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 4th July 2011  
  A Lesser Grey Shrike in Pembrokeshire was today's headline discovery, representing the fourth county record, following singles in 1974, 1993 and 1998.

In Wiltshire a Red-footed Falcon lingered over Bentley Wood before departing eastwards whilst in East Sussex the Marbled Duck found yesterday at Arlington Reservoir returned briefly this evening, having been missing for most of the day. Lingering rarities included the singing Western Bonelli's Warbler in Derbyshire, American Golden Plover in Lancashire, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon and Black Scoter in Aberdeenshire. In Ireland the two Pacific Golden Plovers lingered in Co Derry and the long-staying House Crow remained in Co Cork.

The best of the rest included the White-tailed Eagle in Lincolnshire, four Surf Scoters off Aberdeenshire, Hoopoe in Warwickshire and Great White Egret in Kent.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 3rd July 2011  
  The highlight of the day was a territorial Western Bonelli's Warbler at Arnfield Reservoir, Derbyshire. First discovered yesterday, news was released late in the morning today, and the bird showed into the evening. Elsewhere, a Black-headed Bunting arrived on Fair Isle, Shetland Isles, and, in Kent, a Savi's Warbler was found at Stodmarsh, whilst a Bee-eater made a brief appearance at Dungeness. Rare waders comprised two Pacific Golden Plovers together at Myroe Levels, County Londonderry, an American Golden Plover on the Wyre Estuary, Lancashire, and a Black-winged Stilt in Suffolk at Aldeburgh.

Lingering rarities confirmed a still present comprised Black Scoters in both Aberdeenshire and Moray, House Crow in County Cork, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, and Bee-eater on the Isles of Scilly.

Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starling (Argyll and Gwynedd), Common Rosefinch (Shetland Isles), Marsh Warbler (Cambridgeshire), Night Heron (two together in Kent) White-tailed Eagle (Lincolnshire) and Surf Scoter (two together in Aberdeenshire).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 2nd July 2011  
  An adult drake Black Scoter off Burghead (Moray) this afternoon was presumably the same individual that had lingered off Murcar Links (Aberdeenshire) from 27th June-1st July.

Lingering rarities included Bonaparte's Gull in Devon and Bee-eater on Isles of Scilly, whilst in Suffolk, Minsmere RSPB hosted two Ferruginous Ducks.

The best of the rest included Serin (East Sussex), White-tailed Eagle (Lincolnshire), Common Rosefinches (Highland and Shetland) and Great White Egret (Kent).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 1st July 2011  
  In Aberdeenshire the drake Black Scoter was found again in the scoter flock off Murcar Golf Course. Three Bee-eaters flew north over the Calf of Man bird observatory and the single Bee-eater remained on The Scillies, today being found over St.Mary's. The Bonaparte's Gull continued to linger on the Exe Estuary in Devon.

In Cleveland a White-winged Black Tern was found this evening at Saltholme and, in the Northern Isles, a few late scarcities were found today, with a Marsh Warbler on North Ronaldsay and both Common Rosefinch and Wryneck on Fair Isle. In Kent the juvenile Night Heron at Stodmarsh was joined by a second juvenile this evening. The Great White Egret was still at Dungeness and there were 23 Spoonbills across 6 counties. A Stone Curlew was a surprise visitor to Lodmoor in Dorset.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Thursday 30th June 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Bee-eater on the Isles Scilly, and the lingering Bonaparte's Gull in Devon.

Scarcities included a Night Heron in Kent, Red-necked Phalarope and White-tailed Eagle in Lincolnshire, and single Great White Egrets in both Kent and Northamptonshire. 29 Spoonbills were recorded across nine counties, including eight together at Minsmere, Suffolk.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 29th June 2011  
  Today's new discoveries included a Red-rumped Swallow at Talisker (Highland), a flyover Bee-eater at Spurn (East Yorkshire) and a Night Heron arrived at Stodmarsh NNR (Kent), whilst in Lothian a Laughing Gull was reported at Loanhead.

Lingering rarities and scarcities comprised Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Great White Egrets in Kent and Northamptonshire and White-tailed Eagle in Lincolnshire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 28th June 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Black Scoter in Aberdeenshire, where it remained on the sea off Blackdog, alongside at least three Surf Scoters. Elsewhere, other lingering rarities were represented by a Black Kite still on the Isles of Scilly, and the Bonaparte's Gull still in Devon.

Scarcities included Common Rosefinch (Highland), Red-backed Shrike (Kent), White-tailed Eagle (Lincolnshire), Ring-necked Duck (Orkney Isles) and Great White Egret (Kent). A total of 29 Spoonbills were reported across eight counties (most notably Angus, Carmarthenshire, County Waterford and Gloucestershire).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 27th June 2011  
  Following hot on the heels of the American White-winged Scoter at Murcar in Aberdeenshire, the same scoter flock hosted a drake Black Scoter this evening.

Elsewhere new discoveries included a Glossy Ibis at Stodmarsh NNR (Kent) and a Bee-eater over Durlston Country Park (Dorset). An Alpine Swift again flew south over Spurn Point (on three different occasions today) and elsewhere lingering rarities included Black Kite on Isles of Scilly and Forster's Tern in Co Wexford. A Wilson's Petrel was again logged from an Isles of Scilly pelagic this evening.

The best of the rest came in the form of White-tailed Eagle in Lincolnshire, Common Rosefinch in Highland, two Ring-necked Ducks on Orkney and three Surf Scoters in Aberdeenshire.

Late news from yesterday related to a Red-footed Falcon over Cromer (Norfolk).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
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