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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Saturday 11th December 2010  
  A Pied-billed Grebe at Little Island, County Cork, represents the fourth record for the county, and the first since 2000. This continues 2010's run of the species, following six blank years since 2003. Other new rarities today included a Glossy Ibis back at Exminster Marshes RSPB, Devon, a Richardson's Canada Goose back at Raghly, County Sligo and a Ross's Goose back at Caerlaverock WWT, Dumfries and Galloway.

In Norfolk, the juvenile male Northern Harrier reappeared at Burnham Overy mid to late afternoon, whilst also being reported flying west at Titchwell this afternoon. Other long staying rarities included the American Coot in County Mayo, House Crow in County Cork, Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan and Glossy Ibis in Devon (with another still in Berkshire). The possible Eastern Yellow Wagtail also remained at Colyford, Devon.

Waxwings, of course, made up the bulk of today's 532 messages, and included birds as far south-west as Cornwall. Other scarcity highlights included a White-tailed Eagle in Sussex, a Hoopoe in Dorset, a Ring-billed Gull in Yorkshire, an American Wigeon in Leicestershire, two Surf Scoters, four Rough-legged Buzzards and ten Great Grey Shrikes.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 10th December 2010  
  Rarities included American Coot and Black Duck still in County Mayo, Lesser Scaup on the Orkney Isles, Ross's Goose in Norfolk and single Glossy Ibises in both Berkshire and Devon.

Scarcities included 38 Lapland Buntings, 24 Shorelarks, five Glaucous Gulls, four Caspian Gulls, three Rough-legged Buzzards, two each of Surf Scoter, Ring-necked Duck and Iceland Gull, and single Hoopoe, Great Grey Shrike, Snow Goose, American Wigeon, Ring-billed Gull, Green-winged Teal and Grey Phalarope.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 9th December 2010  
  A Glossy Ibis found near Hungerford in Berkshire today was the first in the county since 1793, and that bird was the first recorded in Britain! Another Glossy Ibis was also still to be found at Monknash in Glamorgan. In Dorset, the Long-billed Dowitcher remained on The Fleet and the American Coot could still be found at the Mullet in County Mayo.

An American Wigeon was found at Rutland Water in Leicestershire and the unseasonal Hoopoe continued to overwinter at Longham Lakes in Dorset. The possible Eastern Yellow Wagtail remained at Colyford sewage works, Devon, and in Lothian, the Grey Phalarope remained at Dunbar and the Green-winged Teal remained at Aberlady Bay.

There were four scattered Great Grey Shrikes and three Ring-billed Gulls, and amongst the large numbers of Waxwings came some more records from Cornwall, with two birds in Truro and two in Hayle.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Wednesday 8th December 2010  
  In Glamorgan, a Glossy Ibis was found near Llantwit Major on a pool by the road at Monknash. The Little Bunting remained at Saxmundham, Suffolk, whilst the Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset was relocated on The Fleet at Butterstreet Cove late afternoon. Long staying rarities seen today included the Forster's Tern in County Galway, Blue-winged Teal in Dumfries and Galloway and Glossy Ibis in Devon. The possible Eastern Yellow Wagtail remained at Colyford sewage works, Devon.

Scarcity highlights included a Hoopoe, a Surf Scoter, a Pomarine Skua, a Grey Phalarope, a Green-winged Teal, two Rough-legged Buzzards, three Ring-necked Ducks, three Ring-billed Gulls, three Great Grey Shrikes and at least three Great White Egrets.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 7th December 2010  
  In Suffolk, a Little Bunting was present at Great Glemham, near Saxmundham. Other rarities reported included the House Crow in County Cork, Ross's Goose in Norfolk, Glossy Ibis in Devon and Lesser Scaup in Orkney.

Scarcity highlights included Hoopoe in Dorset, Common Rosefinch in Gwynedd, Grey Phalarope in Lothian, Rough-legged Buzzard in Norfolk, three Cattle Egrets in Cornwall, two Great Grey Shrikes and two Surf Scoters.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Monday 6th December 2010  
  A Gyr on Coll, Argyll was the only new rarity discovered today, although a pipit sp photographed at Fresh Water West, Pembrokeshire may well turn out to be a Blyth's Pipit.

