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 31st October 2012  
  In County Galway, what is presumably the same Belted Kingfisher as a few weeks ago reappeared today, this time south of Clifden at the west end of Salt Lake. In County Durham a Bee-eater was seen at Seaburn this morning, but there were no further reports this afternoon, whilst a Black Kite flew over Slapton Sands in Devon. Late news from yesterday concerned a grey morph Gyr over Dowlais, Glamorgan, and a Radde's Warbler trapped and ringed at Hollesley, Suffolk.

Lingering rarities included the Pied-billed Grebe in County Mayo, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler in Fife, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Sussex, Desert Wheatear in Essex, Penduline Tit in Kent, Blyth's Reed Warbler on the Isles of Scilly, two White-rumped Sandpipers together in Norfolk (with another in Highland), Lesser Yellowlegs' in Lancashire and Devon, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, King Eider in Moray, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, four Richardson's Canada Geese in Argyll and Lesser Scaup in Somerset.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 30th October 2012  
  The highlight of the day was news of a Pied-billed Grebe at Lough Baun, County Mayo, where it had first been seen yesterday. Elsewhere, a Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler was new in East Sussex at Beachy Head, as were a Siberian Stonechat in Essex at Southend, Penduline Tit in Kent at Oare Marshes, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on the Shetland Isles on Unst, and a Little Bunting at Hawling, Gloucestershire,

On the Isles of Scilly a Blyth's Reed Warbler was identified, along with Little Bunting, two Red-breasted Flycatchers, Serin, Richard's Pipit, Lapland Bunting and a Chough.

Lingering rarities included the Siberian Rubythroat on the Shetland Isles, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler in Fife, Desert Wheatear in Essex, Siberian Stonechats in Devon and Herefordshire, Olive-backed Pipit in Cornwall, Bee-eater in Dorset, Red-breasted Geese in both Argyll and Hampshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Blue-wnged Teal in County Galway, Lesser Scaups in both County Cork and Somerset, two Richardson's Canada Geese in Argyll, Long-billed Dowitcher in Gloucestershire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, Lancashire and Lincolnshire, White-rumped Sandpipers in Highland and Norfolk (2), American Golden Plover and Northern Harrier, both in County Wexford.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 29th October 2012  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Dusky Warbler inland in Norfolk, at Lynford Arboretum. Elsewhere, four White-rumped Sandpipers were counted at Tacumshin, County Wexford, a Richardson's Canada Goose was identified in Dumfries and Galloway at Loaningfoot, and a Forster's Tern returned to Galway, County Galway.

On the Isles of Scilly a Blackpoll Warbler remained along with four Red-breasted Flycatchers, three Yellow-browed Warblers, a Serin and a Barred Warbler.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised the Siberian Rubythroat on the Shetland Isles, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler in Fife, Desert Wheatear in Essex, Siberian Stonechat in Devon, Olive-backed Pipit in Cornwall, two Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls on the Western Isles, Bee-eater in Dorset, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, Red-breasted Geese in both Argyll and Hampshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Long-billed Dowitcher in Carmarthenshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon Lancashire and Lincolnshire, American Golden Plovers in Cumbria, Orkney Isles and County Wexford (2), White-rumped Sandpipers in Highland and Norfolk, Lesser Scaups in County Cork and Somerset, and four Richardson's Canada Geese together in Argyll.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 28th October 2012  
  Bird of the day was the Bobolink in Shetland at Brake, Mainland, which showed well from early afternoon onwards. The Isles of Scilly struck back an hour or so later with a Blackpoll Warbler on St Mary's at Content, but Bobolink remains the rarer of the two. A Desert Wheatear in Essex was unexpectedly found inland at Abberton Reservoir. Other new rarities today included an American Buff-bellied Pipit in Shetland, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lincolnshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Carmarthenshire, White-rumped Sandpiper in Highland, Bee-eater in Devon, Little Bunting in Yorkshire, Olive-backed Pipit in Cornwall and Lesser Scaup in County Cork.

Lingering rarity highlights included the Siberian Rubythroat on Fair Isle, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler in Fife, Siberian Stonechat in Devon, Red-throated Pipit and Little Bunting in the Isles of Scilly, Penduline Tit in Kent, Dusky Warbler in County Durham, Olive-backed Pipit in Norfolk, Red-breasted Geese in Hampshire and Argyll, Lesser Yellowlegs' in Lancashire and Devon and White-rumped Sandpiper in Norfolk.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 27th October 2012  
  Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll is an extremely rare bird away from the northern and western Scottish islands, so one at Holkham in Norfolk will be very popular if it lingers for a third day. Despite there being just eight English records, this is the third for Norfolk, following two at Wells in October 1972. The other Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll found today was in the rather more predictable location of Ellister, Shetland. New Siberian Stonechats were found in Herefordshire (Wellington GPs) and Devon (Mid Soar), with also late news of a suppressed bird at Eccles, Norfolk recently.

Other new discoveries included a Desert Wheatear at West Lulworth, Dorset, a White-billed Diver at Whitburn, County Durham, a Penduline Tit at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk, a second Olive-backed Pipit at Easington, Yorkshire and a Little Bunting on Tresco, Isles of Scilly.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present included the Siberian Rubythroat on Fair Isle, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler in Fife, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, Daurian Shrike in Dorset, Red-breasted Goose and two Richardson's Canada Geese in Argyll, Bonaparte's Gulls in Devon and County Durham, Penduline Tit on the Isles of Scilly, Lesser Yellowlegs' in Devon, Lancashire and County Kerry, White-rumped Sandpipers in Norfolk and County Wexford, Long-billed Dowitcher in Gloucestershire and Red-throated Pipit in Cornwall.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 26th October 2012  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Siberian Rubythroat on Fair Isle, Shetland Isles, with Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll, Olive-backed Pipit and Little Bunting also noted there. At Portland, Dorset, the Daurian Shrike remained alongside Siberian Stonechat, Subalpine Warbler and Wryneck, and a Pechora Pipit flew over.

Elsewhere, rarities included the Eastern Olivaceous Warbler in Fife, Desert Wheatear in West Sussex, Olive-backed Pipit in County Galway, Dusky Warblers in both County Durham and Northumberland, Arctic Redpoll and Little Bunting in Norfolk, Black Kite in County Cork, Red-breasted Goose in Argyll, Long-billed Dowitchers in both Gloucestershire and the Western Isles, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon and Lancashire, American Golden Plover in Cumbria and County Wexford (4), White-rumped Sandpiper in Norfolk, Lesser Scaup in Somerset, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, and Richardson's Canada Geese in Argyll (2) and Cumbria.

Meanwhile, on the Isles of Scilly American Buff-bellied Pipit, Penduline Tit, Red-throated Pipit, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Richard's Pipit, Spotted Crake, Lapland Bunting, Great White Egret, three Ring-necked Ducks and four Yellow-browed Warblers were all logged.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 25th October 2012  
  New rarities confirmed today comprised a Desert Wheatear in West Sussex at Worthing, Siberian Stonechat in Dorset on Portland, Olive-backed Pipit in East Yorkshire at Kilnsea, a brief Red-throated Pipit in Cornwall, single Dusky Warblers in East Yorkshire, Norfolk, Northumberland and North Yorkshire, Little Bunting in Norfolk, Richardson's Canada Geese in both Cumbria and Lancashire, and Glossy Ibises in both Cambridgeshire and Dorset.

On the Isles of Scilly the American Buff-bellied Pipit remained alongside Penduline Tit, Red-throated Pipit, three Ring-necked Ducks, two Richard's Pipits, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Common Rosefinch, Spotted Crake and a Great White Egret.

Lingering rarities included the Chestnut-eared Bunting still on the Shetland Isles, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler in Fife, Daurian Shrike in Dorset, Arctic Warbler in Norfolk, Olive-backed Pipits in County Galway, Norfolk and Suffolk, Dusky Warbler in County Durham, Radde's Warbler and Little Bunting in Northumberland, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Red-footed Falcon on the Isle of Wight, Long-billed Dowitcher in Gloucestershire, Spotted Sandpiper in County Kerry, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, County Kerry and Lancashire, White-rumped Sandpiper in Norfolk, two Lesser Scaups together in Somerset, and three Richardson's Canada Geese together in County Sligo.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 24th October 2012  
  The highlight of the day was confirmation of Britian's second Chestnut-eared Bunting at Eastshore, Mainland, Shetland Isles, initially photographed yesterday as a Little Bunting. Other birds on the Shetland Isles included Pied Wheatear and Olive-backed Pipit also at Eastshore, and Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler on Unst, but the Siberian Rubythroat was not located on Fair Isle.

On the Isles of Scilly the American Buff-bellied Pipit remained with Penduline Tit, Radde's Warbler, Olive-backed Pipit, Little Bunting, Rose-coloured Starling, Spotted Crake, two each of both Red-breasted Flycatcher and Richard's Pipit, three Ring-necked Ducks and four Yellow-browed Warblers.

Rarities elsewhere comprised Eastern Olivaceous Warbler in Fife, Daurian Shrike in Dorset, Red-flanked Bluetail and Arctic Warbler in Norfolk, Radde's Warbler in Northumberland, Dusky Warblers in both County Durham and County Galway, Red-throated Pipit and Red-footed Falcon on the Isle of Wight, Olive-backed Pipits in Cornwall, Essex, County Galway, Highland, Norfolk (2) and Suffolk, Rustic Bunting in County Durham, Little Buntings in Cleveland and Northumberland, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Spotted Sandpiper in County Kerry, Long-billed Dowitcher in Gloucestershire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, County Kerry and Lancashire, American Golden Plovers in County Kerry and the Orkney Isles, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, two Lesser Scaups in Somerset, Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire, and Richardson's Canada Geese in Argyll (2) and County Sligo (3).

However, the most significant news was that of the presence of a Pale-legged Leaf Warbler - a new bird for the Western Palearctic - in Dorset, at Southwell, Portland, on Monday, but not since.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 23rd October 2012  
  Today's major news came from Shetland, where a Siberian Rubythroat was discovered on Fair Isle and a photo of a bunting taken on Mainland this afternoon shows what is probably a Chestnut-eared Bunting (although the bird was identified as a Little Bunting in the field). Elsewhere on Shetland a Pied Wheatear was discovered at Quendale (Mainland).

Away from Shetland Olive-backed Pipits were the theme of the day, with records in Essex, Cornwall, Suffolk, Orkney, Norfolk, Isles of Scilly, Northumberland (2) and Co Galway, in addition to further probable sightings in Northumberland and Gwynedd.

New discoveries included an adult Daurian Shrike on Portland (Dorset), Rustic Bunting at Whitburn (Co Durham), Little Buntings in Cleveland, Isles of Scilly and Gwynedd, Dusky Warblers in Northumberland and Co Durham and Long-billed Dowitcher on North Uist (Western Isles).

Lingering rarities comprised Red-flanked Bluetail in Norfolk, two Lesser Scaups in Somerset, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lancashire, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Siberian Stonechat in East Sussex, American Buff-bellied Pipit, Penduline Tit and Radde's Warbler on Isles of Scilly, Glossy Ibises in Pembrokeshire and Cornwall, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler in Fife, Red-breasted Goose in Kent, Long-billed Dowitcher in Gloucestershire and Radde's Warbler in Northumberland.

In Ireland a Spotted Sandpiper (Co Kerry), Lesser Yellowlegs (Co Dublin) and Dusky Warbler (Co Galway) were recorded.

The best of the rest included Bluethroat in East Yorkshire and  Pallas's Warblers in Lothian, Essex and Norfolk.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 22nd October 2012  
  A fantastic arrival of birds on the English east coast, particularly in East Anglia, produced an excellent selection of rarities in addition to huge numbers of thrushes and chats. Headline discoveries included Red-flanked Bluetails in Norfolk and Northumberland, Olive-backed Pipits in Norfolk and Orkney, Little Bunting in Northumberland, Red-rumped Swallow on Orkney, Dusky Warbler in Kent (with another reported in Cleveland) and Radde's Warbler in Northumberland. On Isles of Scilly a Penduline Tit (Tresco) and Radde's Warblers (St Agnes and Gugh) were logged and on Orkney two Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls were on North Ronaldsay

Elsewhere Bonaparte's Gull (Devon), Lesser Yellowlegs (Lancashire), Lesser Scaup (Somerset), Red-breasted Geese (Kent and Argyll), Siberian Stonechat (East Sussex), Lanceolated Warbler and three Olive-backed Pipits (Shetland), Glossy Ibis (Pembrokeshire) and Eastern Olivaceous Warbler (Fife) were all confirmed as still present.

In Ireland Olive-backed Pipit and Dusky Warbler in Co Galway, American Golden Plover and Spotted Sandpiper in Co Clare and Lesser Yellowlegs in Co Dublin and Co Kerry were the most notable reports.

The best of the rest included Purple Heron in Cornwall, Pallas's Warblers in Co Durham and Kent, Serins in Kent and Cornwall and Spotted Crake and Marsh Warbler on Isles of Scilly.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA