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 25th October 2010  
  A Red-flanked Bluetail was discovered on Skomer Island (Pembrokeshire) this afternoon. In Somerset Chew Valley Lake's fourth Ferruginous Duck of the autumn was located.

Lingering rarities included Green Heron and Red-throated Pipit in Cornwall, Lesser Yellowlegs in Oxfordshire, American Golden Plovers in Norfolk and Devon, Glossy Ibises in Norfolk and Devon, Subalpine Warbler and Little Bunting on Isles of Scilly, Squacco Heron in Pembrokeshire, King Eider in Suffolk and Ferruginous Duck in West Yorkshire.

Ireland hosted Lesser Yellowlegs in Co Wexford and two Blue-winged Teals and a White-rumped Sandpiper n Co Waterford.

Waxwings continued to flood into Britain; counts included 500 on Lewis (Western Isles), 250 in Stromness (Orkney), 200 in Inverness (Highland), 160 at Alness (Highland), 150 on Seil Island (Argyll), 150 at Kinloss (Moray), 140 at Udale Bay (Highland), 100 at Fort William (Highland) and 100 Kyle of Lochalsh (Highland).

In Suffolk an unidentified seabird, possibly a giant petrel species, flew slowly north past Dunwich this afternoon.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 24th October 2010  
  Today's discoveries included a Red-throated Pipit in Cornwall, Red-breasted Goose in Lancashire, Glossy Ibis in Norfolk, White-billed Diver in Shetland, Bonaparte's Gull in Co Durham and Little Bunting on Isles of Scilly.

Lingering rarities comprised two Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls and Black-throated Thrush on Shetland, American Golden Plover in Devon, Red-flanked Bluetail and King Eider in Suffolk, Lesser Yellowlegs in Oxfordshire, Green Heron in Cornwall, Subalpine Warbler on Isles of Scilly, Ferruginous Duck in West Yorkshire and Squacco Heron in Pembrokeshire.

In Ireland the American Buff-bellied Pipit, Long-billed Dowitcher and White-rumped Sandpiper remained in Co Waterford, two White-rumped Sandpipers and a Lesser Yellowlegs were still in Co Wexford and the House Crow and American Golden Plover lingered in Co Cork.

The Waxwing invasion gathered momentum, with the highest counts coming from Orkney (150 at Stromness), Highland (80 in Arisaig), Western Isles (75 on North Uist) and Argyll (75 on Jura).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 23rd October 2010  
  Quality rarities reported today included a Little Shearwater past Pendeen Watch, Cornwall, a Black-throated Thrush on Fair Isle, Shetland, a Penduline Tit at Dungeness RSPB, Kent and a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll at Toab, Shetland. A Glossy Ibis was seen a few times at Dunwich, Suffolk, but remained very mobile and elusive for much of the day.

In Cornwall, the Green Heron was seen mid morning at the Lost Gardens of Heligan, but not again by mid afternoon. Lingering rarities included single Red-flanked Bluetails at Hayling Island, Hampshire and St Martin's, Isles of Scilly, American Buff-bellied Pipit at Ballinclamper, County Waterford, two Penduline Tits at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, Squacco Heron at Angle Bay, Pembrokeshire, single Lesser Yellowlegs' at Port Meadow, Oxfordshire and Tacumshin, County Wexford, King Eider in Suffolk, two Glossy Ibises in Devon and singles in Anglesey and County Wexford, House Crow in County Cork and single American Golden Plovers in Devon and Norfolk.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 22nd October 2010  
  Lingering rarities included Red-flanked Bluetails in Suffolk, Hampshire and on Isles of Scilly, House Finch in Devon, two Penduline Tits in London, Lesser Yellowlegs in Oxfordshire, Green Heron in Cornwall, King Eider in Suffolk, Glossy Ibis on Anglesey, Squacco Heron in Pembrokeshire and American Golden Plover on Western Isles.

