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| Friday 30th September 2011 | ||
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| Today's headline discovery was a Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler on Fair
Isle, where it showed until dusk.
Elsewhere new discoveries included Red-throated Pipit on Orkney and six Little Buntings (in Devon, East Yorkshire and four on Shetland). A flock of seven Glossy Ibises arrived on Isles of Wight, whilst singles were recorded in Glamorgan, Carmarthenshire and Dorset. Nearctic waders were again recorded in excellent numbers; records included Semipalmated Plover, Least Sandpiper and Baird's Sandpiper (Co Kerry), two Spotted Sandpipers, three Lesser Yellowlegs, three Long-billed Dowitchers, four White-rumped Sandpipers, ten American Golden Plovers, 13 Semipalmated Sandpipers and 36 Buff-breasted Sandpipers. The best of the rest came in the form of Black-headed Bunting, Syke's or Booted Warbler and Citrine Wagtail on Shetland, Red-eyed Vireo on Barra (Western Isles), Ferruginous Duck (Northamptonshire), Black Scoter (Aberdeenshire), House Crow (Co Cork), American Black Tern (Lincolnshire), as well as at least four Pallid Harriers and two Black Kites. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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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 29th September 2011 | ||
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| Today's highlight was the tracking of the adult Sandhill Crane between
Newbiggin (Northumberland) and Kettleness (North Yorkshire) via sites along the
Co Durham and Cleveland coast between 9.08am and 2pm. The bird had last been
seen on 26th September when it flew south from Loch of Strathbeg RSPB
(Aberdeenshire) at midday.
New discoveries included an Arctic Warbler in Suffolk, Glossy Ibis in Carmarthenshire, Alpine Swift and Little Bunting on Shetland, Pallid Harrier on Isles of Scilly, Great Snipe on Shetland and Blue-winged Teal in Co Clare. American waders comprised Semipalmated Plover, Least Sandpiper and Baird's Sandpiper (all in Co Kerry), two Long-billed Dowitchers, two Spotted Sandpipers, four White-rumped Sandpipers, seven Semipalmated Sandpipers and nine American Golden Plovers. The Northern Waterthrush (Isles of Scilly), Black-headed Bunting, American Buff-bellied Pipit, Little Bunting and Lesser Grey Shrike (Shetland), Ferruginous Duck (Northamptonshire), Black Scoter (Aberdeenshire), American Black Tern (Lincolnshire) and four Pallid Harriers and two Black Kites all lingered. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 28th September 2011 | ||
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| In Shetland, a Black-headed Bunting was found on Unst, 2 Pallid
Harriers were together on Mainland and lingering rarities included Lesser
Grey Shrike and Coue's Arctic Redpoll on Mainland, Little Bunting
on Whalsay and Citrine Wagtail on Fair Isle.
Other Pallid Harriers included a new bird at Black Down in Somerset and singles on Mainland Orkney, North Ronaldsay and in West Sussex. The Semi-palmated Plover remained at Ventry in County Kerry with other American waders in Ireland totalling: 1 Least Sandpiper; 4 Semi-palmated Sandpipers; 4 White-rumped Sandpipers; 1 Pectoral Sandpiper; 2 American Golden Plovers and 27 Buff-breasted Sandpipers (including 22 together at Tacumshin in County Wexford). On Scilly there was an Aquatic Warbler on St.Agnes, a Black Kite over Bryher and Tresco, as well as the lingering Northern Waterthrush, Solitary Sandpiper, Ortolan Bunting and Lesser Yellowlegs on St.Mary's and the American Golden Plover on St.Martins. A Baird's Sandpiper put in a brief appearance at Saltholme in Cleveland, a Ferruginous Duck was found at Pitsford Reservoir in Northamptonshire and other lingering rarities included Semi-palmated Sandpipers in Devon, Hampshire, Gloucestershire and Aberdeenshire; Spotted Sandpipers in Devon and Somerset; Long-billed Dowitchers in Cornwall and Clyde; American Black Tern in Lincolnshire and a Red-eyed Vireo and 2 American Golden Plovers on Barra in the Western Isles. |
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| - Pete Hayman, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 27th September 2011 | ||
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| Lingering mega-rarities comprised the Semipalmated Plover in Co Kerry
and both Northern Waterthrush and Solitary Sandpiper on Isles of
Scilly. Elsewhere on Isles of Scilly an American Golden Plover,
Ortolan Bunting, Lesser Yellowlegs and Red-eyed Vireo were all
recorded. On Shetland a Little Bunting lingered on Whalsay.
