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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Wednesday 16th February 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the reappearance of the Slaty-backed Gull in London; again at the landfill site and pools at Rainham Marshes. First noted early in the afternoon, the bird remained on show until late afternoon before it departed to the east.

Elsewhere, lingering rarities comprised the elusive Rufous Turtle Dove still in Oxfordshire, the Forster's Tern in County Galway, House Crow in County Cork, Northern Harriers in both County Wexford and Norfolk, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, Bonaparte's Gull on Anglesey, Lesser Scaup in Cornwall and Coues's Arctic Redpoll in County Durham. A further Lesser Scaup was discovered in Glamorgan at Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir, presumably the bird first seen there last year.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 15th February 2011  
  In Oxfordshire the Rufous Turtle Dove disappointed most would-be observers when it disappeared after making a brief early morning visit to No.41 The Leys, Chipping Norton - there was no further sign of it by dusk.

Despite the fact that most of today's attention was focussed on a small town in Oxfordshire, the Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, Lesser Scaup in Cornwall, Ross's Goose in Cumbria, Richardson's Canada Goose in Argyll and Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Co Durham were all confirmed as still being present. A White-billed Diver was reported off Lewis, Western Isles.

The best of the rest included Rose-coloured Starling in Cornwall, Great White Egrets in Somerset (6) and Suffolk and Ring-necked Ducks in Cornwall, Carmarthenshire and Lancashire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 14th February 2011  
  Hot news related to the relocation of the orientalis Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire. Having been present in a Chipping Norton garden from 15th-18th December 2010, the bird was relocated less that half a mile away three days ago, and the news of the bird's whereabouts was released early this afternoon. The bird showed well this afternoon and viewing arrangements have been made for tomorrow.

 Lingering rarities included Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Northern Harriers in Norfolk and Co Wexford, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire and Lesser Scaup and Pacific Diver in Cornwall.

The best of the rest included four Ring-necked Ducks, three Surf Scoters, two Cattle Egrets and single American Wigeon and Rose-coloured Starling.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 13th February 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of both the Pacific Divers; in Cornwall and County Clare. Rarities elsewhere comprised the Northern Harrier still in Norfolk, American Herring Gull in County Galway, Red-breasted Goose in Fife, Bonaparte's Gull on Anglesey, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Blue-winged Teal in County Dublin, Lesser Scaup in Cornwall, Coues's Arctic Redpoll in County Durham and five Northern Long-tailed Tits together in Kent.

Scarcities included 29 Tundra Bean Geese, 22 Lapland Buntings, 16 Shorelarks, seven Great Grey Shrikes, six each of both Glaucous Gull and Iceland Gull, four Black Brants, three each of Ring-necked Duck, Ring-billed Gull and Rough-legged Buzzard, two each of Surf Scoter and Caspian Gull, and single Green-winged Teal (Cleveland), Kumlien's Gull (Shetland Isles), Rose-coloured Starling and Cattle Egret (both Cornwall).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 12th February 2011  
  New rarities discovered today comprised a Bonaparte's Gull on Anglesey at Traeth Dulas, a Coues's Arctic Redpoll in County Durham at West Boldon, and single Red-breasted Geese in both Fife, at Rossie Bog, and on the Isle of Wight at Freshwater. 

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised Pacific Divers in both Cornwall and County Clare, Northern Harrier and Ross's Goose in Norfolk, House Crow in County Cork, Forster's Tern and American Herring Gull together in County Galway, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Blue-winged Teal in County Dublin, Lesser Scaups in both Cornwall and Gloucestershire, two more Coues's Arctic Redpolls in County Durham, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset and five Northern Long-tailed Tits together in Kent.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 11th February 2011  
  In Highland a grey morph Gyr flew over Drumguish this afternoon.

Lingering rarities included Lesser Scaup in Cornwall, Northern Harrier in Norfolk, Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Co Durham and Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset. In Ireland the Pacific Diver was still in Co Clare and the Forster's Tern remained in Galway.

The best of the rest included Rose-coloured Starling in Cornwall, Ring-necked Ducks in Cornwall and Lancashire, Great White Egret in Hampshire, Cattle Egret in Cornwall and Rough-legged Buzzards in Norfolk, South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Thursday 10th February 2011  
  Lingering rarities confirmed as still present today comprised the American Coot in County Mayo, Northern Harriers in both County Wexford and Norfolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, two Coues's Arctic Redpolls together in County Durham, and single Lesser Scaups in both Cornwall and Gloucestershire.

Scarcities included six each of both Lapland Bunting and Iceland Gull, five Green-winged Teals, three each of Ring-billed Gull and Shorelark, two each of Ring-necked Duck, Rough-legged Buzzard, Great Grey Shrike, Glaucous Gull and Caspian Gull, an single American Wigeon (Leicestershire), Black Brant (County Mayo), Rose-coloured Starling and Cattle Egret (Cornwall).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 9th February 2011  
  In Cornwall a second-winter Azorean Yellow-legged Gull was identified near St Just this afternoon. In Northumberland a Coues's Arctic Redpoll was discovered at Swallow Pond.

Lingering rarities included Lesser Scaups in Glamorgan and Cornwall, Northern Harrier and Ross's Goose in Norfolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset and at least one Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Co Durham.

In Cornwall the Rose-coloured Starling was still in Penzance and a Cattle Egret lingered in St Winnow, the White-tailed Eagle was seen again in Hampshire, and three Ring-necked Ducks, three Rough-legged Buzzards and two Great White Egrets were also recorded.

Late news from yesterday related to a Black Kite on Tory Island, Co Donegal.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 8th February 2011  
  The Isle of Lewis in the Western Isles saw the day's main highlights, with a Northern Harrier discovered on the west coast near Brue and the returning male Snowy Owl found again in the same area.

Elsewhere, a Lesser Scaup was seen again at Lough Ennell in County Westmeath and the lingering bird was still at Dozmary Pool in Cornwall. The Long-billed Dowitcher remained in Dorset and at least three Northern Long-tailed Tits were still to be found at Dymchurch in Kent. The Ferruginous Duck was still at Cockshoot Broad in Norfolk and two Coues's Arctic Redpolls were still at Rainton Meadows in County Durham.

In Cornwall the over wintering Rose-coloured Starling remained in Penzance and the Cattle Egret was still by the Fowey Estuary. There was a total of 36 Shorelarks at three sites, but only three Ring-billed Gulls, six Iceland Gulls and two Glaucous Gulls were reported. Two Great White Egrets were seen today along with seven Great Grey Shrikes.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Monday 7th February 2011  
  New rarities today consisted of a White-billed Diver at Nesting, Shetland and at least two Penduline Tits in London, with two at Rainham Marshes RSPB and a report of another heard at Crayford Marshes.

Late news from yesterday was of a Belted Kingfisher seen at Claudy, County Derry during the afternoon.

Back to today, long staying rarities included the American Coot in County Mayo, Pacific Diver in Cornwall, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, four Northern Long-tailed Tits in Kent, Ferruginous Duck in Norfolk and single Lesser Scaups in Cornwall, Gloucestershire and Glamorgan.
-  Will Soar, RBA