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.

Choose a starting date
Friday 18th March 2011  
  The highlight of the day should have been the male Rustic Bunting at Kelling, Norfolk, but, unfortunately, it was at a private site with no access, and so was only seen, and photographed, by the finder.

Long staying rarities still present today included the Stejneger's Scoter and Black Duck in County Kerry, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Penduline Tit in Kent, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset and Ferruginous Duck in Suffolk.

Scarcity highlights included a Spotted Crake in Merseyside, Ring-necked Duck, Rose-coloured Starling and Hoopoe in Cornwall, White-tailed Eagle in Hampshire, two Surf Scoters in Conwy, three Great White Egrets and four Great Grey Shrikes.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 17th March 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Stejneger's Scoter in County Kerry. Other lingering rarities confirmed as still present today comprised the Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, American Coot in County Mayo, House Crow in County Cork, Bonaparte's Gull on Anglesey, Penduline Tit in Kent, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset and Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire.

Scarcities included the White-tailed Eagle still in Hampshire, 13 Iceland Gulls, nine Great Grey Shrikes, three each of both Rough-legged Buzzard and Shorelark, two each of Ring-necked Duck, Green-winged Teal and Glaucous Gull, and single Rose-coloured Starling (Cornwall), Hoopoe (Dorset), Great White Egret (Staffordshire), Snow Goose (County Down), Lapland Bunting (Western Isles) and Tundra Bean Goose (Cornwall).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 16th March 2011  
  A fairly quiet day today, with long staying rarities seen including Stejneger's Scoter at Rossbeigh, County Kerry, House Crow at Cobh, County Cork, Rufous Turtle Dove at Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Cardiff Bay, Glamorgan, Lesser Scaup at Slimbridge WWT, Gloucestershire and Long-billed Dowitcher at Lodmoor RSPB, Dorset.

Scarcity highlights included single Serin, Hoopoe, Rose-coloured Starling and White-tailed Eagle, two each of Rough-legged Buzzard, Surf Scoter, Great White Egret and Ring-billed Gull, three Great Grey Shrikes and 13 Shorelarks.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 15th March 2011  
  Lingering rarities included the Stejneger's Scoter in Co Kerry, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Penduline Tits in Suffolk and Bonaparte's Gulls in Glamorgan and Anglesey.

In addition to the Stejneger's Scoter, Ireland hosted an American Coot in Co Mayo, Forster's Tern in Co Galway and House Crow in Co Cork.

The best of the rest included Rose-coloured Starling in Cornwall and Hoopoes in Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 14th March 2011  
  In Suffolk at least three Penduline Tits arrived at Minsmere RSPB.

Lingering rarities included the drake Stejneger's Scoter in Co Kerry, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Bonaparte's Gulls in Glamorgan and Anglesey and a King Eider reappeared in Moray.

Great White Egrets were recorded in Somerset (2), Lincolnshire (2) and Staffordshire, the American Wigeon remained in Oxfordshire and the White-tailed Eagle continued to show in Hampshire. A Hoopoe was again seen at Portland Bill (Dorset) and a Northern Long-tailed Tit was still at North Foreland (Kent).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 13th March 2011  
  In Glamorgan, an adult Bonaparte's Gull was seen in Cardiff Bay today, whilst four Northern Long-tailed Tits were found at Kingsgate, Kent.

In County Kerry, the Stejneger's Scoter remained on show at Rossbeigh, and the Rufous Turtle Dove continued to linger at Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. Other long staying rarities included Bonaparte's Gull in Anglesey, House Crow in County Cork, Black Duck in County Kerry, Ferruginous Ducks in County Armagh and Suffolk and Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire.

Spring scarcities included two Hoopoes and a White Stork, whilst winter long stayers included White-tailed Eagle, Rose-coloured Starling, two American Wigeon, two Surf Scoters, two Snow Geese, Ross's Goose, three Rough-legged Buzzards, 17 Shorelarks and 20 Great Grey Shrikes.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 12th March 2011  
  The adult drake Stejneger's Scoter continued its stay in the bay at Rossbeigh in County Kerry, much to the delight of all those that made the journey across to see it. Also in County Kerry, the Black Duck was seen again at Ventry Harbour. In Oxfordshire the long staying Rufous Turtle Dove showed well in the garden of Number 41 The Leys, Chipping Norton, early in the morning.

A White-billed Diver flew north past Whitburn in County Durham, whilst in Suffolk there was an Arctic Redpoll at Mayday Farm in Breckland. Further evidence of the arrival of spring came with three new Hoopoes being found along the south coast - at Portland in Dorset, on The Lizard in Cornwall and on St.Agnes in the Scillies.

Long staying rarities included the Bonaparte's Gull on Anglesey, Lesser Scaups at Slimbridge in Gloucester and at Cosmeston in Glamorgan, and Ferruginous Ducks in Suffolk and County Armagh. The White-tailed Eagle remained in Hampshire and an adult Ring-billed Gull was found at Stanpit Marsh in Dorset. Twelve Great Grey Shrikes were reported, along with five Rough-legged Buzzards, of which four were in Norfolk, 27 Shorelarks (Norfolk and Lincolnshire) and 102 Lapland Buntings.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
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