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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Friday 11th March 2011  
  In County Kerry the adult drake Stejneger's Scoter was again present with Common Scoters at Rossbeigh, allowing more people a chance to catch up with it.

In Northumberland a Coues's Arctic Redpoll was seen briefly near Longframlington but the individual in Bedfordshire was not seen today. The Penduline Tit put in another appearance at Dungeness in Kent as did the Northern Harrier on Lewis in the Western Isles. Lingering rarities included the Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, the Bonaparte's Gull on Anglesey, the Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset and the Lesser Scaup at Slimbridge in Gloucestershire.

Penzance continued to play host to the overwintering Rose-coloured Starling and the White-tailed Eagle was again seen in Hampshire. Nine Great Grey Shrikes were reported around the country and an increasing number of summer migrants were noted with Wheatears and Sand Martins widely scattered as well as Swallow, Little Ringed Plover and Garganey all reported.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Thursday 10th March 2011  
  In County Kerry, the adult drake Stejneger's Scoter continued its stay at Rossbeigh, entertaining a crowd of nine during the morning.

Other lingering rarities seen today included the Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Bedfordshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset and Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire.

Scarcity highlights included Rose-coloured Starling, White-tailed Eagle, Balearic Shearwater and three Little Auks, with good numbers of common Spring migrants continuing to arrive, including around 50 Sand Martins at Blashford Lakes, Hampshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 9th March 2011  
  In County Kerry, the identification of the first White-winged Scoter for Britain and Ireland was confirmed today, with news of a drake being present off Rossbeigh on Monday. Although it wasn't seen today, it has been present for over a month, so hopes are high that it hasn't departed yet.

Lingering rarities present today included the Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Bedfordshire and Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan.

Despite good numbers of winter visitors still being present, early Spring migrants continued to arrive. Today's totals included at least 38 Sand Martins, 27 Wheatears, five White Wagtails, three Little Ringed Plovers, two Swallows and a Common Tern.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 8th March 2011  
  A Penduline Tit was discovered at Dungeness RSPB (Kent) this morning.

Lingering rarities included Ferruginous Ducks in Suffolk and Norfolk, Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Bedfordshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset and Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire.

Possibles and probables included an unringed Baltic Gull in Suffolk, second-winter American Herring Gull and Tundra Peregrine in Cornwall and a Gyr on Isles of Scilly.

The Rose-coloured Starling lingered in Cornwall, the White-tailed Eagle was still in Hampshire and Cattle Egrets  were in Devon and Somerset.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 7th March 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Bedfordshire at Bedford. Elsewhere, lingering rarities comprised the Rufous Turtle Dove still in Oxfordshire, Bonaparte's Gull on Anglesey, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, two Richardson's Canada Geese in Argyll, Ross's Goose in Norfolk and Ferruginous Duck in Suffolk.

Scarcities included a Hoopoe and Rose-coloured Starling in Cornwall, White-tailed Eagle still in Hampshire, and Surf Scoters in Conwy (2) and Devon.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 6th March 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Bonaparte's Gull in Aberdeenshire, on the Ythan Estuary.

Lingering rarities comprised the Rufous Turtle Dove still in Oxfordshire, Pacific Diver in Cornwall, Forster's Tern in County Galway, Bonaparte's Gull on Anglesey, Richardson's Canada Goose in Argyll, single Lesser Scaups in both Glamorgan and Gloucestershire, Ferruginous Duck in Suffolk, two Ross's Geese in Norfolk, and three Northern Long-tailed Tits together in Kent.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 5th March 2011  
  Lingering rarities confirmed as still present today comprised the Rufous Turtle Dove still in Oxfordshire, Pacific Diver in Cornwall, American Coot in County Mayo, Forster's Tern in County Galway, Bonaparte's Gull on Anglesey, Taverner's Canada Goose in County Sligo, Richardson's Canada Goose in Argyll, Coues's Arctic Redpoll in County Durham, Lesser Scaups in Cornwall, Glamorgan (2) and Gloucestershire, Ferruginous Ducks in both County Armagh and Suffolk, two Ross's Geese in Norfolk, and three Northern Long-tailed Tits together in Kent.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 4th March 2011  
  In Ireland, a drake Lesser Scaup was found at Lough Sheelin, County Cavan, whilst the adult drake Black Duck reappeared in Ventry Harbour, County Kerry.

Elsewhere, lingering rarities included Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Pacific Diver in Cornwall, Snowy Owl in Western Isles, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Bonaparte's Gull in Anglesey, Ferruginous Duck in Suffolk and single Lesser Scaups in Cornwall, Glamorgan and Gloucestershire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 3rd March 2011  
  Lingering rarities included the Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, King Eider on Shetland, Bonaparte's Gull on Anglesey, Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Co Durham, Pacific Diver and Lesser Scaup in Cornwall, Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire and Ferruginous Duck in Suffolk.

In Kent the Northern Long-tailed Tits were still in Dymchurch and Ross's Geese remained in Norfolk and Cumbria. The White-tailed Eagle continued to show at Old Basing (Hampshire), a Rose-coloured Starling was still in a garden in Penzance (Cornwall), whilst in Oxfordshire the American Wigeon showed again at Rushy Common.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 2nd March 2011  
  Long staying rarities seen today included Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, American Coot in County Mayo, Pacific Diver in Cornwall, single Lesser Scaups in Glamorgan and Gloucestershire, Ferruginous Duck in Suffolk, three Northern Long-tailed Tits in Kent and Bonaparte's Gull in Anglesey, whilst a Snowy Owl was reported in County Mayo.

Scarcity highlights included Rose-coloured Starling in Cornwall, White-tailed Eagle in Hampshire, American Wigeon in Oxfordshire, Ring-necked Duck in County Down, two each of Great White Egret, Green-winged Teal, Ring-billed Gull and Rough-legged Buzzard, three Cattle Egrets and nine Great Grey Shrikes.
-  Will Soar, RBA