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 9th February 2013  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Baikal Teal, alongside the Northern Harrier, at Tacumshin, County Wexford. Elsewhere, the Pine Grosbeak remained on the Shetland Isles, as did two Black Ducks and an American Herring Gull in County Cork, Desert Wheatear in Aberdeenshire, Penduline Tit in Kent, Bonaparte's Gull in East Sussex, Long-billed Dowitchers in both Pembrokeshire and County Wexford, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, Lesser Scaup in County Clare, Ferruginous Duck in Bedfordshire, Richardson's Canada Goose and Black-bellied Dipper in Norfolk, Red-breasted Goose in Suffolk, and Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire. Two White-billed Divers were suspected on the Orkney Isles, and a Gyr was seen just briefly near Guisborough, Cleveland.

Otherwise, a Rose-coloured Starling was in Devon, a Richard's Pipit in County Louth, and in Norfolk, three Rough-legged Buzzards. Scarce gulls were represented by 18 Glaucous, 17 Iceland, eight Ring-billed, six Caspian and three Kumlien's.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 8th February 2013  
  The highlight of the day was the arrival of a Baikal Teal at Tacumshin, County Wexford. Discoveries elsewhere included a White-billed Diver on the Shetland Isles, off Fetlar, and, in Kent, two Penduline Tits were at Denge Marsh, with another noted at Grove Ferry.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Pine Grosbeak on the Shetland Isles, two Black Ducks together in County Cork, Desert Wheatear in Aberdeenshire, Bonaparte's Gulls in both East Sussex and Glamorgan, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, Long-billed Dowitcher in Pembrokeshire, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, and both Ferruginous Duck and Black-belled Dipper in Norfolk. In County Kerry the juvenile Glaucous-winged Gull or hybrid showed again at Cromane.

The best of the rest included Common Rosefinch (Dorset), Richard's Pipit (County Louth), Temminck's Stint (Somerset), Surf Scoter (Conwy), American Wigeon (Orkney Isles), Shorelark (Norfolk) and Leach's Petrel (Bedfordshire).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 7th February 2013  
  The Pine Grosbeak remained on Mainland Shetland, although it was missing for the majority of the day.

In Co Cork two Black Ducks were on a flooded field at Mizen Head, whilst elsewhere in Ireland the possible Glaucous-winged Gull reappeared in Co Kerry and the Richard's Pipit lingered in Co Louth.

Back across the Irish Sea rarities included Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, Richardson's Canada Goose and Black-bellied Dipper in Norfolk, Dark-breasted Barn Owl in East Sussex, Bonaparte's Gulls in East Sussex and Glamorgan, Desert Wheatear in Aberdeenshire, Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan and Ferruginous Duck in Bedfordshire. In Devon the Rose-coloured Starling lingered at Exminster.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 6th February 2013  
  The highlight of the day was confirmation of the continued presence of the Pine Grosbeak on the Shetland Isles, at North Collafirth, Northmavine.

Rarities elsewhere comprised a brief Penduline Tit in Kent at Stodmarsh, the lingering Desert Wheatear still in Aberdeenshire, Bonaparte's Gulls in both East Sussex and Glamorgan, Red-breasted Goose in Suffolk, White-billed Diver on the Orkney Isles, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, Lesser Scaup in County Clare, Ferruginous Duck in Bedfordshire, Richardson's Canada Goose on the Western Isles, and Black-bellied Dipper in Norfolk.

Scarcities included Richard's Pipit in County Louth, Rough-legged Buzzard in South Yorkshire, Surf Scoter in Dumfied and Galloway, American Wigeon in both County Leitrim and the Western Isles, and six Ring-necked Ducks. Scarce gulls included 16 Glaucous, 11 Caspian, four Iceland and a Ring-billed; the latter on the Shetland Isles.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 5th February 2013  
  The Pine Grosbeak continued its stay on North Mainland Shetland. Elsewhere lingering rarities comprised Bonaparte's Gull in East Sussex, Long-billed Dowitchers in Pembrokeshire and Co Wexford, Ferruginous Duck in Bedfordshire, Desert Wheatear in Aberdeenshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, American Coot in Co Galway and Black-bellied Dipper in Norfolk.

Scarcities included Richard's Pipits in Highland and Co Louth, Hoopoe in Dorset and two Shorelarks in Norfolk.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 4th February 2013  
  On Shetland the Pine Grosbeak was still present in North Mainland, but it had relocated to a garden about a mile north-east of yesterday's location.

Elsewhere lingering rarities included Bonaparte's Gull in East Sussex, Lesser Scaup in Flintshire, Desert Wheatear in Aberdeenshire, Black-bellied Dipper in Norfolk, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, Long-billed Dowitcher and Northern Harrier in Co Wexford, Lesser Scaup in Co Clare and Ferruginous Duck in Bedfordshire.

The best of the rest included Richard's Pipit in Co Louth, Hoopoe in Dorset, Rose-coloured Starling in Devon and Shorelark in Lincolnshire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 3rd February 2013  
  As expected, the Pine Grosbeak remained in the garden at North Collafirth, Shetland today. It has been present in the area since the 2nd November 2012, when it was photographed at Urafirth, less than five miles from its current location.

Two Lesser Scaups were discovered today, one, a new bird, in County Armagh at Oxford Island NNR and a returning bird at Cardiff Bay Wetlands NR, Glamorgan. A Bonaparte's Gull was on South Uist, Western Isles, yesterday, but couldn't be found today.

Lingering rarities included the Desert Wheatear in Aberdeenshire, Dark-breasted Barn Owl and Bonaparte's Gull in Sussex, Black-bellied Dipper in Norfolk, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, Long-billed Dowitchers in Pembrokeshire and County Wexford, Lesser Scaup in Flintshire and Ferruginous Duck in Bedfordshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 2nd February 2013  
  The highlight of the day was the reappearance of the Pine Grosbeak on the Shetland Isles at North Collafirth. If it is still present tomorrow it will represent only the second truly twitchable Pine Grosbeak in Britain ever. Elsewhere, an American Herring Gull was a new discovery in County Cork at Baltimore, whilst the identification of both a Lesser Scaup in Flintshire at Shotton, and a Dark-breasted Barn Owl at Rodmell, East Sussex were confirmed.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised the Gyr on the Orkney Isles, American Coot and Forster's Tern in County Galway, American Buff-bellied Pipit in Berkshire, Black Duck in Highland, Desert Wheatear in Aberdeenshire, Northern Harrier and Long-billed Dowitcher in County Wexford, Red-breasted Goose in West Sussex, Bonaparte's Gulls in both East Sussex and Glamorgan, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, Ferruginous Duck in Bedfordshire, Black-bellied Dipper in Norfolk and Glossy Ibis in County Cork.

Scarcities included the Pallas's Warbler still in Berkshire, Richard's Pipit in County Louth, Hoopoe in Dorset, Kumlien's Gull in East Yorkshire, with two each of Cattle Egret, Surf Scoter, Grey Phalarope and Black Brant, three each of Rough-legged Buzzard and Lapland Bunting, four each of Ring-necked Duck and Great Grey Shrike, seven Green-winged Teals, eight Tundra Bean Geese and 14 Great White Egrets, whilst gulls included 11 Iceland, 13 Glaucous, 14 Ring-billed and 21 Caspian.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 1st February 2013  
  News of a Pine Grosbeak on Tuesday in Shetland was released today, but the bird failed to materialise in an extensive search of the North Collafirth area of Mainland. Nearby, a White-billed Diver was off Muness, Unst, and a white Gyr was photographed further south near Stromness, Orkney.

Lingering rarities included Desert Wheatear in Aberdeenshire, Black-bellied Dipper in Norfolk, single Ferruginous Ducks in London and Bedfordshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, Lesser Scaup in County Clare and Richardson's Canada Goose in the Western Isles.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 31st January 2013  
  New discoveries today included a female Ferruginous Duck in London, at Danson Park, Bexleyheath, and a Richardson's Canada Goose on the Western Isles, at Balranald RSPB, North Uist.

Lingering rarities included the Desert Wheatear in Aberdeenshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan, White-billed Diver in Orkney, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, Black-bellied Dipper in Norfolk, Lesser Scaup in Somerset and Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire.

Scarcity highlights included a Rose-coloured Starling, a Grey Phalarope, a Great Grey Shrike, a Kumlien's Gull, a Cattle Egret, a Todd's Canada Goose, two American Wigeon, five Lapland Buntings, seven Ring-necked Ducks, eight Little Auks, six Ring-billed Gulls, eight Caspian Gulls, five Iceland Gulls and 11 Glaucous Gulls.
-  Will Soar, RBA