On Portland (Dorset) a Blyth's Reed Warbler was trapped and ringed. In addition to those waders already mentioned, a Least Sandpiper (Co Kerry), American Golden Plover (Gwent), Baird's Sandpiper (Argyll), three Lesser Yellowlegs, at least four Semipalmated Sandpipers, two Spotted Sandpipers and two Long-billed Dowitchers were logged, as well as a flock of 28 Buff-breasted Sandpipers at Tacumshin (Co Wexford). Pallid Harriers lingered in Orkney, West Sussex and Kent, the American Black Tern remained in Lincolnshire and a Black Kite was again seen in Cornwall. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Monday 26th September 2011 | ||
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| Another great day for Nearctic waders with both Semipalmated Plover and
Least Sandpiper in County Kerry, Baird's Sandpiper in Argyll, two
Long-billed Dowitchers, three Spotted Sandpipers, four each of both
Lesser Yellowlegs and White-rumped Sandpiper, seven Semipalmated
Sandpipers, seven American Golden Plovers, 25 Pectoral Sandpipers and 38
Buff-breasted Sandpipers (including 23 together at Tacumshin, County Wexford). Other rarities included the Sandhill Crane still in Aberdeenshire, Red-eyed Vireo on the Western Isles, American Buff-billed Pipit, Citrine Wagtail and Pallid Harrier on the Orkney Isles, with other Pallid Harriers in Kent and West Sussex, Blyth's Reed Warbler in Argyll, Bonaparte's Gull in County Kerry, Blue-winged Teal in County Dublin, Black Kite and Ortolan Bunting in Cornwall, Ferruginous Ducks in both Somerset and Suffolk, House Crow in County Cork, American Black Tern in Lincolnshire and Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in Bedfordshire. In addition to Nearctic waders, around the Isles of Scilly Northern Waterthrush, Red-eyed Vireo, Ortolan Bunting, Woodchat Shrike, Icterine Warbler, Spotted Crake, Red-backed Shrike, Honey Buzzard and two Wrynecks were logged, whilst on the Shetland Isles, a Pallid Harrier remained with Lesser Grey Shrike, Coues's Arctic Redpoll, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Barred Warbler, Common Rosefinch, five Yellow-browed Warblers, 15 Lapland Buntings and three Greenland Redpolls. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 25th September 2011 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Semipalmated Plover in County Kerry, with other Nearctic waders comprising the
Hudsonian Whimbrel in County Cork, Solitary Sandpiper on the Isles of Scilly,
Baird's Sandpiper in County Mayo, Long-billed Dowitchers in both Clyde and Cornwall, three
Spotted Sandpipers (Devon, Gloucestershire and Somerset), five Lesser
Yellowlegs, six White-rumped Sandpipers, seven American Golden
Plovers, 15 Semipalmated Sandpipers (including four together in County Mayo), 34
Pectoral Sandpipers and 45 Buff-breasted Sandpipers (including 23 together at Tacumshin, County Wexford). Other rarities included both the Sandhill Crane and Black Scoter still in Aberdeenshire, Red-eyed Vireo on the Western Isles, American Buff-billed Pipit, Citrine Wagtail and two Pallid Harrier on the Orkney Isles, with other Pallid Harriers in Kent, West Sussex and County Wexford, Blyth's Reed Warbler in Argyll, King Eider in Moray, Blue-winged Teals in Cleveland, County Donegal and County Dublin, Black Kite and Ortolan Bunting in Cornwall, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset, House Crow in County Cork, American Black Tern in Lincolnshire and Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in Bedfordshire. In addition to Nearctic waders, around the Isles of Scilly Northern Waterthrush, Red-eyed Vireo, Melodious Warbler, Woodchat Shrike, Wryneck and seven Lapland Buntings were logged, whilst on the Shetland Isles, a Yellow-breasted Bunting was found on Foula, as was a Lesser Grey Shrike on Mainland at Laxo, whilst a Pallid Harrier remained with Citrine Wagtail, Coues's Arctic Redpoll, Melodious Warbler, two Little Buntings, Rose-coloured Starling, Bluethroat, Great Grey Shrike, three Barred Warblers, six Yellow-browed Warblers, seven Common Rosefinches and 49 Lapland Buntings. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 24th September 2011 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Semipalmated Plover in County Kerry at Ventry
Harbour: only the second record for Ireland. Other Nearctic rarities recorded around the British Isles today were
Hudsonian Whimbrel (County Cork), Solitary Sandpiper (Isles of Scilly), two
Long-billed Dowitchers (Clyde and Cornwall), three each of Baird's
Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper and Lesser Yellowlegs, five each of
American Golden Plover and White-rumped Sandpiper, 13 Buff-breasted
Sandpipers, 16 Semipalmated Sandpipers and 22 Pectoral
Sandpipers. Other rarities included the Sandhill Crane and Black Scoter in Aberdeenshire, Red-eyed Vireo on the Western Isles, American Buff-bellied Pipit and Citrine Wagtail on the Orkney Isles, Pallid Harriers in Argyll, Kent, the Orkney Isles, West Sussex and County Wexford, Arctic Warbler in Norfolk, Blyth's Reed Warbler in Argyll, American Black Tern in Lincolnshire, King Eider in Moray, Ortolan Bunting in East Yorkshire, Black Kite in Cornwall, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset, and Blue-winged Teals in Cleveland, County Donegal and County Dublin. Meanwhile, on the Isles of Scilly the Northern Waterthrush remained with Bee-eater, Ortolan Bunting, Woodchat Shrike, Common Rosefinch, Red-backed Shrike and Wryneck. Whilst on the Shetland Isles Grey-cheeked Thrush, Pallid Harrier, Great Grey Shrike, four Common Rosefinches, 15 Lapland Buntings and 17 Yellow-browed Warblers were located. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Friday 23rd September 2011 | ||
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| Today's headline birds were the adult Sandhill Crane in the Loch of
Strathbeg RSPB area (Aberdeenshire) and the Northern Waterthrush on Isles
of Scilly.
