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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Wednesday 13th June 2012  
  The female Little Bittern first seen on 10th June was relocated near Stocker's Lake (Hertfordshire), where it showed well for several hours today.

Elsewhere lingering rarities included the Roller in East Yorkshire, River Warbler on Shetland, Iberian Chiffchaffs in Cornwall and Somerset, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cleveland and American Eider in Co Donegal. A Black-winged Stilt in Norfolk and Wilson's Petrel off Isles of Scilly were also logged.

Glossy Ibises were noted in Pembrokeshire, West Sussex, Hampshire, Co Fermanagh and Suffolk (2), a Night Heron lingered in Hampshire, Woodchat Shrikes were in Norfolk and Highland and a Purple Heron was still in Kent.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 12th June 2012  
  Lingering rarities included the Roller in East Yorkshire, Iberian Chiffchaffs in Cornwall and Somerset and Glossy Ibises in Hampshire and Pembrokeshire.

A Buff-breasted Sandpiper in Lincolnshire, Woodchat Shrike in Norfolk, Marsh Warbler in Northumberland, Red-backed Shrike on Orkney, Night Heron in Hampshire and Cattle Egret in Kent were all recorded.

Belated rarity news involved a Little Bittern in Hertfordshire on 10th June and a Red-footed Falcon in Angus yesterday.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 11th June 2012  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a River Warbler on Fair Isle, Shetland, the 12th record for the island out of a total of 19 for the county.

Long staying rarities still present today included the Roller in Yorkshire, Iberian Chiffchaff, Red-footed Falcon and two Glossy Ibises in Somerset (with another of the former in Cornwall, and one of the latter in Pembrokeshire), Snowy Owl in the Western Isles, White-billed Diver in Shetland and King Eider in Aberdeenshire. The Red-footed Falcon in Derbyshire was unfortunately found dead, appearing to be the victim of a Sparrowhawk attack.

Scarcities included two Icterine Warblers, five Marsh Warblers, a Woodchat Shrike, four Red-backed Shrikes. a Red-necked Phalarope, a Pectoral Sandpiper, a Long-tailed Skua, two Pomarine Skuas, two Iceland Gulls and a Surf Scoter. An intriguing flava wagtail was present on Bardsey Island, Gwynedd, which resembled a hybrid Black-headed Wagtail x Blue-headed Wagtail.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 10th June 2012  
  The highlight of the day was a Whiskered Tern off Saltwick Nab, North Yorkshire during the morning. Elsewhere, a White-billed Diver was located in the Shetland Isles off Fetlar, and brief Bee-eaters were noted in Denbighshire, East Yorkshire, Kent and Suffolk.

Lingering rarities comprised the Paddyfield Warbler on the Orkney Isles, Forster's Tern in County Wexford, Pallid Harrier in Lincolsnhire, Roller in East Yorkshire, Snowy Owl on the Western Isles, territorial Iberian Chiffchaffs in both Cornwall and Somerset, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Black-winged Stilt in Norfolk, Red-footed Falcons in Derbyshire and Somerset, and single Glossy Ibises in Hampshire, Pembrokeshire and Suffolk.

Scarcities included four White Storks (together in Conwy), three each of Woodchat Shrike, Red-backed Shrike and Ring-necked Duck, two each of Rose-coloured Starling, Marsh Warbler and Common Rosefinch, and single Purple Heron (Kent) and Icterine Warbler (Shetland Isles), with Surf Scoter and Golden Oriole on the Orkney Isles.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 9th June 2012  
  A singing Blyth's Reed Warbler at Warham Greens, Norfolk was an excellent find, but it was just trumped on the rarity score by a Paddyfield Warbler in Orkney, which was trapped and ringed on North Ronaldsay early morning. A Squacco Heron in a garden on The Lizard, Cornwall may have been present for up to a week, whilst Bee-eaters in County Durham, Yorkshire and Sussex (2) were all brief visitors. A Red-footed Falcon was seen near Thatcham, Berkshire, and two Glossy Ibises spent the afternoon at Steart, Somerset.

On the Western Isles, the Greater Sand Plover remained in Stinky Bay, Benbecula, whilst the Snowy Owl was still on nearby North Uist. Long staying rarities included the Iberian Chiffchaff in Cornwall, Roller in Yorkshire, Pallid Harrier in Lincolnshire, Red-footed Falcons in Derbyshire and Somerset, Greenish Warbler in Fife, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Black-winged Stilts in Hampshire (3) and Norfolk and Glossy Ibises in Pembrokeshire (3), Suffolk (2) and Hampshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 8th June 2012  
  A Greater Sand Plover on Benbecula, Western Isles was the clear highlight of the day, being just the 15th record for Britain, although a lingering, twitchable and seeable Little Shearwater, one of which flew past Pendeen Watch, Cornwall, would probably prove even more popular. The eighth Greenish Warbler of the year was discovered on Bardsey Island, Gwynedd, whilst a Black Kite was seen near Ower, Hampshire.

Lingering rarities included the Roller in Yorkshire, Red-footed Falcon in Derbyshire, single Iberian Chiffchaffs in Cornwall and Somerset, Greenish Warbler in Fife, Snowy Owl in the Western Isles, Black-winged Stilts in Norfolk and Hampshire (3) and Glossy Ibises in Pembrokeshire (3) and Hampshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 7th June 2012  
  The highlight of the day was a Barolo Little Shearwater in Devon, passing Berry Head, Tor Bay early this morning.

