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 29th August 2011  
  A Yelkouan Shearwater past Cley (Norfolk), Pallid Harrier on St Mary's (Isles of Scilly) and a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Tacumshin (Co Wexford) were today's star discoveries.

The Black Kite in Cornwall, Bee-eater on Isles of Scilly, Western Bonelli's Warbler in Norfolk and Blue-winged Teal in Cleveland all lingered, whilst in Ireland the House Crow (Co Cork), three Semipalmated Sandpipers (two in Co Wexford and one in Co Derry) and three White-rumped Sandpipers (two in Co Wexford and one in Co Kerry) all remained on show.

The best of the rest comprised Spotted Crake in Somerset, Woodchat Shrike on Isles of Scilly, Hoopoe in Pembrokeshire, Red-backed Shrike in Norfolk, Barred Warbler in Gwynedd, Cattle Egrets in Kent and West Sussex and eleven Wrynecks were reported.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 28th August 2011  
  New rarities identified today were a Booted Warbler on Unst, Shetland Isles (where it has been present, unidentified, for six days), a Citrine Wagtail in Merseyside at Seaforth, and a Semipalmated Sandpiper on the Bann Estuary, County Londonderry: the fifth record of this species in Ireland this week.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in County Clare, Pallid Harrier on the Shetland Isles, Western Bonelli's Warbler in Norfolk, two Semipalmated Sandpipers and a White-rumped Sandpiper together in County Wexford, Black Scoter with two Surf Scoters in Aberdeenshire, Bonaparte's Gull in County Durham, Blue-winged Teal in Cleveland, Black Kite in Cornwall, and the Bee-eater on the Isles of Scilly.

Scarcities included seven Wrynecks, four Common Rosefinches (all on the Shetland Isles), two each of Barred Warbler, Red-backed Shrike and Temminck's Stint, and single Woodchat Shrike (Isle of Scilly), Icterine Warbler (Gwynedd), Serin (Kent), Hoopoe (Pembrokeshire), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (County Wexford), Spotted Crake (Somerset), Red-necked Phalarope (Norfolk), and Pectoral Sandpiper (Staffordshire). Seawatching highlights were eight Long-tailed Skuas, three Cory's Shearwaters and a Sabine's Gull (off Cornwall).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 27th August 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in County Clare, where a Semipalmated Sandpiper was also seen again. In County Wexford a Pacific Golden Plover, two Semipalmated Sandpipers, four White-rumped Sandpipers and a Buff-breasted Sandpiper were all noted, whilst scarce waders in England included Red-necked Phalarope in Norfolk, Pectoral Sandpiper in Staffordshire and three Temminck's Stints (Nottinghamshire, Somerset and West Sussex).

Other rarities comprised Western Bonelli's Warbler and Greenish Warbler still together in Norfolk, Black Scoter with five Surf Scoters in Aberdeenshire, Black Duck in County Mayo, Blue-winged Teal in Cleveland and Black Kite in Cornwall, whilst scarcities included Woodchat Shrike (Isles of Scilly), Serin (Kent), Barred Warbler (Fife), Hoopoe (Somerset and Suffolk), Red-backed Shrike (two in Norfolk), Wryneck (Hampshire, London, Norfolk, Surrey and West Sussex), Spotted Crake (Somerset) and Cattle Egret (Kent and West Sussex).

Seawatching highlights included 11 Long-tailed Skuas, four Sabine's Gulls, four Great Shearwaters, two Cory's Shearwaters and 74 Balearic Shearwaters.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 26th August 2011  
  A Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Shannon Airport Lagoon (Co Clare) was today's headline discovery. Elsewhere in Ireland a Semipalmated Sandpiper at Doonbeg (Co Clare) was new, the two Semipalmated and single Baird's, White-rumped and Buff-breasted Sandpipers all remained at Tacumshin (Co Wexford) and the Wilson's Phalarope lingered in Co Antrim.

In Norfolk a Western Bonelli's Warbler was found in Cromer, where it co-inhabited Warren Wood with a singing Greenish Warbler. In London both Whiskered and White-winged Black Terns flew along the River Thames past Rainham Marshes RSPB.

On Shetland Booted Warblers were on Fair Isle and Mainland, a Pallid Harrier visited Bressay and two Greenish Warblers were on Mainland. A Bonaparte's Gull was reported on North Uist (Western Isles) and Greenish Warblers lingered in Aberdeenshire and East Yorkshire.

Scarcity totals included twelve Wrynecks, eight Barred Warblers, three Melodious Warblers, two Red-necked Phalaropes, Icterine Warblers, Woodchat and Red-backed Shrikes and single Hoopoe (Argyll), Ring-necked Duck (North Yorkshire), Spotted Crake (Somerset) and Great White Egret (Hampshire).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Thursday 25th August 2011  
  The first Fea's Petrel of the year was seen off Seven Heads, County Cork this evening, amongst large numbers of Great and Cory's Shearwaters. A Marsh Sandpiper graced Grove Ferry NNR, Kent very briefly, whilst a second White-rumped Sandpiper arrived at Tacumshin, County Wexford, joining the two Semipalmated Sandpipers, Baird's Sandpiper and Buff-breasted Sandpiper. New rare warblers were represented by Arctic Warbler and Greenish Warbler in Shetland, Greenish Warbler in Norfolk and Aquatic Warbler in Devon.

Lingering rarities included Pallid Harrier, Booted Warbler and Arctic Warbler in Shetland, Wilson's Phalarope in County Antrim and Greenish Warblers in County Durham and Aberdeenshire, whilst three Wilson's Petrels were seen off the Isles of Scilly this evening.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 24th August 2011  
  A Western Bonelli's Warbler at Dungeness, Kent remained very elusive all day, after being trapped and ringed mid morning. Two new Greenish Warblers were discovered further north, one at Whitburn, County Durham and one at Collieston, Aberdeenshire, whilst Shetland hosted a Booted Warbler at Grutness, an Arctic Warbler at Sumburgh and a juvenile Pallid Harrier on Noss. An adult Semipalmated Sandpiper joined the juvenile at Tacumshin, County Wexford, where a Baird's Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper and Buff-breasted Sandpiper all remained.

Lingering rarities included the Black Scoter in Aberdeenshire, Wilson's Phalarope in County Antrim, single Greenish Warblers in Norfolk and Northumberland and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset.

Scarce migrant totals included 18 Wrynecks, 11 Barred Warblers, eight Common Rosefinches, six Icterine Warblers, two Woodchat Shrikes, two Red-backed Shrikes, a Spotted Crake, a Grey Phalarope and a Kentish Plover.
-  Will Soar, RBA
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