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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Wednesday 20th July 2011  
  The highlight of the day was early morning confirmation of a Pacific Golden Plover on the Hayle Estuary, Cornwall: although present for two days, it later proved elusive. Elsewhere, a White-rumped Sandpiper was discovered at Saltholme Pools, Cleveland during the evening.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised the Black Scoter - together with three Surf Scoters - in Aberdeenshire, Marsh Sandpiper in East Yorkshire, Spotted Sandpiper in Leicestershire, two Pacific Golden Plovers together in County Londonderry, Red-rumped Swallow on the Shetland Isles, Wilson's Petrel off the Isles of Scilly, and Ferruginous Ducks in both Somerset and Suffolk.

Scarcities included Melodious Warbler (Kent), Common Rosefinch (Cambridgeshire), White-tailed Eagle (Lincolnshire), Long-tailed Skua (Highland), Cattle Egret (Devon), Great White Egret (Dorset and Kent), Grey Phalarope (Ayrshire and the Isles of Scilly) and Pectoral Sandpiper (Aberdeenshire, Cleveland, Lincolnshire, County Londonderry and Northumberland).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 19th July 2011  
  A Terek Sandpiper visited Holywell Pond (Northumberland) this afternoon but could not be found later in the day. In Shetland a Red-rumped Swallow was discovered at Loch of Hillwell, Mainland.

Lingering rarities included Marsh Sandpiper (East Yorkshire), Black Scoter (Aberdeenshire), Spotted Sandpiper (Leicestershire), Ferruginous Duck (Somerset), Western Bonelli's Warbler (Derbyshire) and Bonaparte's Gulls (Devon and Western Isles).

The best of the rest included Great White Egrets (Leicestershire and Dorset), Common Rosefinch (Cambridgeshire), Pectoral Sandpiper (Aberdeenshire), Cattle Egret (West Sussex) and Night Heron (Essex).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 18th July 2011  
  The highlight of the day was an Alpine Swift watched over the Calf of Man, Isle of Man. Elsewhere, the Black Scoter was relocated with four Surf Scoters in Aberdeenshire off Murcar and, on the Western Isles, the Bonaparte's Gull was relocated on Berneray.

Other lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised the Marsh Sandpiper in East Yorkshire, two Pacific Golden Plovers together in County Londonderry, Spotted Sandpipers in both Leicestershire and County Wexford, Western Bonelli's Warbler in Derbyshire, and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset.

Scarcities included Common Rosefinch (Cambridgeshire), Ring-billed Gull (County Antrim), Cattle Egret (West Sussex), Great White Egret (Dorset), White-tailed Eagle, American Wigeon and Temminck's Stint (all Lincolnshire). Notable seabirds included 141 Cory's Shearwaters (107 counted from the Isles of Scilly alone), seven Balearic Shearwaters, and a Sabine's Gull in Highland.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 17th July 2011  
  New discoveries today include a lingering Spotted Sandpiper at Lady's Island Lake, County Wexford, and a brief Red-rumped Swallow at Weir Wood Reservoir, Sussex.

In Derbyshire, the Western Bonelli's Warbler remained on territory at Arnfield Reservoir, whilst long staying waders included Marsh Sandpiper in Yorkshire and Spotted Sandpiper in Leicestershire.

Scarcity highlights involved Common Rosefinch in Cambridgeshire, Pectoral Sandpiper in Essex, American Wigeon and White-tailed Eagle in Lincolnshire, single Great White Egrets in Carmarthenshire and Kent, Cattle Egret in Sussex, Rose-coloured Starling in Argyll and Glaucous Gull in Devon.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 16th July 2011  
  Lingering rarities confirmed as still present today comprised the territorial Western Bonelli's Warbler in Derbyshire, Marsh Sandpiper in East Yorkshire, Spotted Sandpiper in Leicestershire, two Pacific Golden Plovers together in County Londonderry, Black-headed Bunting on the Shetland Isles, and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset.

Seawatching was headlined by a Wilson's Petrel passing the Bridges of Ross, County Clare, with elsewhere Cory's Shearwaters (including at least 25 off County Cork), three Great Shearwaters, six Pomarine Skuas and at least 28 Balearic Shearwaters noted.

