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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Thursday 11th August 2011  
  Lingering rarities seen today included the House Crow in County Cork, Bonaparte's Gull in County Durham, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Kerry, Black Kite in Cornwall and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset.

Scarcity highlights involved a White-winged Black Tern in Cambridgeshire, single Woodchat Shrikes in Gloucestershire and Isles of Scilly, a Red-backed Shrike in Shetland, single Melodious Warblers in Gwynedd and Pembrokeshire and a Buff-breasted Sandpiper in Orkney.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 10th August 2011  
  Lingering rarities confirmed as still present today comprised the Western Bonelli's Warbler on the Shetland Isles, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Kerry, Bonaparte's Gull in County Durham, American Golden Plover in County Clare, Black Kites in both Cornwall and Devon, and single Ferruginous Ducks in both Somerset and Suffolk.

Scarcities included Melodious Warbler (Dorset and Pembrokeshire), Woodchat Shrike (Gloucestershire and the Isles of Scilly), Marsh Warbler (Norfolk), Cattle Egret (Hampshire), Great White Egret (Kent), Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Pectoral Sandpiper (together on the Western Isles).

Seawatching from County Cork produced a Cory's Shearwater, six Great Shearwaters and a Sabine's Gull.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 9th August 2011  
  In Shetland a Western Bonelli's Warbler was found on Mainland at Gulberwick. On Scilly a Bee-eater was seen on St.Mary's and the Woodchat Shrike remained on the same island.

In Ireland the Semi-palmated Sandpiper was again seen at Ventry in County Kerry and the American Golden Plover remained at Doonbeg in County Clare. Other lingering rarities included the Black Kite in Cornwall and Ferrunginous Ducks in Somerset and Suffolk.

In Pembrokeshire the Melodious Warbler continued to perform well at Martin's Haven, the Woodchat Shrike was still to be found in Gloucestershire, the Cattle Egret remained in Hampshire and a Pectoral Sandpiper was still in Norfolk.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Monday 8th August 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Blue-winged Teal at Haverton Hole, Cleveland, although it only seen there briefly. In Suffolk a Black Kite flew over Stutton Mill, whilst others lingered in both Cornwall and Devon, the Semipalmated Sandpiper remained in County Kerry, as did the Bonaparte's Gull in County Durham, and a Ferruginous Duck in Somerset.

Scarcities included Melodious Warbler (Pembrokeshire), Woodchat Shrike (Gloucestershire and the Isles of Scilly), Pectoral Sandpiper (Norfolk), Great White Egret (Hampshire) and Cattle Egret (Essex (2) and Hampshire).

Notable seabirds included nine Cory's Shearwaters and eight Great Shearwaters between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, three Long-tailed Skuas passing County Mayo, and a Sabine's Gull off Northumberland.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 7th August 2011  
  The highlight of the day the discovery of the third Semipalmated Sandpiper of the autumn: at Ventry, County Kerry. Elsewhere, lingering rarities comprised the Stilt Sandpiper in Dorset (albeit elusive), Black Scoter in Aberdeenshire, Bonaparte's Gull in County Durham, American Golden Plover in County Clare, and Black Kites in both Cornwall and Devon.

Scarcities included Short-toed Lark (Shetland Isles), Rose-coloured Starling (Isle of Wight and Western Isles), Woodchat Shrike (Gloucestershire and Isles of Scilly), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Cornwall), White-tailed Eagle (Lincolnshire), Surf Scoter (Aberdeenshire (4) and Angus), Purple Heron (Kent), Spotted Crake (Lincolnshire and West Midlands), Red-necked Phalarope (East Yorkshire), Pectoral Sandpiper (Essex and Norfolk), Great White Egret (Hampshire) and Cattle Egret (two together in Essex).

