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 15th January 2011  
  Despite there being over a thousand birders at Rainham Marshes RSPB, the adult Slaty-backed Gull eluded most, apparently being seen only very briefly on the landfill site by Coldharbour Lane. Other gull news concerned an adult Bonaparte's Gull at Great Island, County Cork, where the Pied-billed Grebe and House Crow also remained.

In Norfolk, both the Lesser White-fronted Goose and Northern Harrier were confirmed as still present, with other lingering rarities including four Northern Long-tailed Tits in Kent, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Red-breasted Goose in Lancashire, Richardson's Canada Goose in County Sligo, Blue-winged Teal in County Dublin, Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire, Coues's Arctic Redpoll in South Yorkshire and Glossy Ibis in Kent.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 14th January 2011  
  Overnight, news was released of a potential Slaty-backed Gull at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, where it was present very briefly on Thursday. It was relocated mid morning today, and was present on and off throughout the day. Photos of the spread wing were finally posted on the internet this evening, when the identification could be confirmed of this much anticipated first for Britain.

In Cornwall, news of a possible juvenile Northern Harrier was released from Bartinney Downs, after apparently being present since October 2010. The confirmed Northern Harrier remained in the Thornham area of Norfolk, whilst in the same county the Lesser White-fronted Goose was seen again in the Yare Valley, this time at Buckenham Marshes RSPB.

Other lingering rarities seen today included the Red-breasted Goose at Cleveleys, Lancashire, two Coues's Arctic Redpolls at Rainton, County Durham, Ferruginous Duck in County Wexford, single Glossy Ibises in Berkshire and Kent and single Lesser Scaups in Cornwall and Gloucestershire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 13th January 2011  
  Lingering rarities around Britain comprised the Lesser White-fronted Goose and Northern Harrier both still in Norfolk, a Coues's Arctic Redpoll in County Durham, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Glossy Ibis in Kent and single Lesser Scaup in both Cornwall and Gloucestershire. Meanwhile, in Ireland the American Coot remains in County Mayo, the Forster's Tern showed again in County Galway and the House Crow continues to linger in County Cork.

Scarcities included 26 Shorelarks, 19 Tundra Bean Geese, 17 Lapland Buntings, nine each of both Iceland Gull and Glaucous Gull, five each of Rough-legged Buzzard and Great Grey Shrike, four Great White Egrets, three each of both Ring-billed Gull and Green-winged Teal, two each of Ring-necked Duck and Black Brant, and single White-tailed Eagle (Hampshire), Surf Scoter (Fife), American Wigeon (Norfolk) and Caspian Gull (London).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 12th January 2011  
  In Cornwall, the adult Pacific Diver remained in Mount's Bay off Marazion. Other rarities today included the Northern Harrier at Thornham, Norfolk, Long-billed Dowitcher at Lodmoor RSPB, Dorset, Glossy Ibis at Dungeness, Kent, Red-breasted Goose at Cockerham, Lancashire, four Northern Long-tailed Tits at Dymchurch, Kent and single Coues's Arctic Redpolls at Marston Vale Millennium Country Park and The Lodge RSPB, both Bedfordshire, with another bird still at Rainton, County Durham.

Scarcity highlights included White-tailed Eagle in Hampshire, American Wigeon in Norfolk, Ring-necked Duck in Cleveland, Surf Scoter in Devon, four Great White Egrets, four Great Grey Shrikes and four Rough-legged Buzzards.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 11th January 2011  
  Today's highlights included Pacific Diver in Cornwall, Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire, Northern Long-tailed Tits in Kent, Northern Harrier in Norfolk, Glossy Ibis in Kent, Coues's Arctic Redpolls in Co Durham and Bedfordshire and Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset.

The best of the rest comprised White-tailed Eagle in Hampshire, American Wigeons in Norfolk and Leicestershire, Great White Egrets in Kent, Hampshire, Suffolk, Berkshire and Somerset and Ring-necked Duck in Cleveland.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 10th January 2011  
  A Glossy Ibis was discovered at Dungeness RSPB (Kent) this morning. Lingering wildfowl included Red-breasted Goose in Lancashire, Ross's Goose in Norfolk, Lesser Scaups in Gloucestershire and Cornwall and King Eider in Moray, whilst in London a Marbled Duck was discovered on the River Thames at Belvedere.