On Shetland a Grey-cheeked Thrush was on Fetlar for its second day and the elusive Swainson's Thrush lingered at Boddam (Mainland). Elsewhere rarities included two Buff-bellied Pipits (Orkney), two Tawny Pipits (West Sussex and Isles of Scilly), five Pallid Harriers, King Eider (Moray), Ferruginous Duck (Somerset), Red-eyed Vireo (Western Isles), Black Kite (Cornwall), Black Scoter (Aberdeenshire), Blyth's Reed Warbler (Argyll), Blue-winged Teal (Cleveland), Bee-eater (Isles of Scilly) and American Black Tern (Lincolnshire) Nearctic wader records comprised 19 Pectoral Sandpipers, at least 18 Buff-breasted Sandpipers, ten Semipalmated Sandpipers, five White-rumped Sandpipers, five American Golden Plovers, three Spotted Sandpipers, two Long-billed Dowitchers, two Lesser Yellowlegs and single Baird's Sandpiper. The best of the rest included four Rose-coloured Starlings, two Short-toed Larks, Woodchat Shrike (Isles of Scilly) and Hoopoe (Lothian). |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 22nd September 2011 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was a the discovery of a Sandhill Crane in Aberdeenshire at the Loch of Strathbeg, where it remained
in nearby fields until dusk. Nearctic landbirds were represented by Northern Waterthrush still on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, Swainson's Thrush (still on the Shetland Isles) and Red-eyed Vireo on the Western Isles on Barra, with three American Buff-bellied Pipits: two together in the Orkney Isles on North Ronaldsay and one on Foula, Shetland Isles. Nearctic waders comprised Solitary Sandpiper (Isles of Scilly), Semipalmated Sandpiper (County Mayo (6) and County Cork), Baird's Sandpiper (County Mayo and Scilly), Spotted Sandpiper (Gloucestershire), Long-billed Dowitcher (Clyde and Cornwall), Lesser Yellowlegs (Cornwall), American Golden Plovers (County Mayo and County Wexford), White-rumped Sandpiper (Aberdeenshire, Glamorgan, County Kerry, County Wexford (2) and Western Isles), 16 Buff-breasted Sandpipers and 25 Pectoral Sandpipers. Otherwise, Pallid Harriers were noted in Argyll, County Wexford and West Sussex, Blyth's Reed Warblers in Argyll and County Kerry, two Citrine Wagtails together on the Orkney Isles, Black Kite in Cornwall, Bee-eater on the Isles of Scilly, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset, American Black Tern in Lincolnshire and Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in Bedfordshire but, disappointingly, the Long-toed Stint had gone from East Sussex. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 21st September 2011 | ||
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| After seven days, the identity of the wader at Weir Wood Reservoir, Sussex
has been confirmed as Britain's third Long-toed Stint. The extreme
distance has hindered viewing, but the light late afternoon enabled all the key
features to be noted. On Shetland, a Swainson's Thrush at Boddam
suggested that Scilly may not have it all its own way this autumn.
New rare passerines were hard to come by, with just another Red-eyed Vireo and Ortolan Bunting on Scilly and a Red-rumped Swallow in Norfolk. Nearctic waders were, however, very well represented, with totals including 10 Semipalmated Sandpipers (eight new), five White-rumped Sandpipers (four new), four Baird's Sandpipers (three new), two Lesser Yellowlegs (one new) and a new American Golden Plover. Other new discoveries included a Squacco Heron in Dorset, Marsh Sandpiper in Norfolk and a Blue-winged Teal in County Clare. Late news concerned the first American Buff-bellied Pipit of the year, on St Kilda, Western Isles on Sunday. Scilly held on to the Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-White Warbler, Solitary Sandpiper, Baltimore Oriole, Blue-winged Teal and Bee-eater, the Lesser Kestrel remained in Orkney, as did the Least Sandpiper in Shetland, Hudsonian Whimbrel in County Cork and American Black Tern in Lincolnshire. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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