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 15th October 2010  
  New rarities found today were as follows: in Shetland a Red-flanked Bluetail at Troswick on Mainland; in Norfolk a Red-throated Pipit and a Little Bunting at Stiffkey; in Dorset a Red-throated Pipit at Portland; on Scilly a Subalpine Warbler at Kitty Down on St.Mary's and in Carmarthenshire a White-rumped Sandpiper at Kidwelly Quay. There were also new American Golden Plovers on the Western Isles and at Dawlish in Devon, plus a Lesser Yellowlegs in County Cork and a Glossy Ibis in Northumberland.

On the Western Isles the Hermit Thrush remained on Barra, with other popular lingering rarities including the Solitary Sandpiper in Devon, the Lesser Yellowlegs in Oxfordshire, the Green Heron in Cornwall and the Dusky Warbler in Northumberland.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Thursday 14th October 2010  
  A Hermit Thrush on Barra, Western Isles was discovered at Castlebay, where it remained all afternoon. A Steppe Grey Shrike was at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB, Aberdeenshire, and single Red-eyed Vireos were at Firkeel, County Cork and on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly. Other new arrivals single Red-throated Pipits in Yorkshire, Cleveland, County Cork and Cornwall (2), Lesser Yellowlegs at Port Meadow, Oxfordshire and a Red-breasted Goose at Martin Mere WWT, Lancashire.

Shetland highlights included a Red-flanked Bluetail at Kergord, Olive-backed Pipit on Unst and Radde's Warbler at Toab, along with Daurian Shrike, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Coues's Arctic Redpoll, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Little Bunting, Rose-coloured Starling, Short-toed Lark, two Great Grey Shrikes, Red-breasted Flycatcher, five Yellow-browed Warblers, Barred Warbler and three Little Auks. Scilly highlights included Red-eyed Vireo, Subalpine Warbler, American Golden Plover, Tawny Pipit, two Red-breasted Flycacthers, Rose-coloured Starling, Melodious Warbler, Icterine Warbler, two Wrynecks, Common Rosefinch, five Yellow-browed Warblers and a Tundra Peregrine.

Long staying rarity highlights included Solitary Sandpiper in Devon, Green Heron in Cornwall, Red-flanked Bluetail in Norfolk, Squacco Heron in Pembrokeshire and House Crow in County Cork.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 13th October 2010  
  On Scilly, an Olive-backed Pipit was present on St Mary's this evening, whilst a Red-throated Pipit was seen on Tresco mid morning. Another Red-throated Pipit was seen at Pendeen, Cornwall. Further east, a Little Bunting was at Ramsgate, Kent, and an Ortolan Bunting was at Landguard NR, Suffolk, whilst further north an American Golden Plover was at Keiss, Highland, briefly and a Coues's Arctic Redpoll and a Radde's Warbler were on Shetland. A King Eider was reported from North Ronaldsay, Orkney and a White-rumped Sandpiper was seen in County Kerry.

Lingering rarities included Myrtle Warbler in County Cork, Solitary Sandpiper in Devon, Green Heron in Cornwall, Western Black-eared Wheatear and Subalpine Warbler in Isles of Scilly, Pied Wheatear in Orkney, Squacco Heron in Pembrokeshire, Red-flanked Bluetail in Norfolk and Daurian Shrike, two Olive-backed Pipits, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and Western Bonelli's Warbler on Shetland.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 12th October 2010  
  Today's highlights on the Isles of Scilly were both Pied and Western Black-eared Wheatear, Subalpine Warbler, American Golden Plover, Little Bunting, Pectoral Sandpiper, two each of Icterine Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher and Common Rosefinch, four Wrynecks and five Yellow-browed Warblers. Meanwhile, on the Shetland Isles were Daurian Shrike, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Olive-backed Pipit, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll, Radde's Warbler, Dusky Warbler, Snow Goose, Short-toed Lark, Red-breasted Flycatcher, two each of Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Barred Warbler and Great Grey Shrike, three Shorelarks, five Greenland Redpolls, 10 Yellow-browed Warblers and 85 Lapland Buntings.
 
Elsewhere, rare passerines comprised, in County Cork Myrtle Warbler, American Buff-bellied Pipit, Red-eyed Vireo, Red-flanked Bluetail and House Crow, on the Western Isles two Red-eyed Vireos together, in Lincolnshire a brief Black-eared Wheatear, in Northumberland Red-flanked Bluetail, Olive-backed Pipit and Dusky Warbler, in Norfolk a Red-flanked Bluetail, in North Yorkshire a Dusky Warbler, in Hampshire two brief Penduline Tits, in Cleveland a Red-throated Pipit and in London an Ortolan Bunting flew over.
 
Other rarities included the Green Heron still in Cornwall, Solitary Sandpiper in Devon, Squacco Heron in Pembrokeshire, Baird's Sandpiper in Essex, Wilson's Phalaropes in both Norfolk and County Wicklow, Lesser Yellowlegs in County Galway, King Eider in Suffolk, single Lesser Scaups in both Dumfries and Warwickshire, Ferruginous Duck in Norfolk and Glossy Ibises in Devon, Dumfries and County Tyrone.
 
Significant late news concerned a Common Nighthawk present yesterday at Horden, County Durham but not found there today
-  Chris Batty, RBA
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