Scarcities included White-winged Black Tern (Shetland Isles), Common Rosefinch (Cambridgeshire), American Wigeon (both Lincolnshire and Western Isles), Pectoral Sandpiper (Essex), Cattle Egret (West Sussex) and Great White Egret (both Carmarthenshire and Kent).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 15th July 2011  
  In London a Black Kite flew over Beddington sewage farm this afternoon.

Lingering rarities included Black-headed Bunting (Shetland), Marsh Sandpiper (East Yorkshire), Spotted Sandpiper (Leicestershire), two Pacific Golden Plovers (Co Derry) and Western Bonelli's Warbler (Derbyshire).

Notable sightings also included the American Wigeon in Lincolnshire, Common Rosefinch in Cambridgeshire, Great White Egret in Kent, Pectoral Sandpiper in Essex, Rose-coloured Starling in Argyll and White-tailed Eagle in Lincolnshire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Thursday 14th July 2011  
  The highlight of the day was a Ferruginous Duck at Holme Heath, Dorset. First noted yesterday, the identification being confirmed this morning.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised the Marsh Sandpiper in East Yorkshire, Spotted Sandpiper in Leicestershire, two Pacific Golden Plovers together in County Londonderry, and the territorial Western Bonelli's Warbler in Derbyshire.

Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starling (Argyll), Common Rosefinch (Cambridgeshire), American Wigeon (Lincolnshire), Pectoral Sandpiper (Essex), Red-necked Phalarope (Orkney Isles) and Great White Egret (Kent).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 13th July 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Spotted Sandpiper at Rutland Water, Leicestershire. Elsewhere, in County Cork a Wilson's Petrel was noted off Galley Head, in Somerset a Ferruginous Duck was located at Blagdon Lake, and on the Isles of Scilly a Bee-eater was on St Mary's.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present today comprised the Marsh Sandpiper in East Yorkshire, the territorial Western Bonelli's Warbler in Derbyshire, Black-headed Bunting on the Shetland Isles, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, and two Pacific Golden Plovers together in County Londonderry.

Scarcities included Common Rosefinch (Cambridgeshire and Pembrokeshire), Serin (Dorset), Marsh Warbler (Northumberland), Golden Oriole (Isles of Scilly), American Wigeon (Lincolnshire and Western Isles), Pectoral Sandpiper (Essex), Cory's and Great Shearwater (both County Cork).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 12th July 2011  
  In Lincolnshire the Marsh Sandpiper discovered yesterday evening at Alkborough Flats lingered until 0615 before it flew to nearby Blacktoft Sands RSPB (East Yorkshire), where it remained for the rest of today.

Elsewhere lingering rarities included Western Bonelli's Warbler in Derbyshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Black-headed Bunting on Shetland and House Crow in Co Cork.

In Suffolk a Bee-eater flew over near Woolpit, a Pectoral Sandpiper was discovered at Holland Haven Country Park (Essex) and the Common Rosefinch continued to sing in Melbourn (Cambridgeshire). The Red-backed Shrike was reportedly still present in Northamptonshire and the White-tailed Eagle (Lincolnshire) and Marsh Warbler (Northumberland) also lingered.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 11th July 2011  
  Bird of the day goes to the Marsh Sandpiper at Alkborough Flats in Lincolnshire, although it wasn't discovered until just before dusk.

The singing Western Bonelli's Warbler continues to hold territory in Derbyshire, with other lingering rarities including Semipalmated Sandpiper and two Pacific Golden Plovers in County Derry and Bonapaparte's Gull in Devon.

In Cambridgeshire, the singing Common Rosefinch remained for a second day at Melbourn, whilst other scarcities included the two Night Herons in Kent, Red-backed Shrike in Northamptonshire, Rose-coloured Starling in Argyll, Marsh Warbler in Northumberland, Common Crane in North Yorkshire, single Glaucous Gulls in Devon and Kent, Pomarine Skua in County Cork and Great White Egret in Kent.
-  Will Soar, RBA