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 1st November 2010  
  In Cornwall, an American Bittern was present at Walmsley Sanctuary, Wadebridge, where it showed very well from the hide. Photos may show it to be the same as the one at Trewey Common, some 40 miles to the south-west, which was not seen today. In Ireland, the juvenile Northern Harrier continued to show at Tacumshin, County Wexford.

A new Dusky Warbler was found at Lower Moors, Isles of Scilly, with one also remaining nearby at Porth Hellick. A Ferruginous Duck was seen at Kingsmill Reservoir, Nottinghamshire, and a Glossy Ibis was in the Cotswold Water Park, Gloucestershire.

Lingering rarities seen today included the Green Heron in Cornwall, Franklin's Gull in Derbyshire, Western Bonelli's Warbler in Shetland, Lesser Yellowlegs in Oxfordshire, King Eider in Suffolk, Glossy Ibises in Norfolk and County Wexford (2) and single American Golden Plovers in Lincolnshire and Norfolk.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 31st October 2010  
  In Cornwall, the American Bittern remained at Trewey Common, last being seen flying back to the pool east of the road at 4.15pm.

Potentially the second Northern Harrier for the Western Palearctic was present for its second day at Tacumshin, County Wexford, with the Lesser Yellowlegs also remaining on site. Nearby, the American Buff-bellied Pipit was still at Carne Harbour and the White-rumped Sandpiper was at Ballinclamper, County Waterford. The female Blue-winged Teal was seen once again at North Bull Island, County Dublin.

Other new arrivals today included a Northern Long-tailed Tit at Stiffkey, Norfolk, American Golden Plover at Freiston Shore RSPB, Lincolnshire and Red-breasted Goose at Marshside RSPB, Merseyside. A Pallid Swift was present at Dunwich, Suffolk yesterday.

Lingering rarities seen today included Green Heron in Cornwall, Dusky Warbler and Spotted Sandpiper in Isles of Scilly, single King Eiders in Moray and Suffolk and Lesser Yellowlegs in Oxfordshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 30th October 2010  
  In Cornwall the American Bittern lingered at Trewey Common, where it again showed only in flight on a few occasions.

Elsewhere lingering rarities included Green Heron (Cornwall), Western Bonelli's Warbler (Shetland), Dusky Warbler (Isles of Scilly), Franklin's Gull (Derbyshire), American Golden Plovers (Devon and Norfolk), King Eider (Suffolk) and Lesser Yellowlegs (Oxfordshire).

On Shetland an American Golden Plover was discovered at Fleck (Mainland), in Ireland an American Buff-bellied Pipit arrived at Carne harbour (Co Wexford) and Norfolk, Suffolk and Devon each hosted a Glossy Ibis.

In Norfolk an albatross species flew west past Salthouse early afternoon.

The Waxwing invasion continued, with at least 5,400 reported in Scotland alone.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 29th October 2010  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of both the American Bittern and Green Heron in Cornwall, although the former proved elusive and was only ever seen in flight. Other rarities comprised the House Crow still in County Cork, Franklin's Gull in Derbyshire, Western Bonelli's Warbler on the Shetland Isles, Lesser Yellowlegs in Oxfordshire, King Eider in Suffolk, Glossy Ibis in Norfolk and single American Golden Plovers in County Cork, Devon, Norfolk and County Tipperary.

On the Isles of Scilly the Dusky Warbler remained alongside Red-breasted Flycatcher and two each of Serin, Yellow-browed Warbler and Spoonbill.

Elsewhere, scarcities included Pallas's Warbler (East Yorkshire), Barred Warbler (Northumberland), Cattle Egret (Pembrokeshire), Pectoral Sandpiper (Norfolk), three Green-winged Teals, five Great Grey Shrikes, six Rough-legged Buzzards, flocks of Waxwings across 26 counties and a count of 3,908 Little Auks passing the Isle of May, Fife in just one hour.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 28th October 2010  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of an American Bittern in Cornwall near Zennor at Trewey Common. Present for at least four days, whilst being watched by non-birders and believing it to be a Bittern, the true identity was only realised today. The last twitchable American Bittern was in 1991, with the only records since concerning a suppressed bird in Cornwall in 1999 and one found dead in Pembrokeshire in 2008.

Elsewhere, a Franklin's Gull was discovered in Derbyshire at Willington before relocating to Foremark Reservoir, the Green Heron remained in Cornwall, as did the Squacco Heron on Pembrokeshire, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on the Shetland Isles, King Eider in Suffolk, Lesser Yellowlegs in Oxfordshire, Glossy Ibis in Norfolk, single American Golden Plovers in each of Devon, Norfolk, County Tipperary and the Western Isles and two Ferruginous Ducks together in Somerset. On the Isles of Scilly the Spotted Sandpiper remained alongside Dusky Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Wryneck, two Serins and four Yellow-browed Warblers.

Other scarcities included Short-toed Lark (Shetland Isles), Serin (Dorset), American Wigeon (North Yorkshire), Ring-necked Duck (Somerset), Pectoral Sandpiper (Northumberland), Green-winged Teal (Norfolk), two Cattle Egrets, three Black Brants, four Great White Egrets, nine each of both Rough-legged Buzzard and Great Grey Shrike, and Waxwing reports from 29 counties including 700 in Forth, 600 on the Western Isles and 500 together in Aberdeenshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 27th October 2010  
  On the Isles of Scilly, a Dusky Warbler was a welcome find at Holy Vale, St Mary's, whilst a Spotted Sandpiper on St Agnes also proved popular. An American Golden Plover was on Lewis, Western Isles.

Lingering rarities today comprised Green Heron in Cornwall, House Crow in County Cork, Penduline Tit in Kent, Squacco Heron in Pembrokeshire, King Eider in Suffolk, Lesser Yellowlegs in Oxfordshire, Glossy Ibises in Devon (2) and Norfolk, White-rumped Sandpiper in County Waterford and single American Golden Plovers in Devon, Norfolk and County Cork.

Scarcity highlights included single Pallas's Warblers in Kent and Dorset, Barred Warbler in Lincolnshire, Red-breasted Flycatcher in Isles of Scilly, Pectoral Sandpiper in Northumberland, Cattle Egret in Pembrokeshire and Waxwings in 35 counties.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 26th October 2010  
  Rarities today comprised the Green Heron still in Cornwall, House Crow in County Cork, Penduline Tit in Kent, Squacco Heron in Pembrokeshire, King Eider in Suffolk, Lesser Yellowlegs in Oxfordshire, Small Canada Goose in Argyll, single American Golden Plovers in each of County Cork, Devon, Norfolk and County Tipperary, Glossy Ibises in both Devon and Norfolk and a Ferruginous Duck in Somerset.

On the Isles of Scilly the Tundra Peregrine remained alongside a Serin, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Common Rosefinch, Lapland Bunting and five Yellow-browed Warblers.

Elsewhere, scarcities included a Common Rosefinch (Pembrokeshire), Rose-coloured Starling (Hampshire), Barred Warbler (County Galway), American Wigeon (North Yorkshire), Cattle Egret (Pembrokeshire), Pectoral Sandpiper (Northumberland), Black Brant (Dorset) and four Ring-necked Ducks (Lincolnshire and Western Isles) whilst Waxwings were recorded in forty counties.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
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