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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Tuesday 22nd February 2011  
  Having made a brief appearance on Sunday 20th, a first-winter American Herring Gull reappeared at Seaforth LWT (Merseyside) for twenty minutes over the high tide this afternoon.

In Oxfordshire the Rufous Turtle Dove lingered in Chipping Norton and elsewhere long-stayers included Pacific Diver in Cornwall, Lesser Scaups in Gloucestershire and Cornwall and Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset.

The Slaty-backed Gull was reported again at Rainham Marshes RSPB, a Ferruginous Duck remained in Suffolk, a King Eider was seen off Unst (Shetland) and three Northern Long-tailed Tits reappeared in Kent. In East Yorkshire at Coues's Arctic Redpoll was identified at Allerthorpe Common.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 21st February 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, whilst other rarities comprised the Pacific Diver still in Cornwall, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Lesser Scaups in both Cornwall and Gloucestershire, Ferruginous Duck in Suffolk, Richardson's Canada Goose in Argyll, and Ross's Geese in both Dumfies and Galloway and Norfolk.

Scarcities included 26 Shorelarks, seven Iceland Gulls, five each of both Glaucous and Caspian Gulls, three each of Surf Scoter and Lapland Bunting, two each of Cattle Egret, Ring-billed Gull, Rough-legged Buzzard, Great Grey Shrike and Kumlien's Gull, and single Rose-coloured Starling (Cornwall), American Wigeon (Oxfordshire), Ring-necked Duck (County Down), Great White Egret (Nottinghamshire), Green-winged Teal (Aberdeenshire) and Black Brant (Essex).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 20th February 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the reappearance of the Slaty-backed Gull in London at Rainham Marshes, where it commuted between Wennington Marshes and the adjacent landfill site until mid afternoon when it again departed to the east.

Elsewhere around Britain lingering rarities comprised the Rufous Turtle Dove still in Oxfordshire, Pacific Diver in Cornwall, Northern Harriers in both Norfolk and the Western Isles, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire, two Coues's Arctic Redpolls together in County Durham, and a Ross's Goose between Cumbria and Dumfries and Galloway.

In Ireland the Thayer's Gull showed again in County Galway, the American Coot remained in County Mayo, as did the Bonaparte's Gull in County Cork, Blue-winged Teal in County Dublin and Small Canada Goose in County Sligo, where a new Bonaparte's Gull was seen briefly.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 19th February 2011  
  The highlight of the day was confirmation of a Thayer's Gull present for its second day in County Galway at Rossaveal, today alongside an American Herring Gull. Elsewhere in Ireland the American Coot remained in County Mayo, as did the Blue-winged Teal in County Dublin and the Small Canada Goose in County Sligo.

In Britain the Slaty-backed Gull reappeared in Essex at Pitsea, whilst lingering rarities comprised the Rufous Turtle Dove still in Oxfordshire, Pacific Diver and Lesser Scaup in Cornwall, Northern Harrier and Ferruginous Duck in Norfolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire, two Coues's Arctic Redpolls together in County Durham, and a Ross's Goose in Cumbria.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 18th February 2011  
  The highlight of the day was a Rustic Bunting in Bedfordshire at Biggleswade, albeit a brief encounter.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised the Rufous Turtle Dove still in Oxfordshire, Pacific Diver and Lesser Scaup in Cornwall, American Coot in County Mayo, Northern Harrier and Ferruginous Duck in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gull in County Cork, Blue-winged Teal in County Dublin, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Lesser Scaups in Glamorgan and Gloucestershire, two Coues's Arctic Redpolls together in County Durham, Small Canada Goose in County Sligo, and Ross's Goose in Cumbria.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 17th February 2011  
  In London, the adult Slaty-backed Gull remained in-situ at Rainham Marshes RSPB from late morning onwards, whilst the Rufous Turtle Dove also remained available at Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, although it was still fairly mobile around The Leys area.

New rarities today included a Northern Harrier at Broadlough, County Wicklow, a King Eider in Bluemull Sound, Shetland and a Penduline Tit at Dungeness, Kent, with another two of the latter again at Rainham Marshes RSPB, Kent. Lingering rarities included Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, House Crow in County Cork, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire and single Lesser Scaups in Cornwall and Glamorgan.
-  Will Soar, RBA
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