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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Saturday 16th June 2012  
  With no new rarities reported today, the highlight was the reappearance of the female Little Bittern in Hertfordshire, returning to its favoured island in the River Colne by Stocker's Lake, Rickmansworth.

Other lingering rarities seen today included the Iberian Chiffchaff in Somerset, Forster's Tern in County Wexford, Black-winged Stilt in Norfolk and single Glossy Ibises in Pembrokeshire, Hampshire and County Fermanagh.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 15th June 2012  
  Rarities reported today comprised the territorial Iberian Chiffchaff still at Porlock in Somerset, Black-winged Stilt at Welney in Norfolk, and single Glossy Ibises in County Fermanagh, Hampshire and Pembrokeshire.

Scarcities included a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Nosterfield in North Yorkshire, Marsh Warbler on the Shetland Isles, single Great White Egrets in both Cheshire and West Sussex, and four White Storks together in Somerset, at Curry Moor.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 14th June 2012  
  In Aberdeenshire, a first-summer drake Black Scoter was discovered off Murcar Golf Course, Blackdog this evening. This is the second for the county, the second in consecutive years following the long staying adult drake at the same location from June to October 2011. The Black Scoter joined the long staying King Eider and Surf Scoter, both still present in the same area.

Elsewhere, four Bee-eaters were at Climping, West Sussex briefly early morning, whilst a Red-footed Falcon was discovered in County Antrim, near Slemish Mountain.

The Roller was confirmed as still present in Yorkshire at Aldbrough, as was the Savi's Warbler at nearby Blacktoft Sands, with other lingering rarities including the Black-winged Stilt in Norfolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cleveland and single Glossy Ibises in Hampshire and Pembrokeshire.

Scarcity highlights included a White-winged Black Tern in Norfolk, single Woodchat Shrikes in Conwy and Norfolk, Purple Heron in Kent, Night Heron in Hampshire, Dotterel in Argyll, Pectoral Sandpiper in Shetland, Marsh Warbler in Northumberland, Golden Oriole in Yorkshire, Surf Scoter in Orkney and four White Storks in Somerset. Late news from yesterday concerned a summer plumaged adult female Grey Phalarope in Highland, which roosted on St John's Pool in the evening.
-  Will Soar, RBA
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