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 25th March 2012  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Scops Owl on St Mary's, Isle of Scilly at dusk. Associated arrivals comprised Serin, Wryneck and Hoopoe around the Isles of Scilly, Night Heron and four Hoopoes in Cornwall, Purple Heron in County Wicklow and two Hoopoes in Devon. The Alpine Swift remained on Lewis, Western Isles, but the Baillon's Crake had gone from Great Saltee Island, County Wexford.

Other lingering rarities confirmed as still present today were the Northern Waterthrush on the Isles of Scilly, Common Yellowthroat in Gwent, Greater Yellowlegs in Aberdeenshire, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Dorset, Bonparte's Gull in County Antrim, Spotted Sandpiper in Somerset, Long-billed Dowitchers in Carmarthenshire, Dumfries and Galloway, and Somerset (2), Blue-winged Teal in Cornwall, single Lesser Scaups in both Glamorgan and Gloucestershire, Little Bunting in Devon, Ross's Goose in Clyde, and Glossy Ibises in Anglesey, Dorset (2), Essex, County Galway, Norfolk (4), Pembrokeshire (3) and Suffolk.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 24th March 2012  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Baillon's Crake on Great Saltee Island, County Wexford: the third record for Ireland, and only the second to be found in the British Isles in March.

Associated arrivals comprised Alpine Swifts on Lewis, Western Isles, and at Fanore, County Clare, a Black Kite in County Wexford at Vartry Reservoir, a Woodchat Shrike in County Waterford, Night Heron in Cornwall, and Hoopoes in Cornwall (2), Devon and the Isles of Scilly (3).

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised the Common Yellowthroat in Gwent, Greater Yellowlegs in Aberdeenshire, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Dorset, Spotted Sandpiper in Somerset, Long-billed Dowitchers in Somerset (2) and County Wexford, Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan, Blue-winged Teal in Cornwall, single Lesser Scaups in both Glamorgan and Gloucestershire, three White-billed Divers together on the Western Isles, Little Bunting in Devon, Ross's Goose in Clyde, and Glossy Ibises in Cleveland, Conwy, Essex, Lancashire, Norfolk (4), Pembrokeshire and Suffolk.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 23rd March 2012  
  The second Glossy Ibis for the Western Isles was discovered today, with a single bird being present in the Balranald RSPB and Aird an Runair area of North Uist. The first was shot on South Uist in 1910. Nearby, on Lewis, a further two White-billed Divers joined yesterdays bird at Port Skigersta.

Other rarity highlights included the singing male Common Yellowthroat in Gwent, Spanish Sparrow in Hampshire, Northern Waterthrush in the Isles of Scilly, Greater Yellowlegs in Aberdeenshire, Blue-winged Teal in Cornwall, Long-billed Dowitchers in Somerset (2), Dumfries and Galloway and County Wexford, Spotted Sandpiper and Lesser Scaup in Somerset (with another of the latter in Gloucestershire), Richardson's Canada Goose in Argyll, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Dorset and Little Bunting in Devon. Glossy Ibises were in Norfolk (4), Pembrokeshire (3), Dorset (2) and Cleveland.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 22nd March 2012  
  New discoveries today included a White-billed Diver in the Western Isles, off Port Skigersta harbour, Lewis, and a Richardson's Canada Goose on Tiree, Argyll.

Long staying rarities included the Common Yellowthroat in Gwent, Spanish Sparrow in Hampshire, Northern Waterthrush in the Isles of Scilly, Greater Yellowlegs in Aberdeenshire, Blue-winged Teal in Cornwall, Red-breasted Goose in Dumfries and Galloway, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Dorset, Little Bunting in Devon, Spotted Sandpiper in Somerset and single Lesser Scaups in Gloucestershire and Glamorgan. Long-billed Dowitchers were well represented with birds in Somerset (2), County Wexford (2) and Carmarthenshire, whilst Glossy Ibises were in Norfolk (4), Suffolk, Cleveland.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 21st March 2012  
  News of the presence of a Red-breasted Goose with Greylags in Cumbria was released today; the bird has been present in the Lowther Valley for the last couple of weeks, and today was joined by a Snow Goose.

Other long staying rarities seen today included the Common Yellowthroat in Gwent, Spanish Sparrow in Hampshire, Greater Yellowlegs in Highland, Northern Waterthrush in the Isles of Scilly and House Crow in County Cork. The rest of the rarities were headlined by the Little Bunting in Devon, single Long-billed Dowitchers in Somerset and Dumfries and Galloway, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Dorset, Blue-winged Teal and Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall, Spotted Sandpiper in Somerset, Red-breasted Goose in Dumfries and Galloway and single Lesser Scaups in Highland and Gloucestershire. Glossy Ibises were present in Norfolk (4), Pembrokeshire (3), Dorset (2), Suffolk and County Galway.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 20th March 2012  
  Headline rare passerines included the Common Yellowthroat in Gwent, Northern Waterthrush on Isles of Scilly, Siberian Stonechat in Co Wexford and Little Bunting in Devon. Rare waders came in the form of Greater Yellowlegs in Aberdeenshire, Spotted Sandpiper and two Long-billed Dowitchers in Somerset, and Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall. Elsewhere a Blue-winged Teal lingered in Cornwall, the Red-breasted Goose reappeared in Dumfries & Galloway, a Lesser Scaup was still in Somerset and Glossy Ibises were logged in Norfolk (6) and Pembrokeshire (3).

The best of the rest included Night Herons in Cornwall (2) and Devon, Rose-coloured Starlings in Ayrshire and Hampshire, Yellow-browed Warblers in Somerset, Worcestershire, Devon and West Sussex, Pectoral Sandpiper in Ayrshire and Cattle Egrets in Berkshire and Dorset.

In Northumberland a probable female Harlequin Duck was reported off Stag Rocks, Bamburgh and in Cumbria the Laughing Gull was reported again at Standing Tarn.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 19th March 2012  
  Today's headline discovery was a Little Bunting at South Milton Ley (Devon). Elsewhere lingering rarities comprised Blue-winged Teal and Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall, Long-billed Dowitcher in Somerset, Greater Yellowlegs and White-billed Diver in Aberdeenshire, Common Yellowthroat in Gwent, Lesser Scaup and Spotted Sandpiper in Somerset, Siberian Stonechat in Co Wexford and Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Dorset. A Lesser Scaup was also reported in Glamorgan.

The best of the rest included Rose-coloured Starling and Pectoral Sandpiper in Ayrshire, Richard's Pipit in Dorset, Night Herons in Devon and Cornwall, Cattle Egret in Gloucestershire and Yellow-browed Warblers in Devon and Worcestershire. Glossy Ibises were logged in Norfolk (4), Co Galway, Lancashire, Suffolk and Cleveland.

Unconfirmed reports related to a possible Lesser White-fronted Goose in Aberdeenshire and a report of a tattler species in Dorset yesterday.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
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