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 7th October 2011  
  The identification of the Wilson's Snipe on the Isles of Scilly was finally confirmed today, with the bird remaining at Lower Moors, St Mary's.

Apart from a Glossy Ibis in Suffolk and a Lesser Scaup in Shetland, all the new rarities discovered today were nearctic waders. New Long-billed Dowitchers were at Caerlaverock WWT, Dumfries and Galloway, Lochlea, Ayrshire and Davidstow Airfield, Cornwall, White-rumped Sandpipers were at Fenham Flats, Northumberland, Black Rock Strand, County Kerry and West Gerinish, Western Isles, American Golden Plovers were on Tiree, Argyll, Hillwell, Shetland and Loch Stiapabhat, Western Isles and a Semipalmated Sandpiper was at Black Rock Strand, County Kerry.

Lingering Megas included Northern Waterthrush and Least Sandpiper in the Isles of Scilly, Semipalmated Plover in County Kerry and Sandhill Crane in Suffolk (until it flew south).
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 6th October 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Sandhill Crane in Suffolk at Boyton. Other rarities included the Pallid Harrier in Somerset, American Black Tern in Lincolnshire, Bonaparte's Gulls in East Sussex and the Orkney Isles, Blue-winged Teal in County Dublin, Richardson's Canada Goose in Argyll, three Black Kites together in Cornwall, Ferruginous Ducks in both Berkshire and Somerset, and 23 Glossy Ibises: 17 in County Cork, three in Dorset and singles in Cornwall, Kent and Isle of Wight.

Nearctic waders comprised Semipalmated Plover (County Kerry), Solitary Sandpiper (Lancashire and Isles of Scilly), Least Sandpiper (Isles of Scilly), Semipalmated Sandpiper (Western Isles (2), County Cork, County Wexford (2), Cornwall, Essex and County Mayo), Spotted Sandpiper (County Cork, Devon, Somerset), Long-billed Dowitcher (Carmarthenshire and Moray), Lesser Yellowlegs (Cornwall, Moray, Isles of Scilly and Western Isles), American Golden Plover (County Mayo, Isles of Scilly, Shetland Isles and Western Isles), White-rumped Sandpiper (County Wexford and Highland), five Buff-breasted Sandpipers and 18 Pectoral Sandpipers.

Otherwise, on the Isles of Scilly the Northern Waterthrush remained alongside Subalpine Warbler, Black Kite, 2 Short-toed Larks, Honey Buzzard and Yellow-browed Warbler. On the Shetland Isles a Daurian Shrike was discovered, as well as a Pallid Harrier, Olive-backed Pipit, Citrine Wagtail, three Little Buntings, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Short-toed Lark, two Common Rosefinches, Barred Warbler, Lapland Bunting and 15 Yellow-browed Warblers.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 5th October 2011  
  Few new rarities were discovered today, with two Long-billed Dowitchers together at East Chevington NWT, Northumberland being the most noteworthy. Elsewhere, two Glossy Ibises flew over Boyton Marshes RSPB, Suffolk, a Spotted Sandpiper was at Lehid, County Kerry and a second Semipalmated Sandpiper arrived at Ardivachar, Western Isles.

Lingering rarities included the Sandhill Crane in Suffolk, Semipalmated Plover in County Kerry, Northern Waterthrush, Solitary Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, two Lesser Yellowlegs' and a Black Kite in Isles of Scilly, Solitary Sandpiper in Lancashire, Isabelline Shrike, Black-headed Bunting, Pallid Harrier, two Olive-backed Pipits, two Little Buntings and a Citrine Wagtail in Shetland and Subalpine Warbler and Blyth's Reed Warbler in County Cork. Also seen were 24 Glossy Ibises in five counties, three Long-billed Dowitchers and three Spotted Sandpipers.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 4th October 2011  
  Highlight of the day was the discovery of a Least Sandpiper on Tresco (Isles of Scilly). Elsewhere on the archipelago the Northern Waterthrush lingered, the Solitary Sandpiper reappeared and two Lesser Yellowlegs, Little Bunting, Black Kite, Subalpine Warbler and a possible Wilson's Snipe were all recorded.

On Shetland the Daurian Shrike, a Rustic Bunting, two Olive-backed Pipits, three Pallid Harriers, Black-headed Bunting, Citrine Wagtail and Little Bunting were all logged today.

In Suffolk the Sandhill Crane remained on the coast at Boyton Marshes RSPB throughout the day. Elsewhere sightings of rarities included Red-throated Pipit in Cornwall, 20 Glossy Ibises (15 in Co Cork, three in Dorset and singles in Glamorgan and Cornwall), Ferruginous Ducks in Northamptonshire and Berkshire, Pallid Harrier in West Sussex, Black Scoter in Aberdeenshire and three Black Kites in Cornwall.