On Isles of Scilly, as well as the aforementioned Red-flanked Bluetail, a Subalpine Warbler was also recorded.

In Ireland the American Buff-bellied Pipit and Long-billed Dowitcher (Co Waterford), Blue-winged Teal, Lesser Yellowlegs and three White-rumped Sandpipers (Co Wexford) and American Golden Plover (Co Cork) all lingered.

The Rough-legged Buzzard invasion continued, with perhaps as many as 17 different birds being recorded today, mainly in East Anglia and Southeast England.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Thursday 21st October 2010  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of two Penduline Tits at Rainham Marshes, London, whilst in Gwynedd a Bonaparte's Gull flew past Bardsey Island.

On the Isles of Scilly the Red-flanked Bluetail remained alongside Subalpine Warbler, Little Bunting, Serin, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Common Rosefinch, Richard's Pipit, Spoonbill, nine Lapland Buntings and 13 Yellow-browed Warblers. Elsewhere, lingering rarities comprised the Green Heron still in Cornwall, Red-flanked Bluetails in both Hampshire and Suffolk, Squacco Heron in Pembrokeshire, Baird's Sandpiper in Essex, Lesser Yellowlegs in Oxfordshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in County Waterford, American Golden Plover in County Cork, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on the Shetland Isles, King Eiders in both Moray and Suffolk, Ferruginous Duck in West Yorkshire and two Richardson's Canada Geese in Argyll.

Scarcities included a Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Cornwall), Lesser Snow Goose (Dumfries and Galloway), Spotted Crake (Somerset), Ring-necked Duck (Buckinghamshire), Cattle Egret (Pembrokeshire), two Rose-coloured Starlings (East Sussex and Hampshire) and nine Rough-legged Buzzards across five counties.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 20th October 2010  
  News of the first Red-flanked Bluetail for Hampshire was released today, regarding a bird at Sandy Point, Hayling Island for the third day. It showed well until mid morning, before being elusive for the rest of the day. A Glossy Ibis was seen at RAF Valley, Anglesey (with another at Exminster Marshes RSPB, Devon), and a Radde's Warbler was belatedly reported from Cot Valley, Cornwall. Other new discoveries included Ortolan Bunting and American Golden Plover in Norfolk (at Titchwell RSPB and Cley/Langham area respectively), and single Little Buntings were on Cape Clear, County Cork and St Mary's, Isles of Scilly.

Long staying rarities included Green Heron in Cornwall, single Red-flanked Bluetails in Suffolk and Isles of Scilly, American Buff-bellied Pipit and Long-billed Dowitcher in County Waterford, Squacco Heron in Pembrokeshire, Subalpine Warbler in Isles of Scilly, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll in Shetland, King Eider in Suffolk, Lesser Yellowlegs in Oxfordshire, Baird's Sandpiper in Essex and House Crow in County Cork.

Scarcity highlights included Short-toed Lark, Melodious Warbler, Red-breasted Fly, Rose-coloured Starling, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Spotted Crake, Leach's Petrel, two Barred Warblers, two Honey Buzzards, two Cattle Egrets, two Ring-necked Ducks, three Richard's Pipits, three Pectoral Sandpipers, four Shorelarks, four Great White Egrets, four Grey Phalaropes, six Rough-legged Buzzards, six Great Grey Shrikes, 13 Yellow-browed Warblers and 53 Waxwings.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 19th October 2010  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of both a Grey-cheeked Thrush and a Red-flanked Bluetail on St Martin's, Isles of Scilly. Elsewhere around the archipelago was a Subalpine Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, two Richard's Pipits and five Lapland Buntings.

Rarities elsewhere comprised the Green Heron still in Cornwall, Red-eyed Vireo, House Crow and American Golden Plover all in County Cork, American Buff-bellied Pipit in County Waterford, Red-flanked Bluetail, King Eider and two Northern Long-tailed Tits in Suffolk, Baird's Sandpiper in Essex, Wilson's Phalarope in Kent, Lesser Yellowlegs in Oxfordshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in County Waterford, American Golden Plover and a brief Black Kite in Devon and Ferruginous Ducks in Somerset (2) and West Yorkshire.

