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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Monday 1st October 2012  
  Shetland produced a new Pechora Pipit (on Fair Isle) and a new Siberian Stonechat (on Out Skerries), whilst the Isles of Scilly attracted a Western Bonelli's Warbler (St Martin's). Quality rarities elsewhere included the seventh Siberian Stonechat for County Cork at Firkeel, a Red-throated Pipit over the Calf of Man, a Long-billed Dowitcher at Burton Mere Wetlands, Cheshire, Ortolan Bunting at Lissagriffin, County Cork, King Eider at Burghead, Moray and an American Golden Plover on Tiree, Argyll.

Longer staying rarities included Pechora Pipit, American Buff-bellied Pipit, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll, Paddyfield Warbler, two Blyth's Reed Warblers, Siberian Stonechat and Spotted Sandpiper in Shetland (other American Buff-bellied Pipits were still in County Antrim, County Kerry and the Western Isles), Short-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Long-billed Dowitchers in Northumberland and Gloucestershire (the latter individual relocating to Walmore Common), Forster's Tern in County Louth, Greenish Warbler in Kent, Ortolan Bunting in the Isles of Scilly and Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 30th September 2012  
  Rare pipits stole the show today, particularly on Shetland, where both a Pechora Pipit and an American Buff-bellied Pipit were discovered on Unst and Mainland respectively, whilst another American Buff-bellied Pipit was found at Carrickfergus, County Antrim. Other new discoveries on Shetland included a Spotted Sandpiper at Lower Voe, Mainland and a Bonaparte's Gull at Buffafirth, Unst, whilst elsewhere new, or relocating, American Golden Plovers were on the Western Isles (2) and in County Mayo (3).

Lingering rarities on Shetland included the Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and Blyth's Reed Warbler on Unst and Isabelline Shrike, Siberian Stonechat, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Little Bunting and American Golden Plover on Mainland. Scilly continued to hold two Ortolan Buntings.

Elsewhere, the Short-billed Dowitcher remained in Dorset, as did the Lesser Yellowlegs and Lesser Scaup in Somerset, Long-billed Dowitcher in Northumberland, single American Buff-bellied Pipits in County Kerry and Western Isles, White-rumped Sandpiper in County Dublin, Greenish Warbler in Kent, Forster's Tern in County Louth, Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire and American Golden Plovers in County Wexford, Orkney and the Western Isles.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 29th September 2012  
  The Shetland Isles continued to provide excellent birding with Sykes's Warbler, American Buff-bellied Pipit (new on Fair Isle), Isabelline Shrike, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll, three Blyth's Reed Warblers, Booted Warbler (new on Bressay), two Olive-backed Pipits, two Little Buntings, American Golden Plover, Barred Warbler, two Richard's Pipits and 14 Yellow-browed Warblers. Meanwhile, on the Isles of Scilly, the American Buff-bellied Pipit showed again along with Aquatic Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Ortolan Bunting, Common Rosefinch, Dotterel and two Yellow-browed Warblers.

Elsewhere, a Lesser Yellowlegs arrived in Somerset at Curry Moor, a Greenish Warbler was found in Kent at St Margaret's at Cliffe, a Little Bunting was at Bradfield Moors, South Yorkshire, and fly-overs included an Ortolan Bunting in County Cork, and Tawny Pipits in both Devon and Norfolk.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present included Short-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Greater Yellowlegs in Aberdeenshire, American Buff-bellied Pipits in both County Kerry and the Western Isles, Blyth's Reed Warbler on the Western Isles, Arctic Warbler in Northumberland, Greenish Warbler in East Yorkshire, Citrine Wagtail in Argyll, Long-billed Dowitcher in Gloucestershire, White-rumped Sandpipers in both County Dublin and County Wexford, American Golden Plovers on the Orkney Isles and Western Isles (2), Lesser Scaup in Somerset, and Glossy Ibises in Cambridgeshire and Pembrokeshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 28th September 2012  
  New rarity discoveries off the Scottish coast included a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on Unst at Norwick, a Little Bunting on Fetlar at Feal and an Olive-backed Pipit on Mainland at Lower Voe, all Shetland, along with a Blyth's Reed Warbler on South Uist at Bornish and an American Golden Plover on Benbecula at Lionacleit, both Western Isles.

Along the east coast, an Olive-backed Pipit was briefly at Whitburn, County Durham, a Long-billed Dowitcher was on Holy Island, Northumberland and in Norfolk a Citrine Wagtail was at Titchwell RSPB and a White-rumped Sandpiper was at Breydon Water.

The west coast received a Blyth's Reed Warbler at Fleetwood, Lancashire and an American Golden Plover at Drumburgh, Cumbria whilst over in Ireland County Kerry produced an American Buff-bellied Pipit, County Cork a White-rumped Sandpiper and County Wexford an American Golden Plover.

The south-west had a Red-throated Pipit at Davidstow, Cornwall and a new Aquatic Warbler on the Isles of Scilly.

Lingering rarity highlights included the Short-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Sykes's Warbler and Isabelline Shrike in Shetland, Greater Yellowlegs in Aberdeenshire, Arctic Warbler in Northumberland and single American Buff-bellied Pipits in County Kerry and the Western Isles.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 27th September 2012  
  A White's Thrush was seen in flight on South Ronaldsay (Orkney) this morning.

Shetland produced a fine selection of rarities today - Isabelline Shrike, Siberian Stonechat, three Olive-backed Pipits, Lanceolated Warbler and two Little Buntings on Mainland; Red-flanked Bluetail on Whalsay; Sykes's and Blyth's Reed Warblers on Foula; Little Bunting and Booted and Blyth's Reed Warblers on Unst and Arctic Warbler, Olive-backed Pipit and three Little Buntings on Fair Isle.

Elsewhere new discoveries included Siberian Stonechat in Kent, American Buff-bellied Pipit and Citrine Wagtail on Tiree (Argyll), Little Bunting and Ortolan Bunting in Dorset and two Little Buntings on North Ronaldsay (Orkney).

Nearctic wader records comprised Short-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cumbria, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Co Wexford, Greater Yellowlegs in Aberdeenshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall and American Golden Plovers on Western Isles, Cornwall and Orkney (2).

On Isles of Scilly the American Buff-bellied Pipit, Aquatic Warbler and two Ortolan Buntings all lingered.

In Suffolk and Spanish Sparrow reappeared at Landguard NR, whilst elsewhere lingering rarities included Greenish Warbler in East Yorkshire, Arctic Warbler in Northumberland, Glossy Ibises in Pembrokeshire and Cambridgeshire, Forster's Tern in Co Louth and American Buff-bellied Pipit on Western Isles.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 26th September 2012  
  The highlight of a busy day was the discovery of three Pallas's Grasshopper Warblers on the east coast; in Aberdeenshire at Collieston, in Cleveland at Hartlepool, and in County Durham at Whitburn. Other new rarities included a Fea's Petrel, Greater Yellowlegs and Little Bunting all in Aberdeenshire, Lanceolated Warbler and Olive-backed Pipit on the Orkney Isles, now two American Buff-bellied Pipits and a new American Golden Plover on the Western Isles, Arctic Warbler and Baird's Sandpiper in Northumberland, two Greenish Warblers in East Yorkshire, Little Bunting in Gwynedd, American Golden Plover in Lancashire and now three Ortolan Buntings in Dorset.

On the Shetland Isles another new Lanceolated Warbler joined Paddyfield Warbler, Blyth's Reed Warbler and Olive-backed Pipit on Fair Isle, Sykes's Warbler and Olive-backed Pipit were on Foula, Blyth's Reed Warbler on Unst, and Olive-backed Pipit on Yell, with a supporting cast of seven Little Buntings, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, two Common Rosefinches, five Barred Warblers, three Richard's Pipits, Red-backed Shrike, 36 Yellow-browed Warblers and nine Lapland Buntings. Meanwhile, on the Isles of Scilly an American Buff-bellied Pipit was found on St Mary's, with Aquatic Warbler, Citrine Wagtail, two Ortolan Buntings, Rose-coloured Starling, Barred Warbler, Dotterel, two Lapland Buntings and a Great Shearwater also logged.

Elsewhere, lingering rarities confirmed as still present included the Short-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Booted Warbler in Norfolk, Greenish Warbler in North Yorkshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Gloucestershire, Lesser Scaup in Somerset, Little Buntings in both Cleveland and the Orkney Isles, and American Golden Plovers in Cumbria and the Orkney Isles (2).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 25th September 2012  
  Shetland sightings included Lanceolated Warbler on Whalsay, lingering Sykes's Warbler on Foula (as well as two Blyth's Reed Warblers) and lingering Paddyfield Warbler and Olive-backed Pipit on Fair Isle (as well as two Little Buntings).

On Isles of Scilly rarities comprised an Aquatic Warbler on St Mary's, Citrine Wagtail on Tresco and Ortolan Buntings on St Mary's (2) and St Agnes.

Elsewhere new discoveries included Ortolan Buntings in Cornwall and Dorset, Greenish Warbler in North Yorkshire and Little Bunting in Northumberland, whilst lingering rarities came in the form of Booted and Greenish Warblers in Norfolk, Lesser Scaup in Somerset and Little Buntings in Cleveland and Orkney

Nearctic waders comprised Short-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall, at least three Buff-breasted Sandpipers, three American Golden Plovers and seven Pectoral Sandpipers.

In addition to an excellent spread of Yellow-browed Warblers, scarcity totals included 17 Red-breasted Flycatchers, 15 Barred Warblers, seven Wrynecks, three Richard's Pipits, two Rose-coloured Starlings, two Icterine Warblers, two Common Rosefinches and Great Grey Shrike.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 24th September 2012  
  A White's Thrush was found on the Farne Islands, Northumberland today: the second record for the county. Poor weather restricted viewing to just the birders on Inner Farne, with no boats able to sail. Despite a distinct lack of a Magnolia Warbler, Fair Isle still produced a Paddyfield Warbler, an Olive-backed Pipit and a Little Bunting, with the neighbouring Shetland Isles getting a Blyth's Pipit, two Blyth's Reed Warblers and another Olive-backed Pipit. Orkney scored a River Warbler on South Ronaldsay, whilst further south the east coast produced a Greenish Warbler (Norfolk), two Little Buntings (Cleveland and Norfolk) and an Ortolan Bunting (Yorkshire).

Across the Irish Sea, an American Buff-bellied Pipit was in County Cork, a Semipalmated Sandpiper was in County Kerry and two American Golden Plovers were in County Galway. Scilly had another Ortolan Bunting and a Citrine Wagtail.

Lingering rarity highlights included the Sykes's Warbler in Shetland, Booted Warbler in Norfolk, Short-billed Dowitcher in Dorset and American Buff-bellied Pipit on the Western Isles.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 23rd September 2012  
  A Magnolia Warbler was discovered on Fair Isle this evening - the second record for Britain, following a bird on Isles of Scilly on 1981.

Elsewhere on Shetland new discoveries included a Swainson's Thrush and Sykes's Warbler on Foula, a Greenish Warbler on Unst, Citrine Wagtail at Muckle Roe, Great Snipe on Mainland and an Arctic Warbler, Lanceolated Warbler and Blyth's Reed Warbler joined the Magnolia on Fair Isle.

On Orkney a Citrine Wagtail and Little Bunting were on North Ronaldsay, a Tawny Pipit flew over Lower Cuckmere Valley (East Sussex) and a Booted Warbler arrived in Norfolk.

The best of the rest included the Baillon's Crake in London, the Western/ Semipalmated Sandpiper on The Wirral, Forster's Tern in Co Louth, Short-billed Dowitcher in Dorset (as well as a fine selection of Nearctic waders) and Ortolan Bunting on Isles of Scilly.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 22nd September 2012  
  On the Shetland Isles Booted Warbler and Blyth's Reed Warbler joined the Arctic Warbler on Fair Isles, whilst a Great Reed Warbler arrived on Unst, and a supporting cast across the archipelago comprised Marsh Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Rose-coloured Starling, Wryneck, two each of both Bluethroat and Red-backed Shrike, five Common Rosefinches, 12 Lapland Buntings, 16 Barred Warblers and 68 Yellow-browed Warblers. Meanwhile, on the Isles of Scilly a Rose-coloured Starling, Wryneck and four Lapland Buntings were seen.

Nearctic waders remained in evidence with the Short-billed Dowitcher still in Dorset, Long-billed Dowitcher in Gloucestershire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall, two Semipalmated Sandpipers (Ceredigion and County Cork), two Baird's Sandpipers (Norfolk and South Yorkshire), four White-rumped Sandpipers, nine Buff-breasted Sandpipers, 10 American Golden Plovers and 20 Pectoral Sandpipers.

Rarities elsewhere comprised the Baillon's Crake still in London, American Buff-bellied Pipit on the Western Isles, Ferruginous Duck in Lincolnshire, and a Glossy Ibis between Cambridgeshire and Norfolk.

However, it was bews of scarce drift migrants that dominated the airwaves today, with - away from Shetland and Scilly - one each of Little Bunting, Melodious Warbler, Icterine Warbler and Bluethroat, two Ortolan Buntings, three Red-backed Shrikes, five Wrynecks, seven Common Rosefinches, nine Red-breasted Flycatchers, 11 Barred Warblers, 77 Yellow-browed Warblers and 107 Lapland Buntings.
-  Chris Batty, RBA