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 10th November 2012  
  The highlight of the day was a Cedar Waxwing on The Mullet, County Mayo: present only briefly in the same garden that had hosted a Blackpoll Warbler yesterday! This is the second Irish record, following one on Inishbofin, County Galway on 14th October 2009.

Elsewhere, new rarities comprised two Penduline Tits in Bedfordshire at Marston Moretaine, a Little Bunting in East Yorkshire at Skeffling, two Lesser Scaups together in Highland at Loch Watten, and an American Golden Plover in County Londonderry at Limavady.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised the Eastern Olivaceous Warbler in Fife, Arctic Warbler on the Shetland Isles, Bee-eater in County Durham, Penduline Tit in Kent, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, King Eider in Moray, Long-billed Dowitchers in both Gloucestershire and Northumberland, American Golden Plover in Cambridgeshire, and single Lesser Scaups in County Clare and Somerset.

Scarcities included a Pallas's Warbler (reported on the Orkney Isles), Barred Warbler (Fife), Yellow-browed Warbler (Devon), Surf Scoter (County Cork), Cattle Egret (Devon), and Richard's Pipits (two together in Cleveland, two toegther in East Yorkshire and one in Suffolk).

Waxwings were recorded in 41 counties between the Shetland Isles, Western Isles, Suffolk and Cornwall, with flocks over 100 in 13 counties, and maximum flock counts including 424 in Aberdeenshire, 300 in East Yorkshire, 250 in both County Durham and Highland, 220 in Forth, and 200 each in Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway and North Yorkshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 9th November 2012  
  Bird of the day goes to the Blackpoll Warbler on The Mullet, County Mayo, which appeared in a birder's garden in Tarmon late afternoon. The Penduline Tit flock at Grove Ferry, Kent continues to grow, with four being seen early morning.

Lingering rarities included the Hooded Merganser in Sussex, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler in Fife, five Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls in Shetland, Bee-eater in County Durham, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Long-billed Dowitcher in Gloucestershire, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, Lesser Scaups in Somerset and County Clare and Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire.

The Waxwing influx continues, with a total of 4,274 individuals reported from 35 counties.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 8th November 2012  
  Two more Penduline Tits joined the lingering bird at Grove Ferry NR, Kent, where they showed from the David Feast Hide. An adult American Golden Plover was seen at Pickerings Pasture, Cheshire.

Lingering rarities seen today included the Hooded Merganser in Sussex, Bee-eater and Little Bunting in County Durham, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler in Fife, Arctic Warbler and four Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls in Shetland, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, Black-bellied Dipper in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, Long-billed Dowitchers in Northumberland and Gloucestershire, Lesser Scaup in Somerset and Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 7th November 2012  
  New rarities recorded today comprised a Lesser Scaup in County Cork at Lough Aderra, a Little Bunting in Herefordshire at Kingsland, and a Black-bellied Dipper identified at Thetford, Norfolk.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Arctic Warbler on the Shetland Isles, Bee-eater in County Durham, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Long-billed Dowitchers in Gloucestershire, Lincolnshire and Northumberland, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lancashire, two American Golden Plovers together in County Londonderry, Lesser Scaup in County Clare, Glossy Ibis in Somerset and Ross's Goose in Norfolk.

Scarcities included Red-breasted Flycatcher and Richard's Pipit in Cornwall, Barred Warbler in Fife, Yellow-browed Warblers in both Dorset and the Isle of Wight, Cattle Egret in Devon, American Wigeon in West Yorkshire, Ring-necked Duck in Somerset, and Surf Scoters in both County Antrim and Conwy (2).

Waxwings were recorded from 36 counties between the Shetland Isles, Western Isles, Devon and Kent; including flocks of 250 in Highland, 150 in both Lothian and Perth and Kinross, 130 on the Western Isles and 100 in Cleveland.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 6th November 2012  
  Today's new discoveries included a Hooded Merganser in West Sussex, Arctic Warbler in Shetland, Penduline Tit in Kent and flyover Red-throated Pipit in Gloucestershire.

The Spanish Sparrow (Isle of Wight), Eastern Olivaceous Warbler (Fife), Bonaparte's Gull and Lesser Yellowlegs (Devon), Ferruginous Duck (Norfolk), Long-billed Dowitchers (Gloucestershire and Northumberland), Glossy Ibis (Pembrokeshire), Bee-eater (Co Durham), Lesser Scaup (Somerset), two Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls (Shetland) and Red-breasted Goose (Hampshire) all lingered.

The best of the rest included Hoopoe in Norfolk and Red-breasted Flycatcher in Cornwall.

In Ireland the Lesser Scaup lingered in Co Clare.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 5th November 2012  
  On Isle of Wight the Spanish Sparrow remained in Newchurch for its second day. Elsewhere lingering rarities included Eastern Olivaceous Warbler in Fife, Desert Wheatear in Essex, Little Bunting and Bee-eater in Co Durham, King Eider in Moray, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire, Ross's Goose in Norfolk, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, American Golden Plover in Cornwall, Lesser Scaup in Somerset and Long-billed Dowitchers in Northumberland and Gloucestershire.

On Unst (Shetland) the Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll total increased to six birds, whilst a Penduline Tit was at Dungeness RSPB (Kent), a Ferruginous Duck arrived at Welney WWT and a couple of American Golden Plovers were at Anthorn (Cumbria).

In addition to excellent numbers of Waxwings, scarcities included Cattle Egret in Devon, Dotterel in Bedfordshire, Purple Heron in Dorset, Barred Warbler in Fife and Richard's Pipit in Cornwall.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 4th November 2012  
  Highlight of the day was the discovery of a Spanish Sparrow on the Isle of Wight - the third individual to be reported this year, following the males in Hampshire and Suffolk.

Elsewhere new discoveries included seven Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls on Shetland (a flock of five on Unst and a couple in North Mainland), a Long-billed Dowitcher in Northumberland and a flyover American Golden Plover in Cornwall.

Lingering rarities comprised Bonaparte's Gulls in Northamptonshire and Devon, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon and Lancashire, Desert Wheatear in Essex, Bee-eater and Little Bunting in Co Durham, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in East Sussex, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler in Fife, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire, Lesser Scaup in Somerset, Long-billed Dowitcher in Gloucestershire and Red-rumped Swallow in Lothian.

In Ireland highlights included Lesser Scaup in Co Clare, White-rumped Sandpiper and Forster's Tern in Co Galway, Pied-billed Grebe in Co Mayo, Lesser Scaup (or hybrid) in Co Cork and American Golden Plover and Northern Harrier in Co Wexford.

The best of the rest included Hoopoe in Somerset, Richard's Pipits in Norfolk and Cornwall, Red-breasted Flycatcher on Isles of Scilly and Dotterel in Bedfordshire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 3rd November 2012  
  The highlight of the day was a Red-rumped Swallow in Forth at Blackness. Elsewhere, new rarities comprised an American Golden Plover in Cambridgeshire at Ouse Fen, a Tawny Pipit briedly in Conwy at Great Ormes Head, and, on the Shetland Isles, Olive-backed Pipit on Unst, and a Black-bellied Dipper at Gulberwick.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present today were the Eastern Olivaceous Warbler in Fife, Desert Wheatear in Essex, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in East Sussex, Bee-eater and Little Bunting in County Durham, Bonaparte's Gull in Northamptonshire, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, Lesser Scaups in both County Cork and Somerset, Spotted Sandpiper in County Clare, Long-billed Dowitcher in Gloucestershire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon and Lancashire, American Golden Plovers in County Clare, County Londonderry (2) and County Wexford, White-rumped Sandpipers in Norfolk and County Wexford (2), Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire and Somerset, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, and Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in Leicestershire.

Scarce migrants included Bluethroat (Lincolnshire), Red-breasted Flycatcher (County Cork and the Isles of Scilly), Richard's Pipit (Cornwall, Norfolk and Northumberland), Hoopoe (Dorset, Shetland Isles and Somerset), and four Surf Scoters together (in Conwy).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 2nd November 2012  
  New rarity discoveries today included a Little Bunting at Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham, Coues's Arctic Redpoll on Fair Isle, Shetland, Red-throated Pipit at Tacumshin, County Wexford, Richardson's Canada Goose at Tayinloan, Argyll and American Golden Plover at Lough Foyle, County Derry.

Lingering rarities included Siberian Rubythroat on Fair Isle, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler in Fife, Blyth's Reed Warbler on the Isles of Scilly, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Sussex, Desert Wheatear in Essex, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, Forster's Tern in County Galway, Long-billed Dowitcher in Gloucestershire, White-rumped Sandpipers in Norfolk and County Wexford, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, American Golden Plovers in Oxfordshire and Cumbria, King Eider in Moray, Lesser Scaups in County Cork and Somerset, Red-breasted Geese in Hampshire and Argyll and Glossy Ibises in Somerset and County Cork.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 1st November 2012  
  The first Bonaparte's Gull for Northamptonshire was seen in the roost at Boddington Reservoir this evening. Nearby, in Oxfordshire, a juvenile American Golden Plover roosted on the flood at Port Meadow late afternoon. A Red-throated Pipit was on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, whilst the leaf warbler in Ventnor, Isle of Wight for its fifth day was reidentified as a Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler.

Lingering rarities included the Siberian Rubythroat on Fair Isle (present for ten days and counting), Eastern Olivaceous Warbler in Fife, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Sussex, Blyth's Reed Warbler on the Isles of Scilly, Desert Wheatear in Essex, Forster's Tern in County Galway, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, two White-rumped Sandpipers in Norfolk, Lesser Yellowlegs' in Devon and Lancashire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Gloucestershire, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire and Richardson's Canada Goose in Argyll and Lesser Scaups in County Cork and Somerset.
-  Will Soar, RBA