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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Friday 19th August 2011  
  New rarities discovered today comprised a White-rumped Sandpiper in Aberdeenshire at Loch of Strathbeg, and a Red-footed Falcon in Cambridgeshire at Wisbech: although both sightings were just brief encounters.

Elsewhere, lingering rarities comprised both Western Bonelli's Warbler and Bee-eater still on the Isles of Scilly, Subalpine Warbler in Essex, Wilson's Phalarope in County Antrim, Bonaparte's Gull on the Western Isles, and Black Kite in Cornwall.

Scarcities included Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Norfolk), White-winged Black Tern (both Cambridgeshire and Cleveland), Purple Heron (Ceredigion), Spotted Crake (East Yorkshire), Woodchat Shrike (Gloucestershire), Common Rosefinch (Orkney Isles), Barred Warbler (Northumberland), Red-backed Shrike (Isles of Scilly), Hoopoe (London), Wryneck (Norfolk (2) and Cornwall), Temminck's Stint (East Yorkshire and West Sussex), Cattle Egret (Essex and West Sussex) and Great White Egret (Kent and Somerset).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 18th August 2011  
  In Norfolk, a Greenish Warbler was discovered on Blakeney Point, together with a Wryneck, whilst a Western Bonelli's Warbler was on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly. An American Golden Plover was at Shannon, County Clare, with the White-rumped Sandpiper, and a female Ferruginous Duck joined the long staying drake at Blagdon Lake, Somerset, where there was also a Ring-necked Duck.

Lingering rarities included the Wilson's Phalarope in County Antrim, Bonaparte's Gull in Western Isles, Black Kite in Cornwall, Bee-eater in Isles of Scilly, White-rumped Sandpiper in County Wexford and American Golden Plover in County Galway.

Other scarcity highlights were a Buff-breasted Sandpiper in Norfolk, a White-winged Black Tern in Cambridgeshire, a Sabine's Gull in Dorset and Hampshire, a Hoopoe on the Surrey /London border, a Melodious Warbler in Isles of Scilly, a Purple Heron in Kent and three Barred Warblers, three Woodchat Shrikes and three Wrynecks.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 17th August 2011  
  The first Aquatic Warbler of the year was seen very briefly at Exminster Marshes RSPB, Devon mid morning, but it wasn't seen again by late morning. Almost as brief, a Blue-winged Teal was present on Pudmore Pond, Thursley Common, Surrey for around half an hour, before it was seen to fly west from the site.

Lingering rarities included Black Scoter in Aberdeenshire, Subalpine Warbler in Essex, Bonaparte's Gull in Highland and Western Isles, Wilson's Phalarope in County Antrim, single White-rumped Sandpipers in County Wexford and Norfolk, Bee-eater in Scilly and Black Kite in Scilly and Cornwall.

Scarcity highlights were a Woodchat Shrike, Melodious Warbler and Icterine Warbler in Scilly (with another of the former in Gloucestershire and another of the latter in Lincolnshire), Hoopoe in Surrey, Wryneck in Devon, single White-winged Black Terns in Cambridgeshire and Yorkshire and Purple Heron in Suffolk.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 16th August 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Black Kite on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, and single White-rumped Sandpipers in County Clare at Shannon Airport, and in County Wexford, at Lady's Island Lake.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised the Citrine Wagtail on the Shetland Isles, Subalpine Warbler in Essex, Wilson's Phalarope in County Antrim, Bonaparte's Gull in County Durham, American Golden Plover in County Clare, White-rumped Sandpiper in Norfolk, Black Kite in Cornwall, and Bee-eater on the Isles of Scilly.

Scarcities included White-winged Black Tern (Cambridgeshire and North Yorkshire), Purple Heron (Kent and Suffolk), Woodchat Shrike (Gloucestershire), Barred Warbler (Shetland Isles), Temminck's Stint (Lincolnshire), Cattle Egret (Essex (2) and West Sussex), and Great White Egret (Somerset). Seawatching highlights included a Sabine's Gull passing County Clare, whilst in Devon 66 Balearic Shearwaters and 53 Pomarine Skuas were logged at Berry Head.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 15th August 2011  
  New discoveries included a flyover Black Kite at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB (Norfolk) and two American waders in Ireland - an American Golden Plover in Co Galway and a White-rumped Sandpiper in Co Wexford.