Seawatching highlights included 89 Cory's Shearwaters logged passing five counties between County Cork and East Yorkshire, with 18 Great Shearwaters also noted between County Cork and Cornwall.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 6th August 2011  
  A potential new bird for Britain was reported today when a probable Atlantic Petrel was seen off Porthgwarra in Cornwall for 5 minutes at about 11.30am but unfortunately it was not seen subsequently. In Kent, a Marsh Sandpiper was seen at Cliffe Pools RSPB in the afternoon, but it too was not seen later in the day.

In County Durham the Bonaparte's Gull remained at Whitburn, whilst in Aberdeenshire, the Black Scoter was still to be found off Blackdog.

Lingering rare waders included the Stilt Sandpiper in Dorset and the White-rumped Sandpiper in Norfolk but the Semi-palmated Sandpiper in Teesside was only seen early in the morning. A Black Kite remained in Cornwall and the Western Bonelli's Warbler was still in Derbyshire, tho elusive.

A new Woodchat Shrike was found on the Scillies, with the long staying bird still to be found in Gloucestershire. A Melodious Warbler was trapped at Beachy Head in Sussex and an Icterine Warbler was found at Flamborough Head in Yorkshire. A Purple Heron was at Elmley in Kent.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Friday 5th August 2011  
  A slightly busier day today, with the highlight probably being an adult Bonaparte's Gull in the Whitburn area of County Durham this evening. Single Black Kites were at Breydon Water, Norfolk and Ruckland, Lincolnshire, and an adult American Golden Plover was at Doonbeg, County Clare.

In Dorset, the adult Stilt Sandpiper remained for a 14th day, whilst other lingering rarities included Black Scoter in Aberdeenshire, Western Bonelli's Warbler in Derbyshire, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Cleveland, White-rumped Sandpiper in Norfolk, single Black Kites in Devon and Cornwall and Ferruginous Duck in Suffolk.

Scarcity highlights were Woodchat Shrike in Gloucestershire, Red-backed Shrike in Suffolk and Spotted Crake in Lincolnshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 4th August 2011  
  Rare wader discoveries today included a White-rumped Sandpiper on Tiree, Argyll, and a Marsh Sandpiper in flight over Boultham Mere LWT, Lincolnshire. The Marsh Sandpiper was not present at Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire today, so it may be assumed that this was the same individual.

Other waders included the Stilt Sandpiper in Dorset, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Cleveland and White-rumped Sandpiper in Norfolk, whilst single Black Kites remained in Devon and Cornwall.

Scarcity highlights involved a Night Heron in Somerset, Woodchat Shrike in Gloucestershire, single Spotted Crakes in Kent and Lincolnshire and single Pectoral Sandpipers in Essex, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 3rd August 2011  
  A very brief Caspian Tern at Brownsea Island NT, Dorset this evening was today's only new rarity.

In County Kerry, the adult Red-necked Stint was seen mid morning, with other lingering waders today including Semipalmated Sandpiper in Cleveland, Stilt Sandpiper in Dorset, White-rumped Sandpiper in Norfolk and Marsh Sandpiper in Yorkshire. Single Black Kites remained in Devon and Cornwall.

Scarcity highlights included Woodchat Shrike in Gloucestershire, Red-backed Shrike in Suffolk, Spotted Crake in Lincolnshire, two Cattle Egrets in Essex and Ring-billed Gull in Dorset.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 2nd August 2011  
  Headline news related to Ireland's fourth adult Red-necked Stint, found yesterday near Ballinskelligs (Co Kerry) and still present this afternoon.

Elsewhere rarities included the adult Semipalmated Sandpiper in Cleveland, adult White-rumped Sandpipers in Norfolk and Co Cork, Marsh Sandpiper in East Yorkshire, Stilt Sandpiper in Dorset, Snowy Owl on Western Isles and Black Kite in Cornwall.

A Woodchat Shrike in Gloucestershire, Kentish Plover in Devon, White-tailed Eagle in Lincolnshire, Pectoral Sandpipers in Essex, Lincolnshire and Kent, Red-backed Shrike in Suffolk, Great White Egret in Kent and Cattle Egrets in Hampshire and Essex (2) were all recorded today.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA