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 10th October 2011  
  Highlight of the day was the discovery of a Rose-breasted Grosbeak on Eday - the first record for Orkney.

On the Isles of Scilly the Northern Waterthrush, Upland Sandpiper, Wilson's Snipe, Least Sandpiper, two Lesser Yellowlegs, Red-throated Pipit, American Golden Plover and Subalpine Warbler were all recorded.

On the Shetland Isles the American Buff-bellied Pipit, Pallid Harrier and Daurian Shrike remained on Mainland.

New discoveries included Red-eyed Vireo and Red-throated Pipit in Co Cork, Bonaparte's Gull in Co Antrim, Little Bunting on Western Isles and a Fea's Petrel flew past Thorpeness (Suffolk).

Records of Nearctic waders, in addition to the birds logged on Isles of Scilly, comprised Semipalmated Plover in Co Kerry, Least Sandpiper and three Semipalmated Sandpipers in Co Wexford, Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall, two Spotted Sandpipers, three American Golden Plovers, four White-rumped Sandpipers and six Long-billed Dowitchers.

Elsewhere lingering rarities included Lesser Scaup in Northumberland, Ferruginous Duck in Lincolnshire, two Richardson's Canada Geese in Argyll and 19 Glossy Ibises were recorded.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 9th October 2011  
  New discoveries today included a Red-eyed Vireo on Lewis, Western Isles, a Red-throated Pipit at Spurn, Yorkshire, an Olive-backed Pipit on Whalsay, Shetland, a Red-footed Falcon at Christchurch, Dorset and a Lesser Scaup in Whitley Bay, Northumberland. Extra Glossy Ibises joined lingering birds in County Wexford and Suffolk, whilst one seen at Newport Wetlands, Gwent may have been the recent Ceredigion bird. A second Richardson's Canada Goose arrived on Islay, Argyll.

Long staying rarity highlights included Northern Waterthrush, Wilson's Snipe, Upland Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, two Lesser Yellowlegs' and an American Golden Plover in the Isles of Scilly, American Buff-bellied Pipit, Olive-backed Pipit and Daurian Shrike in Shetland, Bonaparte's Gull in Orkney, single Long-billed Dowitchers in Ayrshire, Ceredigion and Dumfries and Galloway, single Lesser Yellowlegs' in Cornwall and Western Isles and single Spotted Sandpipers in Somerset and Devon.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 8th October 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of an Upland Sandpiper on the Isles of Scilly, where both the Wilson's Snipe, Least Sandpiper, two Lesser Yellowlegs, an American Golden Plover and a Pectoral Sandpiper all remained. Elsewhere, Nearctic shorebirds comprised the Semipalmated Plover still in County Kerry, Least Sandpiper in County Wexford, Semipalmated Sandpipers in Couty Cork, Essex and County Wexford (3), Spotted Sandpipers in both Devon and Somerset, Long-billed Dowitchers in Ayrshire, Cornwall and Dumfries and Galloway, Lesser Yellowlegs on the Western Isles, American Golden Plovers in County kerry (2), County Waterford, Shetland Isles and Western Isles, White-rumped Sandpiper on the Western Isles, five Buff-breasted Sandpipers and a further 12 Pectoral Sandpipers.

Other rarities included a Barolo Little Shearwater passing Tynemouth, Northumberland, Bonaparte's Gull on the Orkney Isles, Blue-winged Teal in County Dublin, three Black Kites together in Cornwall, Richardson's Canada Goose in Argyll, two Ross's Geese together in Northumberland, Ferruginous Ducks in both Berkshire and Northamptonshire, Glossy Ibises in County Cork (16), Cornwall, Dorset (3), Suffolk and County Wexford.

Otherwise on the Scilly Isles the Northern Waterthrush remained alongside Subalpine Warbler, Short-toed Lark, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Red-backed Shrike, three Wrynecks and four Yellow-browed Warblers. Around the Shetland Isles an American Buff-bellied Pipit was discovered on the Mainland at Quendale, where the lingering Pallid Harrier remained along with a Daurian Shrike, Citrine Wagtail, Richard's Pipit, two Barred Warblers, four Common Rosefinches and seven Yellow-browed Warblers.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
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