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.

Choose a starting date
Tuesday 23rd August 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery this evening of a Franklin's Gull at Helford, Cornwall. Elsewhere, other newly discovered rarities comprised an Arctic Warbler in the Shetland Isles on Fair Isle, Baird's Sandpiper in Aberdeenshire at Loch of Strathbeg, Aquatic Warbler in Cornwall at Marazion, and single Greenish Warblers in Norfolk at Blakeney Point, and in Northumberland at Newbiggin.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present today were the Semipalmated Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper and White-rumped Sandpiper all together in County Wexford, Western Bonelli's Warbler in Cornwall, White-rumped Sandpiper in County Kerry, Bee-eater on the Isles of Scilly, and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset.

Scarcities included 11 Wrynecks, Woodchat Shrike (two on the Isles of Scilly), Melodious Warbler (Devon), Icterine Warbler (East Yorkshire, Gwynedd (3) and Norfolk), Common Rosefinch (Fife and Northumberland), Red-backed Shrike (Norfolk (2) and Suffolk), Kentish Plover (Lincolnshire), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Norfolk and County Wexford), Red-necked Phalarope (Hampshire and Suffolk) and Spotted Crake (Somerset).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 22nd August 2011  
  Highlight of the day was a Little Shearwater recorded past the Bridges of Ross (Co Clare) this morning. This sighting follows a belated report of a Little Shearwater past there yesterday morning. Elsewhere in Ireland a Semipalmated Sandpiper was discovered at Tacumshin (Co Wexford), where a White-rumped Sandpiper and Baird's Sandpiper also lingered. A White-rumped Sandpiper was found at Blennerville (Co Kerry) and in Co Antrim the Wilson's Phalarope was still at Belfast Lough RSPB.

In Cornwall an Aquatic Warbler was trapped and ringed at Marazion Marsh RSPB and lingering rarities included Ferruginous Duck (Somerset), Western Bonelli's Warbler (Cornwall), Black Scoter (Aberdeenshire), Blue-winged Teal (Cleveland), Alpine Swift (Somerset) and Bee-eater (Isles of Scilly).

The best of the rest included six Wrynecks, four each of Common Rosefinch and Great White Egret, three each of Cattle Egret, Melodious Warbler and White-winged Black Tern, two each of Barred and Icterine Warbler and single Kentish Plover (Lincolnshire), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Norfolk), Short-toed Lark (Shetland), Hoopoe (Argyll) and inland Sabine's Gull (Dorset/Hampshire border).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 21st August 2011  
  A juvenile Citrine Wagtail was discovered on Tresco (Isles of Scilly) this afternoon. Elsewhere on the archipelago the Western Bonelli's Warbler, a Melodious Warbler, Wryneck and Bee-eater were all logged on St Mary's, a Wryneck joined the Citrine Wagtail on Tresco and a pelagic produced at least four Wilson's Petrels this evening.

In Ireland new discoveries comprised a Baird's Sandpiper at Tacumshin (Co Wexford), where it joined a White-rumped Sandpiper, whilst a juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper was in Co Waterford for its second day. In Co Antrim the Wilson's Phalarope lingered at Belfast Lough RSPB and the American Eider was still in Co Donegal.

Back across the Irish Sea lingering rarities included Western Bonelli's Warbler in Cornwall, Blue-winged Teal in Cleveland and Black Scoter in Aberdeenshire.

The best of the rest included Buff-breasted Sandpiper on Orkney, inland Sabine's Gull in Dorset, Woodchat Shrike in Co Durham, Icterine Warbler in Gwynedd, Purple Heron in Dorset and Melodious Warbler in Devon. Four Great White Egrets, four Wrynecks, three Cattle Egrets and two White-winged Black Terns were also recorded today.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 20th August 2011  
  A fine selection of rarities were discovered today, including a Western Bonelli's Warbler in Cornwall, Alpine Swift in Somerset, Aquatic Warbler in Dorset and American Golden Plover in Northumberland.

Lingering rarities comprised Western Bonelli's Warbler on Isles of Scilly, Blue-winged Teal in Cleveland, Black Scoter in Aberdeenshire, Subalpine Warbler in Essex and a pelagic off Isles of Scilly produced a Wilson's Petrel.

In Ireland the adult male American Eider was relocated in Co Donegal, an Alpine Swift was logged in Co Down, the House Crow lingered in Co Cork, the Wilson's Phalarope was still in Co Antrim and at Bridges of Ross seawatchers logged 98 Great Shearwaters and four Sabine's Gulls.

The best of the rest included White-winged Black Terns in Cambridgeshire and Cleveland, Great White Egrets in Somerset, Kent and on the Glamorgan/Carmarthenshire border, Wrynecks in Norfolk, Dorset, London and Kent, Hoopoe on the London/Surrey border, Melodious Warblers in Devon and Pembrokeshire, Sabine's Gull in Dorset, Ring-necked Duck in Somerset, Cattle Egrets in Leicestershire, West Sussex and Dorset and Woodchat Shrikes in Suffolk and Gloucestershire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
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