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 11th September 2012  
  A River Warbler was found on Fair Isle in the Shetlands today, whilst at the other end of the country there was a surprising group of four Ortolan Buntings found on Tresco, on the Isles of Scilly. The only other new rarity found today was a Spotted Sandpiper at Smerwick in County Kerry.

Lingering megas comprised the Baillon's Crake in London, Short-billed Dowitchers in Dorset and Scilly and the Semipalmated Plover on the Western Isles.

Other lingering rarities included Red-footed Falcon in Sussex, Semipalmated Sandpiper on the Isle of Skye, Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall, Baird's Sandpiper in Norfolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in Gloucestershire, White-rumped Sandpiper in Cambridgeshire, Lesser Scaup and Ferruginous Duck at Chew Valley Lake in Somerset and Ortolan Bunting on Inishbofin in County Galway.

Some reasonable seawatching off western shores provided a selection of Long-tailed Skuas, Leach's Petrels, Sabine's Gulls, Grey Phalaropes and Balearic Shearwaters amongst others.
Pete Hayman, RBA
Monday 10th September 2012  
  The influx of Nearctic waders continued today, with Short-billed Dowitchers still in Dorset at Lodmoor, and on Tresco, Isles of Scilly, Semipalmated Plover on the Western Isles, Baird's Sandpipers both in Cleveland and Norfolk (at Titchwell), Semipalmated Sandpiper in Highland, Long-billed Dowitcher in Gloucestershire, White-rumped Sandpipers in Cambridgeshire and County Wexford, four American Golden Plovers, eight Buff-breasted Sandpipers and 18 Pectoral Sandpipers.

Elsewhere, the Baillon's Crake at Rainham Marshes, London was briefly joined by an Aquatic Warbler, the Spanish Sparrow remained in Suffolk, single Snowy Owls were in County Donegal and the Western Isles, a Black Duck was reported again in County Mayo, two Citrine Wagtails remained on the Isles of Scilly, the Red-footed Falcon was still in West Sussex, an Ortolan Bunting was in County Galway and a Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire.

Scarcities included 25 Lapland Buntings, two each of Barred Warbler, Wryneck and Spotted Crake, and single Golden Oriole (Shetland Isles), Red-backed Shrike (Norfolk) and Ring-necked Duck (South Yorkshire). Seawatching highlights includced 39 Cory's Shearwaters, six Great Shearwaters, five Sabine's Gulls, a Long-tailed Skua, and many Balearic Shearwaters, including 282 passing Start Pint, Devon.
Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 9th September 2012  
  Once again Nearctic waders stole the headlines with Short-billed Dowitchers on Tresco, Isles of Scilly, and still in Dorset at Lodmoor, a Greater Yellowlegs reported in Angus, Semipalmated Plover still on the Western Isles, single Semipalmated Sandpipers in both Highland and the Western Isles, Baird's Sandpipers in Cleveland and the Orkney Isles, Wilson's Phalarope in County Cork, Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall, Long-billed Dowitcher in Gloucestershire, three White-rumped Sandpipers, six American Golden Plovers, 10 Buff-breasted Sandpipers and 32 Pectoral Sandpipers.

Elsewhere, the Baillon's Crake remained in London, as did the Spanish Sparrow in Suffolk, Snowy Owl in County Donegal, Bonaparte's Gull in County Durham, Citrine Wagtail on the Isles of Scilly, Lesser Scaup and Ferruginous Duck together in Somerset, Red-footed Falcon in West Sussex and Glossy Ibis still in Pembrokeshire, with further new rarities limited to a brief Ortolan Bunting in Norfolk and a fly-over Tawny Pipit in Kent.

Scarcities included 27 Lapland Buntings, 11 Long-tailed Skuas, 7 Wrynecks, five each of both Barred Warbler and Spotted Crake, three Common Rosefnches, two each of Melodious Warbler, Red-backed Shrike and Great Shearwater, and single Marsh Warbler (Kent) and Purple Heron (Cheshire).
Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 8th September 2012  
  The Baillon's Crake showed well at Rainham Marshes on the Thames Estuary for about half an hour first thing in the morning, but unfortunately was not seen for the rest of the day. Elsewhere the other megas still to be found were the Short-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Semipalmated Plover on South Uist and an evening appearance from the Spanish Sparrow in Suffolk.

New rarities reported today included a Paddyfield Warbler trapped and ringed at the Ythan Estuary in Aberdeenshire, a Citrine Wagtail on South Ronaldsay in the Orkneys and, in Pembrokeshire, a Greenish Warbler on Skomer and an Ortolan Bunting at St.Justinian. A female Ferruginous Duck was at Chew Valley Lake and a Glossy Ibis flew down the river in Cambridge.

Otherwise today was all about American waders with totals as follows: 35 Pectoral Sandpipers (including 7 at Tacumshin); 7 Buff-breasted Sandpipers; 2 Baird's Sandpipers (a new one on Orkney plus one in Cleveland); Semipalmated Sandpiper (Isle of Skye); White-rumped Sandpiper (new in Cambs); Wilson's Phalarope (County Cork); Long-billed Dowitcher (Glos); Lesser Yellowlegs (Cornwall) and 4 American Golden Plovers (2 new at Tacumshin, a presumed new one on South Uist and one still on Orkney).

Other lingering rarities comprised Citrine Wagtail on Scilly, Red-footed Falcon in Sussex, Glossy Ibises at Tacumshin, Marloes Mere and the Ouse Washes, Blue-winged Teal in Clyde, Forster's Tern in County Louth and Lesser Scaup at Chew Valley Lake.
Pete Hayman, RBA
Friday 7th September 2012  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Semipalmated Plover on the Western Isles at Glendale, South Uist: only the third British record. A Spotted Sandpiper and an American Golden Plover were also present on South Uist, whilst Nearctic waders elsewhere comprised the Short-billed Dowitcher still in Dorset, single Semipalmated Sandpipers in both Argyll and Highland, Baird's Sandpiper in Cleveland, Wilson's Phalarope in County Cork, Long-billed Dowitcher in Gloucestershire, American Golden Plover on the Orkney Isles, and totals of eight Buff-breasted Sandpipers and 23 Pectoral Sandpipers.

Another mega was a Baillon's Crake present this evening at Rainham Marshes, London. Other rarities comprised the Spanish Sparrow still in Suffolk, Black Duck in County Mayo, two Citrine Wagtails on the Isles of Scilly, Blue-winged Teal in Clyde, Lesser Scaup in Somerset, Red-footed Falcon in West Sussex and Glossy Ibis in County Wexford.

Scarce migrants included nine Lapland Buntings, five Common Rosefinches, three Sabine's Gulls, two each of Barred Warbler and Wryneck, and single Melodious Warbler (Gwynedd), Richard's Pipit (London), Cory's Shearwater (County Durham) and Spotted Crake (Cornwall).
Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 6th September 2012  
  Another two American Golden Plovers were discovered today - a new juvenile on North Ronaldsay in the Orkneys and an adult at Cley in Norfolk. There was also possibly another at Kilnsea in Yorkshire, but the only lingering bird reported today was in Lancashire. A first summer male Red-footed Falcon was found at Chichester in West Sussex and two Glossy Ibises were reported at Tacumshin in County Wexford today.

The Short-billed Dowitcher was still attracting much attention at Lodmoor in Dorset and the Spanish Sparrow was seen again at Landguard in Suffolk. Other lingering rarities were mostly American waders: Baird's Sandpiper in Cleveland, Semipalmated Sandpiper on South Uist, Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall, Wilson's Phalarope in County Cork and Long-billed Dowitcher in Gloucestershire; with other lingerers including Citrine Wagtail on Scilly, Blue-winged Teal in Clyde, Forster's Tern in County Louth and Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire.

Eleven Pectoral Sandpipers were logged, the Spotted Crake remained at Marazion in Cornwall and there were two Barred Warblers in north Norfolk.
Pete Hayman, RBA
Wednesday 5th September 2012  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Short-billed Dowitcher in Dorset at Lodmoor, where it remained throughout the day.

Elsewhere, four new American Golden Plovers were discovered; on Anglesey at Malltraeth, Lancashire at Cockersand, Orkney Isles on North Ronaldsay, and on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly. In Dorset an Ortolan Bunting at Hengistbury Head was but a brief encounter.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present the Baird's Sandpiper in Cleveland, Semipalmated Sandpipers in both Argyll and the Western Isles, Wilson's Phalarope in County Cork, Long-billed Dowitcher in Gloucestershire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall, American Golden Plover on the Western Isles, Arctic Warbler on the Shetland Isles, Citrine Wagtail on the Isles of Scilly, Lesser Scaup in Somerset, and single Glossy Ibises in both Pembrokeshire and County Wexford.

Scarcities included 16 Pectoral Sandpipers, 10 Lapland Buntings, six each of both Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Wryneck, four Barred Warblers, three Sabine's Gulls, two Common Rosefinches, and single Red-backed Shrike (Devon), Red-necked Phalarope (Lincolnshire), Spotted Crake (Cornwall), Long-tailed Skua (Kent), Great Shearwater (County Clare) and Ring-billed Gull (County Down).
Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 2nd September 2012  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Semipalmated Sandpiper on Tiree, Argyll. Elsewhere, other Nearctic waders included a Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall at Kingsmill Lake, and a Wilson's Phalarope in County Cork at Kinsale Marsh, although both of these birds may have been present nearby in recent days.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Spanish Sparrow in Suffolk, American Black Tern in Merseyside, Forster's Tern in County Louth, Snowy Owl in County Donegal, Arctic Warblers in both East Yorkshire and the Shetland Isles, Citrine Wagtails in both the Scilly Isles and the Shetland Isles, Bonaparte's Gull in County Durham, Blue-winged Teal in Clyde, Long-billed Dowitcher in Gloucestershire, Lesser Scaup in Somerset, and single Glossy Ibises in both Cambridgeshire and Lancashire.

Scarcities included 15 Pectoral Sandpipers, five Buff-breasted Sandpipers, four Barred Warblers, three each of Spotted Crake, Wryneck and Sabine's Gull, two each of Common Rosefinch and Long-tailed Skua, and single Melodious Warbler (Devon), Rose-coloured Starling (Ceredigion) and Purple Heron (Cambridgeshire).
Chris Batty, RBA
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