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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Monday 11th April 2011  
  A fine selection of lingering rarities included Little Crake in West Sussex, Black Stork in Hampshire, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Bee-eater on Isles of Scilly, Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire, Western Subalpine Warbler in Northumberland, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Bonaparte's Gull in Aberdeenshire and Blue-winged Teal in Carmarthenshire.

In Kent Black Kite sightings were logged from Sutton and Bockhill Farm and in Norfolk a Black Kite was reported at Morton's Bridge. In London 8 Glossy Ibises were reported over Leytonstone.

In Ireland the Stejneger's Scoter remained in Co Kerry.

The best of the rest included Purple Herons in East Yorkshire (2), Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, Great White Egret in Lancashire, White-spotted Bluethroat in Norfolk, White-tailed Eagle in Lincolnshire, Serins in Cleveland and Kent (2), Woodchat Shrikes on Isles of Scilly (2), Cornwall (2), Glamorgan and Co Cork, Wryneck in Cornwall, Hoopoes in Devon, Pembrokeshire, Kent, Isles of Scilly, Western Isles and Co Kerry and Short-toed Lark in Dorset.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 10th April 2011  
  New discoveries today included Whiskered Terns in Dorset at Swineham and in Kent at Elmley Marshes, Great Reed Warbler in Cornwall at Nanjizal, Western Subalpine Warblers in Cornwall at Treeve Common and in Northumberland on Holy Island, a brief Red-rumped Swallow in Dorset on Portland, and another White-billed Diver in Highland; in Gruinard Bay.

Lingering rarities comprised the Little Crake still in West Sussex, Stejneger's Scoter in County Kerry, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Gull-billed Tern in Cornwall, Bonaparte's Gull and King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, at least one Bee-eater on the Isles of Scilly, Lesser Scaups in both Gloucestershire and Merseyside, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset, and the elusive Black Stork showed again in Hampshire.

Scarcities included the White-tailed Eagle still in Lincolnshire, White-spotted Bluethroat in Norfolk and Short-toed Lark in Dorset, with Night Herons in Essex and the Isles of Scilly (2), Purple Herons in Anglesey, Cornwall, Devon, East Yorkshire, Fife and the Isles of Scilly, Woodchat Shrikes in County Cork (2), County Wexford, Cornwall, Dorset, Glamorgan and the Isles of Scilly (3), Wrynecks in both Cornwall and Pembrokeshire, and Hoopoes in County Cork, County Kerry, County Wexford, Kent, Pembrokeshire, Isles of Scilly (2), Somerset and the Western Isles.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 9th April 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a showy Little Crake at Arundel, West Sussex. Elsewhere, a Black Scoter found at Colwyn Bay, Conwy, soon disappeared, a Bee-eater flew over St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, and six White-billed Divers were located in northwest Scotland: four in the Western Isles off the Isle of Lewis, and singles in Highland at both Loch Ewe and Melvaig.

Lingering rarities comprised the Rufous Turtle Dove still in Oxfordshire, American Coot in County Mayo, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, House Crow in County Cork, Gull-billed Tern in Cornwall, Bonaparte's Gull in Aberdeenshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset and single Lesser Scaups in both Gloucestershire and Merseyside.

The best of the rest included Short-toed Larks in both Cornwall and Dorset, Woodchat Shrikes in County Cork, Glamorgan and the Isles of Scilly (2), Purple Herons in Anglesey, Cornwall, East Yorkshire and the Isles of Scilly, Serins in Cheshire and Hampshire, Wrynecks on the Isles of Scilly and Suffolk, single Hoopoes in County Cork, County Kerry, Cornwall, Kent, Pembrokeshire and Worcestershire, Spotted Crake in Warwickshire and the territorial White-spotted Bluethroat still in Norfolk.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 8th April 2011  
  The roaming Black Stork was seen briefly in Kent today, as it flew over New Hythe GPs mid morning. A Red-rumped Swallow was seen at Portland, Dorset, a Bee-eater was at Sennen, Cornwall and the Bonaparte's Gull reappeared on the Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire.

Lingering rarities included the Gull-billed Tern in Cornwall, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Whiskered Tern in Western Isles, Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire, Bonaparte's Gull in Argyll and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset.

Spring scarcities included a Hoopoe, a White-spotted Bluethroat, a Short-toed Lark, two Wrynecks, two Purple Herons, two Serins and two Woodchat Shrikes.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 7th April 2011  
  The highlight of the day was a Sardinian Warbler at Hopton-on-Sea, Norfolk, albeit only seen briefly early in the morning. Brief encounters elsewhere included single Black Storks migrating over Felixstowe, Suffolk and Gillingham, Kent, whilst a Bee-eater was seen in Cornwall on The Lizard, and a Black Kite flew over Symonds Yat, Herefordshire.

Lingering rarities comprised the Gull-billed Tern in Cornwall, Whiskered Tern in Argyll, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Argyll, Red-breasted Goose in Perth and Kinross, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire and Ferruginous Duck in Wiltshire.

The best of rest were a Short-toed Lark in Dorset, Woodchat Shrike and Purple Heron on the Isles of Scilly, Purple Herons in Anglesey and Cornwall, American Wigeon in Devon, White-tailed Eagle in Norfolk, and Hoopoes in Cornwall, Derbyshire, Hampshire (2) and Pembrokeshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 6th April 2011  
  Further Spring rarities found today included a Pallid Swift at Dungeness, Kent, a Gull-billed Tern at Sennen, Cornwall, a Red-footed Falcon at Willingham-by-Stow, Lincolnshire, a Black Stork in the Eccles /Sea Palling area, Norfolk and single Alpine Swifts at Leiston, Suffolk and Rathfarnham, County Dublin.

Lingering rarity highlights included the Short-toed Treecreeper in Suffolk, Red-flanked Bluetail in Dorset, Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Whiskered Tern in Western Isles and Alpine Swift in Yorkshire.

The best of the scarcities were two Woodchat Shrikes, a Spotted Crake, a White-tailed Eagle, a Short-toed Lark, two Hoopoes and three Purple Herons.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 5th April 2011  
  A Whiskered Tern on Benbecula (Western Isles) constituted the first record for the archipelago.

Lingering rarities included Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Alpine Swifts on Isle of Man and in North Yorkshire, Red-flanked Bluetail and Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Short-toed Treecreeper in Suffolk, Red-breasted Goose in Perth and Kinross, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire and Ferruginous Duck in Wiltshire.

A Kentish Plover in Kent, Spotted Crake in Warwickshire, White-tailed Eagle in Norfolk, Purple Herons on Isles of Scilly, in Norfolk and Anglesey, Hoopoe in Hampshire and Short-toed Lark in Dorset were the best of the scarcities reported today.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 4th April 2011  
  New discoveries came in the form of a Black Stork over Lowestoft (Suffolk), Red-rumped Swallow at Swineham (Dorset), Bonaparte's Gull on Tiree (Argyll) and Alpine Swifts at Ramsey (Isle of Man) and Harrogate (North Yorkshire).

Lingering rarities included Short-toed Treecreeper (Suffolk), Red-flanked Bluetail (Dorset), Lesser Scaup (Gloucestershire), Ferruginous Duck (Wiltshire) and Rufous Turtle Dove (Oxfordshire).

In Ireland the Stejneger's Scoter lingered off Rossbeigh (Co Kerry).

The best of the scarcities seen today were White-tailed Eagle in Norfolk/ Suffolk, Spotted Crake in Warwickshire, Short-toed Lark in Dorset, Rose-coloured Starling in Cornwall, Yellow-browed Warbler in East Yorkshire, Serin in Kent, Woodchat Shrike and Purple Heron on Isles of Scilly and Hoopoes in Dorset, Gwynedd, Hampshire, Kent and Isles of Scilly.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 3rd April 2011  
  An exciting day with highlights comprising a Black Stork in Somerset, noted flying over Shapwick Heath and Nettlebridge, and in Lincolnshire a Western Subalpine Warbler at Humberston. Elsewhere, brief encounters included single Alpine Swifts in both County Cork and East Yorkshire, and Bee-eaters in Cornwall and Norfolk.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present today were the Red-flanked Bluetail and Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Stejneger's Scoter in County Kerry, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Short-toed Treecreeper in Suffolk, Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll, Bonaparte's Gull in Highland, King Eider on the Shetland Isles, Lesser Scaups in both Gloucestershire and Merseyside, Ferruginous Duck in Wiltshire, Ross's Geese in Cumbria and Perth and Kinross, the latter accompanied by a Red-breasted Goose.

Scarcities included a Short-toed Lark in Dorset, Purple Herons in both Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Serins in County Cork and Dumfries and Galloway, and Hoopoes in County Cork, Cornwall (2), Devon (2), Dorset, East Sussex, Gwynedd and Kent. A White-tailed Eagle migrated east along the north Norfolk coast from Lincolnshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 2nd April 2011  
  Highlight of the day was a Red-flanked Bluetail in Dorset, which was found at Durlston Country Park mid morning and remained in the area until late afternoon at least, although it proved very elusive for much of the time. Of the 68 accepted records to the end of 2009, just four have been seen during Spring.

Other new rarities found today included a Black Stork and a Bee-eater in Isles of Scilly, with another Bee-eater in Cornwall, an Alpine Swift in Norfolk and single Red-rumped Swallows in County Wexford and Cornwall.

Long staying rarities included the Stejneger's Scoter in County Kerry, Short-toed Treecreeper in Suffolk, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Ferruginous Duck in Wiltshire, single Lesser Scaups in Gloucestershire, Glamorgan and Merseyside and Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset.
-  Will Soar, RBA