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 26th February 2011  
  In London, the adult Slaty-backed Gull reappeared again briefly at Rainham Marshes RSPB, although it once again eluded the majority of birders on site.

Other rarity highlights included the Rufous Turtle Dove at Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, three Northern Long-tailed Tits at Dymchurch, Kent, Pacific Diver in Mount's Bay, Cornwall, American Coot at Termoncarragh Lake, County Mayo and American Herring Gull at Galway, County Galway.

The best of the rest included Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, single Lesser Scaups in Cornwall and Gloucestershire, single Ferruginous Ducks in Suffolk and County Armagh and Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Yorkshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 25th February 2011  
  Lingering rarities included Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, House Crow in Co Cork, Bonaparte's Gull in Anglesey, Pacific Diver in Cornwall, Ferruginous Duck in Suffolk, Lesser Scaups in Glamorgan and Gloucestershire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Snowy Owl on Western Isles and Ross's Goose and Northern Harrier in Norfolk.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Thursday 24th February 2011  
  In London the adult Slaty-backed Gull made another brief appearance at Rainham Marshes late morning.

Elsewhere lingering rarities included Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Anglesey, Ferruginous Ducks in Suffolk and Co Armagh, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Pacific Diver in Cornwall, Lesser Scaups in Gloucestershire and Cornwall, Coues's Arctic Redpoll in East Yorkshire and Northern Harrier in Norfolk.

The best of the rest included White-tailed Eagle in Hampshire, Cattle Egret in Devon and American Wigeon in Oxfordshire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 23rd February 2011  
  Lingering rarities included the Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Pacific Diver in Cornwall, Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire, Northern Harriers in Norfolk and Western Isles, Ross's Geese in Norfolk and Dumfries & Galloway, American Coot in Co Mayo and Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset.

A Cattle Egret in Devon and a Richardson's Canada Goose on Islay (Argyll) were also logged.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
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