In Norfolk the Northern Harrier was still at Thornham and in Kent a couple of Northern Long-tailed Tits lingered in Dymchurch.

The best of the rest included at least five Rough-legged Buzzards, five Great White Egrets, two Green-winged Teals, two American Wigeons, two Surf Scoters, a Ring-necked Duck (in Cleveland) and a White-tailed Eagle (in Hampshire).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 9th January 2011  
  Rarities recorded today comprised the Pacific Diver still in Cornwall, Lesser White-fronted Goose, Northern Harrier and two Ross's Geese in Norfolk, Red-breasted Goose in Lancashire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Blue-winged Teal in County Dublin, King Eider in Moray, Glossy Ibis in Berkshire, Ferruginous Duck in County Wexford, single Lesser Scaups in both Cornwall and Gloucestershire, four Northern Long-tailed Tits together in Kent and Coues's Arctic Redpolls in Cambridgeshire, County Durham (2), Lothian and South Yorkshire.

Scarcities included 96 Lapland Buntings, 20 Shorelarks, 12 Great White Egrets, 11 Great Grey Shrikes, 10 Iceland Gulls, nine each of both Rough-legged Buzzard and Glaucous Gull, six each of Green-winged Teal and Black Brant, four of Surf Scoter and Ring-billed Gull, two each of Ring-necked Duck and Tundra Bean Goose, and single White-tailed Eagle (Hampshire), Rose-coloured Starling (Isles of Scilly) and American Wigeon (Norfolk).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 8th January 2011  
  In Kent, the number of Northern Long-tailed Tits at Dymchurch rose to five, the birds being typically mobile in the gardens around the village.

Elsewhere, lingering rarities once again included the Pacific Diver in Cornwall, Northern Harrier in Norfolk, American Coot in County Mayo, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Glossy Ibis in Berkshire and two Coues's Arctic Redpolls in County Durham.

Rare wildfowl included Red-breasted Goose in Lancashire, Lesser Scaups in Gloucestershire and Yorkshire, Ferruginous Duck in County Wexford and Ross's Goose in Norfolk.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 7th January 2011  
  In Kent, three Northern Long-tailed Tits were seen this morning at Dymchurch, with one apparently being present since late November 2010. Further north, another Coues's Arctic Redpoll was in the Lammermuir Hills, on the Borders /Lothian border near Whiteadder Reservoir.

Lingering rarities included the Pacific Diver at Marazion, Cornwall, Northern Harriers in Norfolk and County Wexford, Long-billed Dowitcher at Lodmoor, Dorset, King Eider at Burghead, Moray, Glossy Ibis at Hungerford, Berkshire, Lesser Scaups in Gloucestershire and South Yorkshire and two Coues's Arctic Redpolls at Rainton, County Durham.

Scarcity highlights included a White-tailed Eagle in Hampshire, an American Wigeon in Norfolk, a Green-winged Teal in Cheshire, a Snow Goose in County Mayo, a Surf Scoter and two Pomarine Skuas in Devon, two Rough-legged Buzzards, four Great Grey Shrikes, four Ring-billed Gulls and six Great White Egrets.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 6th January 2011  
  Lingering rarities included Pacific Diver in Cornwall, Red-breasted Goose in Lancashire, Northern Harrier, Lesser White-fronted Goose and Ross's Goose in Norfolk, Lesser Scaups in South Yorkshire, Gloucestershire and Orkney, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Glossy Ibis in Berkshire and American Coot in Co Mayo.

Coues's Arctic Redpolls were identified in Co Durham (2), Cambridgeshire and Northumberland, American Wigeons were still in Norfolk and Leicestershire, the Great White Egret remained in Berkshire and a Kumlien's Gull roosted in Gloucestershire.

Elsewhere a Ring-necked Duck was still in Cleveland, a Rose-coloured Starling lingered on Isles of Scilly and at least six Rough-legged Buzzards were recorded.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA