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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Sunday 18th March 2012  
  The highlights of the day were the discovery of an Alpine Swift in Cornwall on The Lizard, and in the same county, confirmation of a Blue-winged Teal near Wadebridge.

Elsewhere, lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Common Yellowthroat in Gwent, Spanish Sparrow in Hampshire, Greater Yellowlegs in Aberdeenshire, Laughing Gull in Cumbria, Paddyfield Warbler in West Sussex, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Dorset, Red-breasted Goose in Essex, Siberian Stonechat and two Long-billed Dowitchers in County Wexford, Long-billed Dowitcher, Spotted Sandpiper and Lesser Scaup in Somerset, and Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire, with Glossy Ibises logged in Cleveland, Dorset (2), County Galway, Kent (2), Norfolk (4), Pembrokeshire (3) and Suffolk.

Scarcities included single Night Herons in both Cornwall and Devon, Rose-coloured Starlings in both Ayrshire and Hampshire, Pectoral Sandpiper in Ayrshire, Richard's Pipit in Dorset, Yellow-browed Warblers in Cornwall, West Sussex and Worcestershire, and four Surf Scoters together in Conwy.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 17th March 2012  
  A first-winter Laughing Gull was watched for an hour at Standing Tarn, Cumbria late morning, but news was only released after dark. A Long-billed Dowitcher in Somerset was another quality find today, spending the afternoon at Greylake RSPB, with other rarity discoveries including a White-billed Diver at Portsoy, Aberdeenshire and single Glossy Ibises in Lincolnshire and County Galway.

Lingering rarities seen today included the Common Yellowthroat in Gwent, Northern Waterthrush in the Isles of Scilly, Spanish Sparrow in Hampshire, Siberian Stonechat in County Wexford, Pallid Harrier in County Galway, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Dorset, Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Norfolk, Spotted Sandpiper and Lesser Scaup in Somerset (with another of the former still in Dorset), Black-bellied Dipper in Yorkshire and Long-billed Dowitcher in Dumfries and Galloway. Glossy Ibises were seen in Norfolk (4), Pembrokeshire (3), Kent (2), Cleveland, Suffolk and Lancashire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 16th March 2012  
  Rarities still present today included the Common Yellowthroat in Gwent, Northern Waterthrush in the Isles of Scilly, Siberian Stonechat in County Wexford, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Dorset, Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Norfolk, Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall, Long-billed Dowitcher in County Wexford, Spotted Sandpiper in Somerset, Red-breasted Goose in Dumfries and Galloway and single Lesser Scaups in Highland and Somerset. Glossy Ibises were present in Pembrokeshire (3), Dorset (2), Cleveland, Essex and County Cork.

Scarcity highlights included a Night Heron in Devon, Yellow-browed Warbler in Worcestershire, Surf Scoter in Cornwall and Rose-coloured Starling in Hampshire, along with seven Great Grey Shrikes, six Kumlien's Gulls and three Rough-legged Buzzards.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 15th March 2012  
  Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Common Yellowthroat in Gwent, Northern Waterthrush on the Isles of Scilly, Greater Yellowlegs in Aberdeenshire, Paddyfield Warbler in West Sussex, Red-breasted Goose in Dumfries and Galloway, Siberian Stonechat and two Long-billed Dowitchers together in County Wexford, Spotted Sandpiper in Somerset, Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall, Lesser Scaups in both Glamorgan and Somerset, Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Norfolk, Ross's Goose in Clyde, and Glossy Ibises in both Cleveland and the Isles of Wight (2).

Scarcities included a Hoopoe in Suffolk, Lesser Snow Goose in Cumbria and Pectoral Sandpiper in Ayrshire, with two each of Night Heron (together in Devon), Rose-coloured Starling, Surf Scoter, American Wigeon, Yellow-browed Warbler and Kumlien's Gull.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 14th March 2012  
  Highlight of the day was the sighting of a Rustic Bunting that briefly landed at Heysham NR (Lancashire) before it flew northeast and wasn't relocated.

Lingering rarities included Common Yellowthroat in Gwent, Spanish Sparrow in Hampshire, Paddyfield Warbler in West Sussex, Northern Waterthrush on Isles of Scilly, Greater Yellowlegs in Aberdeenshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall and Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Norfolk

Glossy Ibises were in Cambridgeshire (2), Surrey (2), Dorset, Essex, Suffolk, Cleveland and Co Cork. A Ross's Goose was in Clyde with Pink-footed Geese. In Co Tipperary a Blue-winged Teal lingered.

The best of the rest included at least five Night Herons (3+ in Devon and two sightings in Cornwall), Rose-coloured Starlings in Hampshire and Ayrshire, Hoopoe in Suffolk and Cattle Egret in Dorset.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 13th March 2012  
  Lingering rare passerines included the Common Yellowthroat in Gwent, Spanish Sparrow in Hampshire, Paddyfield Warbler in West Sussex and Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Norfolk. Rare wildfowl were represented by Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire and Somerset, Red-breasted Geese in Hampshire and Dumfries & Galloway and waders comprised Greater Yellowlegs in Aberdeenshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall and Spotted Sandpiper in Somerset. Glossy Ibises were logged in Cambridgeshire (2), Cleveland, Lancashire, Essex and Suffolk and a White-billed Diver was logged off the Moray coast.

In Ireland the Pallid Harrier remained in Co Galway and the Blue-winged Teal lingered in Co Tipperary.

The best of the rest included four Night Herons in Devon, a single Night Heron in Cornwall, Rose-coloured Starling in Hampshire, Ayrshire and Anglesey, Richard's Pipit in Dorset and Pectoral Sandpiper in Ayrshire.

In Cornwall there was an unconfirmed report of a female Rock Thrush seen in flight at Trewellard.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 12th March 2012  
  Lingering Mega-rarities comprised the Common Yellowthroat in Gwent and Greater Yellowlegs in Aberdeenshire, whilst Ferruginous Duck (Buckinghamshire), Lesser Scaup (Gloucestershire and Somerset), Coues's Arctic Redpoll (Norfolk), Bonaparte's Gull (Glamorgan), Paddyfield Warbler (West Sussex), Red-breasted Goose (Dumfries & Galloway), Spotted Sandpiper (Somerset) and Lesser Yellowlegs (Cornwall) all lingered. In Argyll a White-billed Diver was reported off Islay.

Glossy Ibises were logged in Kent (2), Dorset (2), Cambridgeshire (2) and Cleveland. A Night Heron arrived in Cornwall, Rose-coloured Starlings remained in Ayrshire and Hampshire, a Cattle Egret was in Dorset and the Pectoral Sandpiper lingered in Ayrshire.

In Ireland a Blue-winged Teal was in Co Tipperary and Siberian Stonechat and two Long-billed Dowitchers in Co Wexford.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 11th March 2012  
  Rarities recorded today comprised the Common Yellowthroat still in Gwent, Spanish Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco in Hampshire, Greater Yellowlegs in Aberdeenshire, Paddyfield Warbler in West Sussex, Pallid Harrier in County Galway, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Dorset, Siberian Stonechat and Long-billed Dowitcher in County Wexford, Red-breasted Geese in both Essex and Hampshire, Spotted Sandpiper and Lesser Scaup together in Somerset, Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall, Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Norfolk, Ferruginous Duck in Buckinghamshire, Ross's Goose in Northumberland, and Glossy Ibises in Cleveland, Dorset (2), Essex, Kent (2), Lancashire, Pembrokeshire (3) and Suffolk.

Scarcities included ten Kumlien's Gulls, four Yellow-browed Warblers, three each of both Rose-coloured Starling and Surf Scoter, as well as single Richard's Pipit (Dorset) and Pectoral Sandpiper (Ayrshire).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 10th March 2012  
  The 21st Short-toed Treecreeper for Kent was discovered today, at Samphire Hoe Country Park. Just five other records have been accepted in Britain (two in Dorset, two in Essex and a single bird in Yorkshire).

An adult Bonaparte's Gull was found in Stornoway, Western Isles, where up to 88 Iceland Gulls have been present recently. Lingering rarities seen today included the Common Yellowthroat in Gwent, Spanish Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, Greater Yellowlegs in Aberdeenshire, Siberian Stonechat and two Long-billed Dowitchers in County Wexford, Paddyfield Warbler in Sussex, Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan and Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 9th March 2012  
  Three Glossy Ibises in Lincolnshire were the only new rarities discovered today, as they were tracked south along the coast, eventually disappearing out to sea towards Norfolk.

In Aberdeenshire the Greater Yellowlegs reappeared at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB mid afternoon. Other rarity highlights included the Siberian Stonechat in County Wexford, Spanish Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco in Hampshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall, Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Norfolk, Red-breasted Goose in Suffolk, Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire and Spotted Sandpiper in Somerset. Glossy Ibises were present in Cleveland, Kent (2), Essex, Norfolk (4), Pembrokeshire (3) and Lancashire.
-  Will Soar, RBA