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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Tuesday 14th June 2011  
  In County Wexford, a Black Kite flew over Lady's Island Lake. Bee-eaters were seen in Suffolk, at Dingle Marshes RSPB, Glamorgan, at Wernffrwd and Pembrokeshire, on Skomer.

Seaducks were, once again, well represented, with the American White-winged Scoter remaining at Blackdog, with three Surf Scoters, and the American Eider was seen at Carrickabraghy Castle, County Donegal, with a Northern Eider. The King Eider also remained in Aberdeenshire.

Other lingering rarities included Blue-winged Teal in Somerset, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Red-footed Falcon in Norfolk and Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Kerry.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Monday 13th June 2011  
  A Roller at Upper Hollesley Common (Suffolk) was the headline discovery, whilst in Aberdeenshire the American White-winged Scoter was still off Blackdog.

A Blue-winged Teal was located at Chew Valley Lake (Somerset), a Red-footed Falcon flew in off the sea at Corton (Suffolk) and Bee-eaters were in Cornwall (3) and Isles of Scilly (3). A Wilson's Petrel was noted from a pelagic off Isles of Scilly and elsewhere lingering rarities included King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Red-footed Falcon in Norfolk, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Co Kerry, American Eider in Co Donegal and House Crow in Co Cork.

The best of the rest included Red-backed Shrike (Orkney), Red-necked Phalarope (Cheshire) and Great White Egrets in Kent, Derbyshire and Co Derry.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 12th June 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the identification of Britain's first American White-winged Scoter between Blackdog and Murcar, Aberdeenshire. Present offshore with a large scoter flock - including three Surf Scoters - the identity of the first-summer drake American White-winged Scoter was first suspected yesterday, but only was confirmed from photographs this afternoon, at which the news was broadcast. It then remained on show until late in the evening.

Rarities elsewhere comprised a brief Great Reed Warbler on the Shetland Isles at Maywick, two Red-footed Falcons together in Norfolk at Hickling Broad, the American Eider still in County Donegal, and a King Eider still in Aberdeenshire.

Scarcities included Serin (Suffolk), Marsh Warbler (Norfolk), Red-backed Shrike (Orkney Isles), Red-necked Phalarope (East Yorkshire), White-tailed Eagle (Lincolnshire), Night Heron (Cambridgeshire), American Wigeon (Aberdeenshire), Pectoral Sandpiper (Cleveland) and Great White Egret (Derbyshire, Kent, County Londonderry and South Yorkshire).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 11th June 2011  
  New discoveries included a Red-footed Falcon at Hickling Broad NWT (Norfolk) and Bee-eaters on Isles of Scilly (3) and in County Waterford. The American Eider in County Donegal, Red-footed Falcon in Herefordshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Forster's Tern in County Wexford, Iberian Chiffchaff in County Louth and Ferruginous Duck in Norfolk all lingered, but the White-throated Robin could not be found on Hartlepool Headland (Cleveland).

The best of the rest included Woodchat Shrike (Western Isles), Common Rosefinches (Forth and Isles of Scilly), Pectoral Sandpiper (Cleveland), Red-backed Shrike (Essex), White-tailed Eagle (Lincolnshire), Spotted Crake (Orkney), Marsh Warbler (Shetland) and Icterine Warbler (Orkney). Great White Egrets were seen in Suffolk, Somerset and West Yorkshire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 10th June 2011  
  In Cleveland the White-throated Robin lingered on Hartlepool Headland.

Elsewhere a Semipalmated Sand was at Black Rock Strand (Co Kerry) for its second day, Black Kites flew over Johnshaven (Aberdeenshire) and Lawford (Essex) and Blyth's Reed Warbler and Greenish Warbler were both on Fair Isle. In Aberdeenshire the King Eider lingered on the Ythan Estuary and in Co Cork the long-staying House Crow was again reported in Cobh.

The best of the rest included Rose-coloured Starling in Argyll, Icterine Warbler and Red-backed Shrike in Orkney, Common Rosefinch in Lincolnshire, Marsh Warbler in Norfolk, Purple Herons in Nottinghamshire and Devon, Great White Egret in Kent, Woodchat Shrike on Western Isles, White-tailed Eagle in Lincolnshire and Red-necked Phalaropes in Leicestershire (2) and Worcestershire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Thursday 9th June 2011  
  Once again was the highlight of the day was the continued presence of the White-throated Robin at Hartlepool Headland, Cleveland, although it could not be found there after midday. Similarly, the Red-footed Falcon in Herefordshire disappeared late morning, but the King Eider remained in Aberdeenshire.

Newly discovered rarities comprised a Greenish Warbler in the Shetland Isles on Fair Isle, another Bonaparte's Gull on Berneray, Western Isles, and brief encounters included a Red-footed Falcon in Surrey, Bee-eater in Kent and Ortolan Bunting in East Yorkshire.

Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starling (Forth), Bluethroat (Cleveland), Icterine Warbler (two together on the Shetland Isles), Common Rosefinch (Argyll and Shetland), Red-necked Phalarope (two together in County Wexford), American Wigeon (Aberdeenshire), Pectoral Sandpiper (Cheshire) and Great White Egret (Kent).

Significant news from yesterday concerned a Blyth's Reed Warbler off the Isle of Man trapped and ring on the Calf of Man.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 8th June 2011  
  In Cleveland, the White-throated Robin continued to show very well at Hartlepool Headland. In County Donegal, an American Eider (form dresseri) was found off the Isle of Doagh, whilst Red-footed Falcons were at Spurn, Yorkshire, Horsey, Norfolk and Ledbury, Herefordshire. A Black Stork flew over Hythe, Kent.

The only long staying rarity seen today was the Bonaparte's Gull on Lewis, Western Isles.

Headline scarcities included Buff-breasted Sandpiper in County Wicklow, Common Rosefinch in Anglesey and Cornwall, Icterine Warbler in Orkney, Marsh Warbler in Shetland, American Wigeon in Aberdeenshire, White-tailed Eagle in Lincolnshire, two Surf Scoters in Aberdeenshire and Purple Herons in Somerset and Suffolk.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 7th June 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the White-throated Robin at Hartlepool Headland, Cleveland. Otherwise, newly discovered rarities included Blyth's Reed Warbler and White-billed Diver on the Orkney Isles, on North Ronaldsay and on Mainland in Evie respectively, a Great Reed Warbler on the Shetland Isles at Vidlin, and a brief Red-rumped Swallow at Ogston Reservoir, Derbyshire.

Other lingering rarities comprised both Squacco Heron and Eastern Subalpine Warbler on the Shetland Isles, and Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, whilst scarcities included Purple Heron (Suffolk), White-tailed Eagle (Lincolnshire), Surf Scoter (Lothian), Golden Oriole (Hampshire), Great White Egret (Angus), Pectoral Sandpiper (Cheshire) and Ring-billed Gull (County Mayo).

Significant late news concerns a report of a Scops Owl on Bryher, Isles of Scilly on 2nd June.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 6th June 2011  
  The outstanding news today was the discovery of a female White-throated Robin on Hartlepool Headland, Cleveland. Found early in the morning and -after being trapped for ringing - believed to be a Red-flanked Bluetail, the true identity was later realised and the stunning news was promptly released. Being only the third for the British Isles - following a male seen briefly on the Calf of Man, Isle of Man on 22nd June 1983, and a female suppressed on Skokholm, Pembrokeshire on 27th-30th May 1990 - it proved to be incredibly popular, and it showed well until late in the evening.

Elsewhere, a Squacco Heron at Urafirth was a new bird for the Shetland Isles, and a singing Savi's Warbler was located at Rutland Water, Leicestershire. The Forster's Tern remained in County Wexford, as did the Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, with two Eastern Subalpine Warblers on the Shetland Isles, and a Wilson's Petrel off the Isles of Scilly.

Scarcities included Common Rosefinch (Anglesey, Cornwall, Isles of Scilly and Shetland Isles), Icterine Warbler (East Yorkshire), Marsh Warbler (Shetland Isles), Red-backed Shrike (Cleveland (2), East Yorkshire and Lincolsnhire), Golden Oriole (Lincolnshire), Purple Heron (Suffolk), Red-necked Phalarope (Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire), White-tailed Eagle (Lincolnshire), Surf Scoter (Lothian), American Wigeon (Aberdeenshire), Ring-billed Gull (Highland) and Great White Egret (Angus).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 5th June 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Blyth's Reed Warbler in Wirral on Hilbre Island: only the second county record. Elsewhere, a Bonaparte's Gull was found at Berrow, Somerset, and a Bee-eater arrived on St Mary's, Isle of Scilly.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised the Forster's Tern in County Wexford, Eastern Subalpine Warbler on the Shetland Isles, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon and the King Eider in Aberdeenshire.

Scarcities included White-winged Black Tern (County Clare), Rose-coloured Starling (Ayrshire), Common Rosefinch (Anglesey), Red-backed Shrike (East Yorkshire), Surf Scoter (Aberdeenshire and County Durham), Pectoral Sandpiper (Cheshire and Orkney Isles), Ring-necked Duck (Somerset) and Great White Egret (Angus and Kent). Around Spurn, East Yorkshire Icterine Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Common Rosefinch and Golden Oriole were all logged.
-  Chris Batty, RBA