In Ireland lingering rarities included Red-eyed Vireo and Subalpine Warbler in Co Cork.

American waders were again recorded in excellent numbers; records comprised Solitary Sandpiper and Lesser Yellowlegs (Lancashire), White-rumped Sandpiper (Lothian), two Baird's Sandpipers, three Spotted Sandpipers, four Long-billed Dowitchers, six Semipalmated Sandpipers and six American Golden Plovers.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 3rd October 2011  
  The Sandhill Crane in Suffolk and Solitary Sandpiper in Lancashire were both still present today and were the headline birds for the second consecutive day.

New discoveries included a flyover Blyth's Pipit in Cleveland, Western Bonelli's Warbler in Pembrokeshire, American Black Tern in East Yorkshire, Pallid Harriers in Cambridgeshire/Bedfordshire and Glamorgan and Bonaparte's Gull in East Sussex.

The Glossy Ibis invasion continued, with at least 15 recorded today. American waders were again recorded in excellent numbers; totals included two Spotted Sandpipers, three each of Lesser Yellowlegs, American Golden Plover, Baird's Sandpiper and Long-billed Dowitcher, five White-rumped Sandpipers and seven Semipalmated Sandpipers.

The best of the rest  included Daurian Shrike, Olive-backed Pipit, Black-headed Bunting and Little Bunting (Shetland), American Black Tern (Lincolnshire), Red-eyed Vireo, Blyth's Reed Warbler and Subalpine Warbler (Co Cork), three Black Kites, three Ortolan Buntings and five Pallid Harriers.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 2nd October 2011  
  The wandering adult Sandhill Crane arrived in East Anglia today, choosing Suffolk to call home for the day. Initially seen over Kessingland late morning, it spent a few minutes at North Warren RSPB, before frustrating those en-route by flying off south. Thankfully, it was relocated nearby, and was still present at dusk at Boyton Marshes RSPB. Further north, the first Solitary Sandpiper for north-west England was discovered near Garstang by an RBA team member. This bird also remained in-situ until dusk.

Other discoveries today were headlined by an Isabelline Shrike in Shetland, which proved popular with the ever increasing numbers of birders on the archipelago. At least two Olive-backed Pipits were also new in Shetland, with other arrivals including a Red-eyed Vireo, a Subalpine Warbler and two Glossy Ibises in County Cork, a Long-billed Dowitcher in Moray, a Pallid Swift in Yorkshire, single Little Buntings in Scilly and Western Isles, Tawny Pipit in Cornwall and two White-rumped Sandpipers in County Kerry.

Other rarity highlights today included the Semipalmated Plover and Least Sandpiper in County Kerry, Northern Waterthrush in Scilly, American Black Tern in Lincolnshire, Black-headed Bunting, Alpine Swift and Citrine Wagtail in Shetland, single Long-billed Dowitchers in Lincolnshire, Carmarthenshire and Clyde and also seven Glossy Ibises, seven Semipalmated Sandpipers, four Lesser Yellowlegs, four Pallid Harriers and two Spotted Sandpipers.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 1st October 2011  
  The Shetland Isles produced an excellent selection of rarities today, including four Olive-backed Pipits, five Little Buntings, three Citrine Wagtails, Alpine Swift, Black-headed Bunting and Pallid Harrier, but unfortunately the rarest bird was dead when located - a Siberian Blue Robin on Foula.

Elsewhere new discoveries included Pechora Pipit on Orkney, Olive-backed Pipit in Northumberland and Tawny Pipit and Ortolan Bunting in Cornwall. Pallid Harriers were logged in West Sussex, Somerset, Orkney, Isles of Scilly and Aberdeenshire and Glossy Ibises were recorded in Isle of Wight (at least 7), Dorset (3), West Midlands and Glamorgan.

On Isles of Scilly the Northern Waterthrush was trapped and ringed and the Black Kite lingered, whilst another Black Kite was still in Cornwall. The American Black Tern was still in Lincolnshire and the Black Duck (Co Mayo), Black Scoter (Aberdeenshire), Ferruginous Ducks (Northamptonshire and Somerset) and Blue-winged Teals in Co Dublin and Cleveland all lingered.

Nearctic waders were again recorded in excellent numbers; Semipalmated Plover and Least Sandpiper (Co Kerry), Spotted Sandpiper (Somerset), two Baird's Sandpipers, two Lesser Yellowlegs, at least three Long-billed Dowitchers, four White-rumped Sandpipers, eight American Golden Plovers and nine Semipalmated Sandpipers were all recorded.

A report of the Sandhill Crane flying south over Rimac (Lincolnshire) today will no doubt refocus the search for this wandering Mega tomorrow.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 30th September 2011  
  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.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Thursday 29th September 2011  
  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.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 28th September 2011  
  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.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA