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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Sunday 26th June 2011  
  Today was headlined by rare birds of prey, with a Red-footed Falcon seen at Sandwich Bay, Kent, and single Black Kites on both the Isles of Scilly, and at Sancreed, Cornwall.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Black Duck in Highland, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, and Ferruginous Ducks in both Somerset and Suffolk.

Scarcities included two American Wigeons together on the Western Isles, Surf Scoter in Aberdeenshire, White-tailed Eagle in Lincolnshire, Ring-necked Duck in Somerset, Temminck's Stint on the Orkney Isles, Ring-billed Gull in County Antrim, and in Norfolk Pectoral Sandpiper, Temminck's Stint and Great White Egret.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 25th June 2011  
  In East Yorkshire an Alpine Swift flew south over Spurn this afternoon.

Lingering rarities included King Eider in Aberdeenshire and Ferruginous Ducks in Somerset and Suffolk. Having reappeared yesterday following a week-long absence, the Greater Sand Plover at Dornoch (Highland) could not be found today.

The best of the rest included Red-necked Phalarope in Gloucestershire, Ring-necked Ducks in Perth & Kinross and Somerset, White-tailed Eagle in Lincolnshire, Common Rosefinch in Highland, Great White Egret in Kent and both Pectoral Sandpiper and Temminck's Stint in Norfolk, the latter displaying to Dunlin at Titchwell RSPB.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 24th June 2011  
  The only new rarities reported today were a Black Stork circling over Two Dales, near Matlock in Derbyshire and, on Shetland, a female Subalpine Warbler was found on Fetlar. On the Scilly Isles a Bee-eater drifted over Hugh Town on St.Mary's.

In Aberdeenshire the American White-winged Scoter was still to be found off Murcar Golf Links along with 3 Surf Scoters. Other lingering rarities included the Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, the Black Duck in Highland and both Blue-winged Teal and Ferruginous Duck at Chew Valley Lake in Somerset.

A Golden Oriole was again in the Glaven Valley near Cley in Norfolk, a Common Rosefinch was in Highland, and the Rose-coloured Starling remained in Devon, as did the White-tailed Eagle in Lincolnshire. Common Crossbills and Quails were widely reported.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Thursday 23rd June 2011  
  The highlight of day was a Blyth's Reed Warbler on the Orkney Isles, trapped and ringed on North Ronaldsay in the evening: the fifth Blyth's Reed Warbler to be recorded in Britain so far this month, and - of these - the second to be trapped on this island.

Elsewhere, a Ferruginous Duck appeared in Somerset at Chew Valley Lake, whilst lingering rarities comprised both the American White-winged Scoter and King Eider still in Aberdeenshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Red-footed Falcon in Norfolk, and Ferruginous Duck in Suffolk.

Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starling (Devon), Common Rosefinch (Highland), Red-backed Shrike (Shetland Isles), Surf Scoter (Aberdeenshire), Ring-necked Duck (Argyll) and Great White Egret (Kent).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 22nd June 2011  
  Lingering rarities included the American White-winged Scoter and King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Blue-winged Teal in Somerset, Red-footed Falcon in Norfolk, Ferruginous Duck in Suffolk and Bonaparte's Gull in Devon. A Red-footed Falcon was present for at least its second day at Breaston (Derbyshire).

Scarcity highlights comprised Rose-coloured Starling in Devon, Short-toed Lark and Pectoral Sandpiper in Shetland, Purple Heron in Herefordshire, Common Rosefinch in East Yorkshire, White-tailed Eagle in Lincolnshire, Great White Egret in Kent and Red-necked Phalarope in Gloucestershire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 21st June 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the relocation of the Black Duck in Highland at Loch Sunart; near where it had first been seen on 6th June.

Elsewhere, lingering rarities comprised the American White-winged Scoter still with three Surf Scoters and a King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Blue-winged Teal in Somerset, Red-footed Falcon in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Bee-eater on the Isles of Scilly, and Ferruginous Duck in Suffolk.

Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starling (Devon), Common Rosefinch (Gwent), Serin (Dorset), White-tailed Eagle (Lincolnshire), Ring-billed Gull (County Antrim), Red-necked Phalarope (Orkney Isles), and Great White Egret (Kent).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 20th June 2011  
  A Caspian Tern was briefly at Gibraltar Point NNR (Lincolnshire) early afternoon before flying south-east towards Norfolk, presumably the same bird that had frequented the North Norfolk coast last Friday evening and Saturday morning.

On Anglesey a Black Kite was reported over Aberffraw Dunes, whilst lingering rarities included American White-winged Scoter in Aberdeenshire, Red-footed Falcon in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Ferruginous Ducks in Norfolk and Suffolk and Forster's Tern in Co Wexford. A Wilson's Petrel was logged from an Isles of Scilly pelagic this evening.

The best of the rest included a Common Rosefinch trapped at Spurn (East Yorkshire), Grey Phalarope on the Ythan Estuary (Aberdeenshire) and Serin at Portland (Dorset).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 19th June 2011  
  The highlight of the the day was the discovery of a Lesser Yellowlegs in County Wexford at Lady's Island Lake, with a Pectoral Sandpiper representing another new arrival at nearby Ring Marsh.

Lingering rarities confirmed as present comprised the American White-winged Scoter still together with three Surf Scoters in Aberdeenshire, the Squacco Heron in Kent, Forster's Tern in County Wexford, Blue-winged Teal in Somerset, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Red-footed Falcon in Norfolk, Bee-eater on the Isles of Scilly, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Ferruginous Duck in Suffolk, and American Eider in County Donegal.

Scarcities included Night Heron (Hertfordshire), Rose-coloured Starling (Devon), White-tailed Eagle (Lincolnshire) and Great White Egret (Kent).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 18th June 2011  
  In Aberdeenshire the American White-winged Scoter lingered off Blackdog. In Norfolk the Caspian Tern found at Thornham harbour late yesterday evening ranged between Titchwell RSPB and Holme this morning, whilst in East Norfolk the Red-footed Falcon continued to commute between Horsey and Hickling Broad NWT. Elsewhere lingering rarities included Blue-winged Teal in Somerset, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Ferruginous Duck in Suffolk and Squacco Heron in Kent.

The best of the rest included Rose-coloured Starling in Devon, a pair of Red-necked Phalaropes in Nottinghamshire, Ring-necked Duck in Somerset, White-tailed Eagle in Lincolnshire, Marsh Warbler on Orkney, Great White Egret in Kent, American Wigeon in Aberdeenshire and Bluethroat on Shetland.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 17th June 2011  
  Scotland's lingering mega-rarities once again created the headlines - the American White-winged Scoter was still off Blackdog (Aberdeenshire) and the Greater Sand Plover remained at Dornoch (Highland).

New discoveries came in the form of a Spotted Sandpiper at Whisby Nature Park (Lincolnshire), Caspian Tern at Thornham harbour (Norfolk) and Squacco Heron on Mainland Shetland, whilst King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Squacco Heron in Kent, Ferruginous Duck in Suffolk, Red-footed Falcon in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon and Blue-winged Teal in Somerset all lingered.

The best of the rest included Red-backed Shrikes in Orkney (2) and Norfolk, Grey Phalarope in Aberdeenshire, White-tailed Eagle in Lincolnshire, Shorelark in Orkney and Ring-necked Duck in Somerset.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA