Daily News Summaries
This page gives you access to all of RBA's daily news summaries (since April 13, 2006), 10 days at a time. The most recent are shown, or you can select a specific date to show (along with the previous 10 days). Prior to April 13, 2006 you can find weekly reviews, located in articles.
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Tuesday 3rd July 2012  
  The highlight of the day was a Whiskered Tern in Warwickshire; reported as present at Brandon Marsh in the early morning before departing to the south.

Rarities elsewhere comprised the Paddyfield Warbler still in the Shetland Isles on Fair Isle, and in East Yorkshire the Alpine Swift remained at Bempton Cliffs.

Scarce migrants included Sabine's Gull (Hertfordshire), Red-necked Phalarope (Gloucestershire), Surf Scoter (Aberdeenshire (four together), and Angus) and Caspian Gull (Norfolk), whilst in County Cork 40 Pomarine Skuas passed Cape Clear.
Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 2nd July 2012  
  Two Wilson's Petrels were seen from the pelagic south east of St.Mary's in the Scillies this evening, along with a Great Shearwater and an adult Sabine's Gull. Another Great Shearwater flew past Start Point in Devon.

On the northern isles, the Western Bonelli's Warbler remained on North Ronaldsay and the Paddyfield Warbler was still on Fair Isle. The Alpine Swift continued to patrol the cliffs at Bempton in Yorkshire and a Glossy Ibis was still to be found at Minsmere. Belated news came of a female King Eider which drifted past Gibraltar Point in Lincolnshire yesterday evening.

A first summer Sabine's Gull at Startop's End Reservoir on the Bucks/Herts border for it's second day attracted many admirers. A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was found on the Inishkea Islands off County Mayo and Red-necked Phalaropes were at Minsmere in Suffolk and Earsdon in Northumberland. A Surf Scoter was at Monifieth in Angus.
Pete Hayman, RBA
Sunday 1st July 2012  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Western Bonelli's Warbler on North Ronaldsay, Orkney Isles. In East Yorkshire an Alpine Swift moved through Spurn, whilst forty miles to the north another remained throughout the day at Buckton.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Black Scoter and King Eider, together with four Surf Scoters in Aberdeenshire, Paddyfield Warbler on the Shetland Isles, Squacco Heron in Norfolk, Blue-winged Teal in County Wexford, and Glossy Ibises in Pembrokeshire, Suffolk and County Wexford.

Scarcities included Serin (Suffolk), Golden Oriole (East Yorkshire), Marsh Warbler (Shetland Isles), Red-necked Phalarope (Northumberland), Purple Heron (Kent), Night Heron (Surrey), Surf Scoter (Angus) and Cory's Shearwater (County Cork).

Significant late news from Lincolnshire concerned a Western Black-eared Wheatear present on 12th June at Frampton Marsh, but only identified now from photographs.
Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 30th June 2012  
  Fair Isle in Shetland took the accolade as today's hot spot with a Paddyfield Warbler trapped, ringed and released in the observatory garden where it was joined by the long-staying River Warbler, two Marsh Warblers and a Reed Warbler for good measure. Hot on it's heels came Tacumshin in County Wexford, with an eclipse drake Blue-winged Teal, two immature Glossy Ibises, a Savi's Warbler and a Montagu's Harrier.

In Norfolk a Squacco Heron was found on the Ouse Washes at Welney and in Gwynedd, a Greenish Warbler was trapped and ringed on Bardsey Island. A new Alpine Swift flew over Blakeney Point and then Walsey Hills in Norfolk but did not linger, unlike the Alpine Swift in Yorkshire which spent it's second day along the cliffs near Bempton. The Black Scoter was again in the scoter flocks off the Aberdeenshire coast at Blackdog, and Glossy Ibises were still to be found at Marloes Mere in Pembrokes and Pagham Harbour in West Sussex.

An unseasonal adult Sabine's Gull flew past Copt Point at Folkestone in Kent, a Purple Heron was at Grove Ferry, also in Kent, and the long staying Serin was again seen at Landguard Point in Suffolk.
Pete Hayman, RBA
Friday 29th June 2012  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of single Gull-billed Terns at both Lodmoor, Dorset, and in County Waterford at Ballyneety. Elsewhere, an Alpine Swift was seen briefly in East Yorkshire, between Bempton Cliffs and Buckton.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Little Swift on the Wirral - although it has become increasingly elusive, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Savi's Warbler in County Wexford, and Glossy Ibises in both Pembrokeshire and County Wexford.

Scarce migrants included a new Purple Heron in Kent, Icterine Warbler on the Shetland Isles, Caspian Gull in Lincolnshire and Pectoral Sandpipers in both Argyll and the Shetland Isles.
Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 28th June 2012  
  A Great Reed Warbler was found at Boddam on Mainland Shetland and, in Ireland, an Alpine Swift was a new arrival at Tacumshin, County Wexford, where it joined a Glossy Ibis and a Savi's Warbler. Another long staying Savi's Warbler was still to be found at Blacktoft Sands in East Yorkshire.

The Little Swift remained at New Brighton on The Wirral today, albeit somewhat periodically during the heavy rain, and became the UK's longest staying Little Swift. The Iberian Chiffchaff was still to be found at Porlock in Somerset.

An adult White-winged Black Tern was seen this afternoon at Shapwick Heath in Somerset - probably the same bird that was at the Cotswold Water Park yesterday. In Sussex the three White Storks were seen over Angmering and Pulborough Brooks as they continue their wanderings. A Long-tailed Skua was off Toe Head in County Cork and a Pomarine Skua flew over Tyninghame in Lothian.
Pete Hayman, RBA
Sunday 24th June 2012  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Gull-billed Tern along the border between Carmarthenshire and Glamorgan, at the Loughor Estuary. Elsewhere, rarities comprised the Little Swift still on the Wirral, Black Scoter, King Eider and four Surf Scoters all together in Aberdeenshire, River Warbler still on the Shetland Isles, Pacific Golden Plover in Norfolk, the territorial Iberian Chiffchaff in Somerset, and single Glossy Ibises in both Pembrokeshire and County Wexford.

Scarcities included the Short-toed Lark still in County Wexford, Icterine Warbler on the Shetland Isles, Red-backed Shrikes in both East Yorkshire and Northumberland, Grey Phalarope in Highland, and three White Storks together in West Sussex.

A Rose-coloured Starling arrived at Mizen Head, County Cork (whilst another reappeared in Conwy), bringing the total for the summer influx to 29 birds.
Chris Batty, RBA
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