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 March 2011  
  The second White-billed Diver for County Kerry was discovered today, off Cromane Point, whilst the Stejneger's Scoter remained nearby at Rossbeigh with a Surf Scoter also present. A Hooded Merganser in Sussex provided some interest, although it was coming to bread this evening.

Lingering rarities included Short-toed Treecreeper in Suffolk, Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll, Bonaparte's Gull in Anglesey, Gyr in Western Isles, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, single Lesser Scaups in Merseyside and Glamorgan, Blue-winged Teal in Carmarthenshire, Ferruginous Duck in Norfolk, Northern Harrier in County Wexford and Red-breasted Goose in Perth and Kinross.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 25th March 2011  
  In Suffolk, the Short-toed Treecreeper remained on show at Landguard NR. Whilst it was generally elusive in the field, it was re-trapped regularly by the ringing team, giving many the opportunity for a closer view. Other lingering Megas today included the Stejneger's Scoter at Rossbeigh, County Kerry, Pied-billed Grebe in Salen Bay, Argyll and House Crow at Cobh, County Cork.

Rarities seen today included two Penduline Tits at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk, Blue-winged Teal at Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Bonaparte's Gull at Cardiff Bay, Glamorgan, Long-billed Dowitcher at Lodmoor RSPB, Dorset, Lesser Scaup at Marshside RSPB, Merseyside and Northern Harrier on Lewis, Western Isles.

Scarcity highlights included a White-spotted Bluethroat in Isles of Scilly, Rose-coloured Starling in Cornwall, three Hoopoes on the south coast and 16 Great Grey Shrikes across the country.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 24th March 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Short-toed Treecreeper at Landguard, Suffolk. Trapped early in the morning the bird remained late into the afternoon, and showed well at times

Elsewhere, rarities comprised the Stejneger's Scoter still in County Kerry, Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll, House Crow in County Cork, two Penduline Tits in Suffolk, Blue-winged Teal in Carmarthenshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan, Northern Long-tailed Tit in County Durham and singe Lesser Scaups in Dumfries and Galloway, Gloucestershire and Merseyside.

The best of the rest included a Ring-necked Duck discovered in Merseyside, a Hoopoe still in Devon, and the White-tailed Eagle being seen again in Hampshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 23rd March 2011  
  In Argyll a Pied-billed Grebe is present on Mull, at Salen Bay, for its second day. Also in Scotland, an adult Bonaparte's Gull was seen in Dunnet Bay, Highland, and an adult drake King Eider remained on Unst, Shetland.

In Ireland, the Stejneger's Scoter remained in County Kerry, as did the House Crow in County Cork and Ferruginous Duck in County Armagh. Other lingering rarities today included the Northern Harrier in Norfolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, single Lesser Scaups in Gloucestershire and Merseyside and Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan.

Scarcities included a White-tailed Eagle, a Rose-coloured Starling, a Glaucous Gull, a Lesser Canada Goose, a Ring-necked Duck, two Hoopoes, two Snow Geese, three Green-winged Teals, three Rough-legged Buzzards, four Iceland Gulls, four Lapland Buntings, six Tundra Bean Geese, six Shorelarks, 11 Spoonbills and 13 Great Grey Shrikes.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 22nd March 2011  
  A new Lesser Scaup was found in Dumfries and Galloway at Milton Loch. This made a total of three reported today, the others being at Cosmeston in Glamorgan and at Marshside Marsh in Merseyside. On Shetland another King Eider (a second year drake) joined the adult drake off Unst this afternoon. In Cleveland, an Arctic Redpoll was with three Mealy Redpolls at Scaling Dam Reservoir, and a Northern Long-tailed Tit was reported near Sizewell in Suffolk.

The Stejneger's Scoter remained at Rossbeigh in County Kerry and the Rufous Turtle Dove was still in gardens in Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire. Other long-staying rarities included the Blue-winged Teal in Carmarthenshire, two Bonaparte's Gulls: one in Glamorgan and one in Anglesey, the American Coot in County Mayo and the Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset.

A Cattle Egret put in a brief appearance at Stoke Ferry in Norfolk and the Hoopoe was still at Axmouth in Devon. Despite the arrival of a number of early spring migrants, there was still a smattering of Great Grey Shrikes and Waxwings around the country.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Monday 21st March 2011  
  One, or possibly two, drake King Eiders were found today on Shetland: one was seen off Unst and one was at Linga, between Unst and Yell. On the Outer Hebrides, the white morph Gyr was seen again on Lewis this afternoon. There was belated news of a Coues's Arctic Redpoll found yesterday at Higher Thrushgill Plantation in Lancashire.

In County Kerry the Stejneger's Scoter was still off Rossbeigh, whilst in Carmarthenshire the drake Blue-winged Teal was again to be found at Llanelli. Lesser Scaups remained at Southport in Merseyside and at Slimbridge in Gloucestershire. The latter site was also visited briefly by both Great White Egret and Cattle Egret. Other lingering rarities included Bonaparte's Gull on Anglesey, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Penduline Tit in Kent and Northern Harrier in County Wexford.

A White-spotted Bluethroat remained at Spurn in Yorkshire and there were Hoopoes in Cornwall, Devon and Dorset.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Sunday 20th March 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Blue-winged Teal in Carmarthenshire at Llanelli. Elsewhere, a Lesser Scaup was identified in Merseyside at Marshside, and off the Isle of Man a White-billed Diver flew past the Calf of Man.

Lingering rarities comprised the Stejneger's Scoter still in County Kerry, the Rufous Turtle Dove still in Oxfordshire, House Crow in County Cork, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset and Bonaparte's Gulls in both Anglesey and Glamorgan.

Scarcities included single White-spotted Bluethroats in both East Yorkshire and Suffolk, and totals of 50 Lapland Buntings, 16 Great Grey Shrikes, 12 Shorelarks, 11 Iceland Gulls, nine Ring-billed Gulls, eight Taiga Bean Geese, five Rough-legged Buzzards, four Glaucous Gulls, three Great White Egrets, two Green-winged Teals, and single Rose-coloured Starling, Hoopoe and Tundra Bean Goose (Cornwall), Surf Scoter (Devon), American Wigeon (Oxfordshire), Snow Goose (County Antrim) and Cattle Egret (Gloucestershire).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 19th March 2011  
  New rarities reported today consisted of a white morph Gyr on Lewis, Western Isles and a Red-breasted Goose at Loch Leven, Perth and Kinross.

Long staying rarities seen today included the Stejneger's Scoter and Black Duck in County Kerry, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, House Crow in County Cork, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, single Bonaparte's Gulls in Glamorgan and Anglesey, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, three Northern Long-tailed Tits and a Penduline Tit in Kent and Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire.

Scarcity highlights involved one each of Rose-coloured Starling, Hoopoe, White-tailed Eagle, Ring-necked Duck, American Wigeon, Surf Scoter and Cattle Egret, two Green-winged Teals, four Great White Egrets, six Rough-legged Buzzards, seven Ring-billed Gulls and 19 Great Grey Shrikes.
-  Will Soar, RBA
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