Lingering rarities comprised Subalpine Warbler in Essex, Bee-eater on Isles of Scilly, White-rumped Sandpiper in Norfolk, Black Kites in Devon and Cornwall, Blue-winged Teal in Cleveland, Bonaparte's Gulls in Co Durham and Highland and Black Scoter in Aberdeenshire. In Ireland the Wilson's Phalarope was still in Co Antrim and an American Golden Plover remained in Co Clare.

Scarcities included White-winged Black Terns in Cambridgeshire and North Yorkshire, Cattle Egrets in Essex (2), West Sussex and Gwent, Great White Egrets in Kent and Somerset, Purple Heron in Kent, Pectoral Sandpiper in East Yorkshire, Woodchat Shrikes on Isles of Scilly and Gloucestershire, Wryneck in Dorset, Barred Warbler and Common Rosefinch on Shetland.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 14th August 2011  
  Once again, today the Shetland Isles stole the show with Pallid Harrier, Greenish Warbler and Red-backed Shrike on Fair Isle, two Two-barred Crossbills, Greenish Warbler, Icterine Warbler and Red-backed Shrike around Mainland, and a Common Rosefinch on Unst.

Elsewhere, a Wilson's Phalarope arrived in County Antrim at Belfast Lough, a Subalpine Warbler was seen briefly in Essex at Holland Haven, single Bonaparte's Gulls were found in both in Highland at Dornoch, and on the Western Isles on Lewis, whilst a White-rumped Sandpiper was found in Kent at Dungeness, with now two together in Norfolk at Snettisham.

Lingering rarities comprised Wilson's Phalarope and Blue-winged Teal together in Cleveland, Black Duck in County Mayo, Bonaparte's Gull in County Durham, American Golden Plover in County Clare, Bee-eater on the Isles of Scilly, and single Black Kites in both Cornwall and Devon.

Scarcities included Melodious Warbler (Pembrokeshire), Icterine Warbler (Orkney Isles), Woodchat Shrike (Gloucestershire and the Isles of Scilly), White-winged Black Tern (Cambridgeshire), Purple Heron (Kent), Pectoral Sandpiper (Lincolnshire and Norfolk), Temminck's Stint (Lincolnshire), Great Shearwater (Isles of Scilly), Cattle Egret (Essex (2) and West Sussex), and Great White Egret (Kent, Northumberland and Somerset).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 13th August 2011  
  A Wilson's Phalarope in Cleveland was probably the highlight today, with a fairly dull adult spending some of the evening in the Greatham Creek /Seal Sands area. A Citrine Wagtail was a new arrival on Fair Isle, Shetland (where the Pallid Harrier and Greenish Warbler both remained). Late news concerned the confirmation of an adult Sooty Tern, which flew south past Kessingland, Suffolk on Wednesday.

Lingering rarities included the Black Scoter in Aberdeenshire, Blue-winged Teal in Cleveland, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Kerry, White-rumped Sandpiper in Norfolk, American Golden Plover in County Clare, Black Kite in Cornwall, Bonaparte's Gull in County Durham and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 12th August 2011  
  Several quality new rarities were discovered today, but none were easily gettable by more than a few observers. The highlight was a juvenile Pallid Harrier, which was present on Fair Isle from mid evening, along with a Greenish Warbler and a Short-toed Lark. Two Two-barred Crossbills were seen very briefly in Kilnsea, Yorkshire, before flying off north, and a Wilson's Petrel was off a pelagic out of the Isles of Scilly this evening. An unringed Baltic Gull was seen at Blackborough End, Norfolk.

Lingering rarities included the Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Kerry, Black Kite in Cornwall and Ferruginous Duck in Suffolk.

Autumn scarcities continued to arrive, with a Wryneck and three Icterine Warblers on the east coast. Single Melodious Warblers were in Dorset and Pembrokeshire, whilst other scarcities included White-winged Black Tern in Cambridgeshire, single Woodchat Shrikes in Gloucestershire and Isles of Scilly, Red-backed Shrike in Shetland and Buff-breasted Sandpiper in Orkney.
-  Will Soar, RBA
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