, Unst both Lanceolated Warbler and Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and Out Skerries Black-headed Bunting and Citrine Wagtail, with an around the islands supporting cast of Red-breasted Flycatcher, Bluethroat, Honey Buzzard, two Barred Warblers, three each of Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Greenland Redpoll, 13 Yellow-browed Warblers and 133 Lapland Buntings.

On the Isles of Scilly both the Spotted Sandpiper and American Golden Plover remained whilst, on Tresco, a Tundra Peregrine was a new discovery. Elsewhere on the archipelago were Spotted Crake, Wryneck, Spoonbill, two each of Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Pectoral Sandpiper, and 23 Lapland Buntings.

Otherwise, lingering rarities comprised both the Myrtle Warbler and House Crow still in County Cork, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Essex, Wilson's Phalaropes in both Norfolk and County Wicklow, American Golden Plover in North Yorkshire, Spotted Sandpiper in Devon, Lesser Yellowlegs on the Western Isles, Lesser Scaup in Warwickshire, Ross's Goose in Cumbria, Glossy Ibises in Devon (3) and Dorset, and single Ferruginous Ducks in Somerset, Suffolk and West Yorkshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 5th October 2010  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Myrtle Warbler in County Cork on Cape Clear: only the twenty-ninth record for the British Isles but the tenth for Cape Clear; where the last was present on 30th-31st October 2005. The Myrtle Warbler follows four American Buff-bellied Pipits (Shetland Isles, Orkney Isles and County Galway), a Bobolink (Glamorgan), an Alder or Willow Flycatcher (Norfolk), Northern Parula (Argyll) and Swainson's Thrush (Shetland Isles) as the ninth Nearctic landbird to be found so far this autumn.

On the Shetland Isles the Sykes's Warbler and American Buff-bellied Pipit remained on Mainland, as did Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and two Little Buntings on Unst, Black-headed Bunting and Citrine Wagtail on Out Skerries, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Red-backed Shrike and Great Grey Shrike, two each of both Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Barred Warbler, four Yellow-browed Warblers and 21 Lapland Buntings.

On the Scilly Isles an American Golden Plover arrived alongside Spotted Sandpiper, Rustic Bunting, Pectoral Sandpiper, Yellow-browed Warbler, three Wrynecks and six Lapland Buntings.

Elsewhere, rarities comprised a brief Red-rumped Swallow in Lincolnshire, Siberian Stonechat in Cornwall, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Essex, Wilson's Phalaropes in both Norfolk and County Wicklow, Spotted Sandpiper in Devon, American Golden Plover in East Yorkshire, King Eider in Suffolk, Lesser Scaup in Warwickshire, Glossy Ibis in Dorset, Ferruginous Ducks in both Somerset and West Yorkshire and single Ross's Geese in both Angus and Cumbria.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 4th October 2010  
  In Shetland, the Channerwick Booted Warbler was re-identified as a Sykes's Warbler today. It remained elusive, with most views being of it in flight. Elsewhere in Shetland the Black-headed Bunting and Citrine Wagtail remained on Out Skerries (with another of the latter still at Sandwick, Mainland), Radde's Warbler at Sumburgh, American Buff-bellied Pipit at Esha Ness, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and two Little Buntings on Unst and another Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on Fair Isle.

Further south, new discoveries included a Rustic Bunting in Isles of Scilly, a Ross's Goose in Angus and both Red-throated Pipit and Red-footed Falcon on Portland, Dorset.

Rare waders recorded included single Wilson's Phalaropes in Norfolk and County Wexford, single Lesser Yellowlegs' in Western Isles and County Wexford, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Essex, single Spotted Sandpipers in Isles of Scilly and Devon and single American Golden Plovers in Yorkshire and County Kerry. Two Blue-winged Teals remained in County Wexford, four Glossy Ibises were in Devon (3) and Dorset and the Siberian Stonechat was still at Nanquidno Valley, Cornwall.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 3rd October 2010  
  Once again the Shetland Isles produced an exceptional selection of birds with, on the Mainland, Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler and Swainson's Thrush at Levenwick, American Buff-bellied Pipit at Esha Ness, Booted Warbler at Channerwick, Radde's Warbler at Sumburgh and Citrine Wagtail at Sandwick, whilst off-island reports included Lanceolated Warbler, Black-headed Bunting and Citrine Wagtail on Out Skerries, Lanceolated Warbler, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and Little Bunting on Fair Isle, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and three Little Buntings on Unst and a White-billed Diver was in Bluemull Sound. Scarcities around the archipelago comprised Marsh Warbler, Bluethroat, Great Grey Shrike, two each of Short-toed Lark, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Barred Warbler and Common Rosefinch, three Buff-breasted Sandpipers, seven Yellow-browed Warblers, 27 Greenland Redpolls and 256 Lapland Buntings.

On the Isles of Scilly the Spotted Sandpiper remained alongside Barred Warbler, Pectoral Sandpiper, Spotted Crake, Spoonbill and nine Lapland Buntings.

Elsewhere, new discoveries included a Semipalmated Sandpiper in Essex at Abberton Reservoir, Baird's Sandpiper in County Kerry at Carrahane Strand, Lesser Yellowlegs on the Western Isles on South Uist, Ferruginous Duck in Suffolk at Lackford Lakes and single American Golden Plovers in both the Orkney Isles in Deerness and in East Yorkshire at Great Heck.

Other lingering rarities in Britain were the Rustic Bunting in East Yorkshire, Wilson's Phalarope in Norfolk, King Eider in Suffolk, Siberian Stonechat in Cornwall, Lesser Scaup in Warwickshire, Ross's Goose in Dumfries and Galloway, and Glossy Ibises in both Devon (3) and Dorset. In Ireland both American Buff-bellied Pipit and Blue-winged Teal were in County Galway, Wilson's Phalarope, Lesser Yellowlegs and two Blue-winged Teals together in County Wexford, House Crow in County Cork and Black Duck in County Mayo.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 2nd October 2010  
  Stunning news concerned a dead Rufous-tailed Robin picked up on North Ronaldsay, Orkney Isles - only the second British record. Other new rarities discovered today included a Baikal Teal in Essex at Maldon, an American Buff-bellied Pipit in County Galway at Truska, Black-throated Thrush in Highland at Melvich, Red-breasted Goose between Hampshire and West Sussex, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll in County Cork at Three Castles Head, Wilson's Phalarope in Norfolk at Welney, White-rumped Sandpiper in County Wexford at Tacumshin and a Siberian Stonechat in Cornwall at Nanquidno.

Once again the Shetland Isles stood out today with a Swainson's Thrush, American Buff-bellied Pipit, Blyth's Reed Warbler, two Booted Warblers and Radde's Warbler all on Mainland, Lanceolated Warbler and Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on Fair Isle, Black-headed Bunting, Olive-backed Pipit and Citrine Wagtail on Out Skerries, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on Unst and Red-throated Pipit on Whalsay with a supporting cast of Corncrake, two Short-toed Larks, three each of Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Common Rosefinch, four Little Buntings, five Bluethroats, six Red-breasted Flycatchers, 11 Barred Warblers, 32 Yellow-browed Warblers and 181 Lapland Buntings.

Meanwhile on the Scilly Isles the Spotted Sandpiper remains alongside Woodchat Shrike, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Pectoral Sandpiper, two Lapland Buntings and a Spoonbill.

Elsewhere, lingering rarities comprised the House Crow in County Cork, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll in Northumberland, American Herring Gull in County Kerry, Spotted Sandpiper in Devon, King Eider in Suffolk, Lesser Scaup in Warwickshire, Glossy Ibises in County Wexford (3), Devon (3) and Dorset, two Ferruginous Ducks together in Somerset and Ross's Geese in Lothian (2) and Dumfries and Galloway.
-  Chris Batty, RBA