In Norfolk, the adult Ross's Goose remained in the Horsey area, whilst the Long-billed Dowitcher was still at Lodmoor RSPB, Dorset, the Glossy Ibis at Budleigh Salterton, Devon and Lesser Scaup at Holm, Orkney.

Scarcities included a Night Heron in Cambridgeshire, a Grey Phalarope in Lothian, a Common Rosefinch in Gwynedd, two Rough-legged Buzzards, two Pomarine Skuas and lots of Waxwings.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 5th December 2010  
  A surprisingly busy day, given the weather conditions and time of year. New rarities included a Northern Long-tailed Tit at Middleton Hall, County Durham and a drake King Eider at West Voe of Sumburgh, Shetland (where it joined the long staying female). In Norfolk, a presumed Arctic Redpoll flew over the windmill at Cley and a Ross's Goose was in the east of the county at Waxham.

Long staying rarities included the American Coot in County Mayo, House Crow in County Cork, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, single Lesser Scaups in Orkney and Glamorgan and single Ferruginous Ducks in County Down and Somerset. A possible Eastern Yellow Wagtail remained in Devon, at Colyford sewage works.

Once again, Waxwings stole the National channel show, with several thousand reported, including five as far south-west as Devon. None have been reported yet this winter from Cornwall, with only three in the Isles of Scilly. Other scarcity highlights included a Little Auk and a Hoopoe in Dorset, a Common Crane in London, a White Stork in Yorkshire, two Cattle Egrets in Merseyside, two Great Grey Shrikes, two Rough-legged Buzzards, three Surf Scoters and three Ring-billed Gulls.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 4th December 2010  
  In Kent, a Penduline Tit was once again in front of the Hanson Hide at Dungeness RSPB, the first sighting here since 27th October. A Glossy Ibis flew over near Axbridge, Somerset and a Northern Long-tailed Tit was seen at Sculthorpe Moor, Norfolk, having been present for several days.

Other lingering rarities included Blue-winged Teals in Dumfries and Galloway and County Dublin, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, House Crow in County Cork, Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Cambridgeshire, Glossy Ibis in Devon, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset and Lesser Scaups in Orkney and Glamorgan.

Apart from Waxwings, the National channel was fairly quiet, with highlights being a Surf Scoter, a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Great Grey Shrike, at least three Rough-legged Buzzards and four Grey Phalaropes.

A Turtle Dove remained in a garden in Cornwall, as did the Chough in the Isle of Wight, whilst two Eider were seen in Berkshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 3rd December 2010  
  Lingering rarities included the Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler and Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Norfolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Glossy Ibis in Glamorgan and Lesser Scaup in Orkney.

In Ireland the American Coot remained in Co Mayo and the Forster's Tern was still in Co Galway.

The best of the rest included three Rough-legged Buzzards, two Common Cranes, a Surf Scoter and Dotterel, and of course, many Waxwings.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Thursday 2nd December 2010  
  The highlight of the day was the confirmation of both a Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler and a Coues's Arctic Redpoll together in Wells Woods, Norfolk; the Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler having been suspected on 29th November, and the Coues's Arctic Redpoll being first noted yesterday. Elsewhere, in Kent a Red-breasted Goose flew west past Dungeness with Dark-bellied Brent Geese, and on the Orkney Isles a Lesser Scaup was identified in Holm, having already been present on Ayre Loch for five days.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present today comprised the Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Blue-winged Teal in County Dublin, Glossy Ibis in Glamorgan and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset.

Scarcities included 19 Lapland Buntings, five Glaucous Gulls, four Iceland Gulls, three Rough-legged Buzzards, Surf Scoter (Devon), Hoopoe (Dorset) and a Shorelark (Ayrshire). Waxwings were recorded from 41 counties.
-  Chris Batty, RBA