Scarcities included seven Rough-legged Buzzards across five counties, three Pallas's Warblers (Cornwall and Norfolk), two Red-breasted Flycatchers (Devon and Norfolk), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Cornwall), Rose-coloured Starling (East Sussex), Serin (Kent), Spotted Crake (Somerset) and Common Rosefinch (Cornwall).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 18th October 2010  
  Discovery of the day was Black-throated Thrush in Bedfordshire, which flew over Sharpenhoe Clappers early this afternoon. On Lundy (Devon) a Red-flanked Bluetail was trapped and ringed.

Lingering passerines included Steppe Grey Shrike in Aberdeenshire, Northern Long-tailed Tits and Red-flanked Bluetail in Suffolk, American Buff-bellied Pipit in Co Waterford, and House Crow in Co Cork, rare waders comprised American Golden Plovers in Co Cork and Devon, Lesser Yellowlegs in Oxfordshire and Baird's Sandpiper in Essex and wildfowl included King Eider in Suffolk and Ferruginous Ducks in Suffolk and Somerset.

In Cornwall the Green Heron lingered at Lost Gardens of Heligan.

Isles of Scilly produced Subalpine Warbler, Little Bunting, American Golden Plover and Red-eyed Vireo.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 17th October 2010  
  New rarities came in the form of Red-flanked Bluetails in Norfolk and Suffolk, Red-throated Pipits on Shetland, London, Isles of Scilly, Cornwall and Cheshire, a couple of Northern Long-tailed Tits in Suffolk, Glossy Ibis in Devon and a Lesser Yellowlegs was reported in the West Midlands.

Lingering rarities included Green Heron in Cornwall, Steppe Grey Shrike in Aberdeenshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Oxfordshire, Baird's Sandpiper in Essex, Red-eyed Vireo, Subalpine Warbler and Radde's Warbler on Isles of Scilly. Wilson's Phalarope in Kent, Squacco Heron in Pembrokeshire, Dusky Warbler in North Yorkshire, King Eider in Suffolk, American Golden Plover in Devon, Lesser Scaup in Warwickshire and Blyth's Reed Warbler, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and Little Bunting on Fair Isle.

In Ireland a Buff-bellied Pipit was discovered in Co Waterford (where a Long-billed Dowitcher remained), the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper lingered in Co Dublin and an American Golden Plover, Red-eyed Vireo and House Crow were in Co Cork.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 16th October 2010  
  A Sharp-tailed Sandpiper was an excellent find at the Rogerstown Estuary in County Louth but, surprisingly, two of today's other headline birds were seabirds - Fea's Petrels - reported past North Ronaldsay in the Orkneys and Flamborough Head in Yorkshire, and with only two and a half hours between the sightings, they must have been different individuals. Also on Orkney a Black-throated Thrush was found on Mainland. New Red-flanked Bluetails were found at St.Abb's in Aberdeenshire and on Fair Isle in the Shetlands. A Radde's Warbler was reported on Gugh in the Scillies, and a Lesser Scaup was found at Loch Ryan in Dumrfries and Galloway.

The Hermit Thrush remained on Barra in the Western Isles and other lingering rarities included the Green Heron in Cornwall, Lesser Yellowlegs in Oxfordshire, Baird's Sandpiper in Essex, Squacco Heron in Pembrokeshire and Red-eyed Vireo and Subalpine Warbler in the Scillies. The Steppe Grey Shrike was relocated at Loch of Strathbeg in Aberdeenshire and there was a King Eider on Fair Isle, which had been found yesterday as well as the lingering Blyth's Reed Warbler. A few Waxwings have been noted along the east coast and in the Northern Isles in the last couple of days.
-  Will Soar, RBA