Rarities elsewhere comprised the Roller still in East Yorkshire at Aldbrough, and briefly joined by a Black Kite, Pallid Harrier in Lincolnshire, Snowy Owl on the Western Isles, territorial Iberian Chiffchaffs in both Cornwall and Somerset, Black-winged Stilts in both Hampshire (2) and Norfolk, Greenish Warbler in Fife, Red-footed Falcon in Derbyshire, and Glossy Ibises in Pembrokeshire (3) and Suffolk.

Scarcities included four territorial Marsh Warblers, two Rose-coloured Starlings, and single Melodious Warbler (Fife), Icterine Warbler (Northumberland), Woodchat Shrike (Norfolk), Golden Oriole (East Yorkshire), Red-backed Shrike (Shetland Isles), Purple Heron (Kent), and Ring-necked Duck (Cheshire), whilst four White Storks remained together in Gwent.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 6th June 2012  
  The highlight of the day was the identification of an Iberian Chiffchaff in Somerset at Porlock, where it was present for a second day. Elsewhere, a Greenish Warbler was a new arrival in Fife on the Isle of May, and in Norfolk a brief Bee-eater was at Winterton Dunes, and a Black-winged Stilt lingered between Kelling and Cley: a new species for the latter site; and the 61st species of wader to be recorded there or in the immediate vicinity.

Lingering rarities included two Rollers in East Yorkshire, Pallid Harrier in Lincolnshire, Forster's Tern in County Wexford, Snowy Owl on the Western Isles, Iberian Chiffchaff and Great Reed Warbler in Cornwall, two Black-winged Stilts together in Hampshire, Red-footed Falcon in Derbyshire, and Glossy Ibises in County Cork and Pembrokeshire (3).

Scarcities included six Marsh Warblers, four White Storks (together in Gwent), three each of Common Rosefinch and Golden Oriole, two each of Short-toed Lark (together in Devon), Woodchat Shrike, Icterine Warbler and Pectoral Sandpiper (together in County Wexford), with single Red-breasted Flycatcher (Gwynedd), Rose-coloured Starling (East Sussex), Serin (Isles of Scilly), Red-backed Shrike (East Yorkshire), Red-necked Phalarope (North Yorkshire), Purple Heron (Kent), and Ring-necked Duck (Cheshire).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 5th June 2012  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Pallid Harrier near Barton-upon-Humber, Lincolnshire. Elsewhere, a Ferruginous Duck was located in Somerset at Shapwick Heath.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised the Roller in East Yorkshire, Forster's Tern in County Wexford, Iberian Chiffchaff and Great Reed Warbler in Cornwall, two Black-winged Stilts together in Hampshire, Red-footed Falcon in Derbyshire, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, and Glossy Ibises in Hampshire, Pembrokeshire (3) and Suffolk.

Scarcities included five Marsh Warblers, three Pectoral Sandpipers, two each of Red-backed Shrike and Red-necked Phalarope, and singles of Melodious Warbler (Gwynedd), Rose-coloured Starling (Pembrokeshire), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Lothian), Purple Heron (Kent), Ring-necked Duck (Cheshire), Surf Scoter (Aberdeenshire), Ring-billed Gull (Shetland Isles), Woodchat Shrike and Temminck's Stint (both Norfolk).

Crossbills were on the move with 492 reported across nine counties between Dorset, Merseyside, East Yorkshire and Surrey; including 177 in Lincolnshire migrating over Gibrlatar Point, and 200 at Hollesley Common, Suffolk.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 4th June 2012  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Pacific Golden Plover in County Mayo on the Inishkea Islands. Elsewhere, a Greenish Warbler was new on Walney Island, Cumbria, and single Red-footed Falcons were located in Derbyshire at Willington, and Somerset at Tealham Moor. Brief encounters included another Roller in East Yorkshire (just five miles northwest of the still lingering bird), Black Stork in County Clare, Red-footed Falcon in County Galway, Black Kite in Lothian, and a flock of five Bee-eaters in East Yorkshire.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the territorial Baillon's Crake on Anglesey, Roller in East Yorkshire, Forster's Tern and Red-footed Falcon together in County Wexford, Snowy Owl on the Western Isles, Iberian Chiffchaff and Great Reed Warbler in Cornwall, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cleveland, two Black-winged Stilts together in Hampshire, and Glossy Ibises in Devon, Pembrokeshire (3) and Suffolk (2).

Scarce migrants included four White Storks together in Norfolk, three each of Marsh Warbler, Red-necked Phalarope and Pectoral Sandpiper, two each of Short-toed Lark (together in Devon), Red-backed Shrike and Temminck's Stint, and single Rose-coloured Starling (Kent), Serin (Suffolk), Woodchat Shrike (Norfolk), Purple Heron (West Sussex), Ring-necked Duck (Cheshire), Ring-billed Gull (Shetland Isles), with Melodious Warbler and Common Rosefinch together in Gwynedd, and both Golden Oriole and Night Heron in Hampshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA