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| Monday 18th February 2013 | ||
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| A stunning drake Harlequin Duck was found today on the west coast of the
Western Isles at Balranald on North Uist. This represents the first Harlequin Duck
since a brief drake on St. Kilda in 2007 and the first twitchable one since
2004, with smart drakes at a premium in British waters. A White-billed Diver
was found off North Lewis, also on the Western Isles.
The Pine Grosbeak continued its stay on Mainland Shetland and the Pied-billed Grebe was still to be found in Somerset. Other long staying rarities included the Penduline Tit in Kent, Bonaparte's Gull in East Sussex, Desert Wheatear in Aberdeenshire, Ferruginous Duck in Bedfordshire, Lesser Scaup in Cornwall, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon and Black-bellied Dipper in Norfolk. Amongst scarcities, the Pallas's Warbler remained on the Berkshire/Hampshire border, a White-tailed Eagle was seen around the Anmer area in north west Norfolk and American Wigeons were in Lincolnshire and Devon. |
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| - Pete Hayman, RBA | ||
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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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| Sunday 17th February 2013 | ||
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| In Somerset, the Pied-billed Grebe remained at Ham Wall RSPB all day,
and the Pine Grosbeak was still at North Collafirth, Shetland.
Other lingering rarities included the Desert Wheatear in Aberdeenshire, Black-bellied Dipper in Norfolk, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, Dark-breasted Barn Owl and Bonaparte's Gull in Sussex, two Penduline Tits in Kent, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, single Long-billed Dowitchers in Pembrokeshire and County Wexford, Forster's Tern in County Galway, Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan, Blue-winged Teal in County Dublin, Lesser Scaups in County Clare and Cornwall, Ferruginous Duck in Bedfordshire and Richardson's Canada Goose in Argyll. Scarcity highlights included a Pallas's Warbler, a Rose-coloured Starling, a Richard's Pipit, a Kumlien's Gull, a Green-winged Teal, three American Wigeon, three Surf Scoters and four Rough-legged Buzzards. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 16th February 2013 | ||
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| The first Pied-billed Grebe for the modern day county of Somerset was
confirmed today, after first being seen late yesterday afternoon. Chew Valley
Lake and Blagdon Lake, the localities of the individual in the 1960's, are now
both in the modern day county of Avon. Present all day at Ham Wall RSPB, today's
bird showed very well at times.
Lingering rarity highlights seen today included the Pine Grosbeak in Northmavine, Shetland, Desert Wheatear at Rattray Head, Aberdeenshire, single Penduline Tits at Stodmarsh NNR and Dungeness RSPB, both Kent, two Black Ducks at Mizen Head, County Cork, Northern Harrier at Tacumshin, County Wexford, Black-bellied Dipper at Thetford, Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gull in Eastbourne and Dark-breasted Barn Owl at Rodmell, both Sussex, Lesser Yellowlegs at Ernesettle Creek, Devon and single Long-billed Dowitchers at Dale, Pembrokeshire and Lady's Island Lake, County Wexford. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Friday 15th February 2013 | ||
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| The Pine Grosbeak reappeared again today, at Greenbrae, Northmavine,
Shetland, as did the Pacific Diver in Mount's Bay, Cornwall.
Other lingering rarities included the Desert Wheatear in Aberdeenshire, Penduline Tit in Kent, Black-bellied Dipper in Norfolk, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, two Black Ducks in County Cork, Snowy Owl in County Fermanagh, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, Bonaparte's Gull and Dark-breasted Barn Owl in Sussex, single Lesser Scaups in Cornwall and County Clare, Ferruginous Duck in Bedfordshire, Richardson's Canada Goose on the Western Isles and Long-billed Dowitcher and Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 14th February 2013 | ||
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| Lingering rarities comprised White-billed Diver on Orkney, Lesser
Yellowlegs in Devon, Bonaparte's Gull in East Sussex, Ferruginous
Duck in Bedfordshire, Penduline Tit in Kent and Lesser Scaup in Cornwall. In Ireland the
American Coot (Co Galway) and Blue-winged Teal (Co Dublin) were both
still present.
The best of the rest included Cattle Egret in Kent, Rose-coloured Starling in Devon and Richard's Pipits in Lancashire and Co Louth. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 13th February 2013 | ||
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| A quiet day, with rarity highlights including the Pacific Diver off
Penzance, Cornwall, two Black Ducks at Mizen Head, County Cork,
Penduline Tit at Stodmarsh, Kent, Black-bellied Dipper in Thetford,
Norfolk, Ferruginous Duck at Priory Country Park, Bedfordshire and
Lesser Scaup at Colliford Lake, Cornwall.
Scarcity highlights included a Pallas's Warbler, a Richard's Pipit, a Rose-coloured Starling, a Pomarine Skua, two Black Brants, a Green-winged Teal, four Ring-necked Ducks, four Rough-legged Buzzards, a Kumlien's Gull, four Iceland Gulls, 12 Glaucous Gulls, five Caspian Gulls, two Ring-billed Gulls, nine Tundra Bean Geese and 12 Lapland Buntings. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 12th February 2013 | ||
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| In Cornwall, the adult Pacific Diver reappeared in Mount's Bay late
afternoon. Other long staying Megas included the Pine Grosbeak on
Shetland and the American Coot in County Galway.
Lingering rarities included the Penduline Tit in Kent, two Black Ducks in County Cork, Bonaparte's Gull in Sussex, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, Long-billed Dowitcher and Northern Harrier in County Wexford, Black-bellied Dipper in Norfolk, Ferruginous Duck in Bedfordshire, Lesser Scaup in Cornwall and Richardson's Canada Goose in Argyll. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Monday 11th February 2013 | ||
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| Lingering rarities included Penduline Tit in Kent, Desert Wheatear
in Aberdeenshire, Bonaparte's Gull in East Sussex, Long-billed
Dowitcher in Co Wexford, Richardson's Canada Goose in Western Isles,
Black-bellied Dipper in Norfolk, Ferruginous Duck in Bedfordshire,
Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon and Lesser Scaups in Glamorgan and Co
Clare.
Scarcity sightings included Yellow-browed Warbler in Cornwall, Rose-coloured Starling in Devon and Richard's Pipit in Co Louth. Late news from yesterday related to a Snowy Owl in Co Donegal. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 10th February 2013 | ||
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| Rarities today comprised the Pine Grosbeak still in Shetland, Desert Wheatear still in Aberdeenshire, Northern Harrier and Long-billed Dowitcher in County Wexford, Black Ducks in County Cork (2), County Mayo, and Highland, Penduline Tit in Kent, Bonaparte's Gull in East Sussex, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, Richardson's Canada Goose in Argyll, Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan, and Ferruginous Ducks in both Bedfordshire and Norfolk. | ||
| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 9th February 2013 | ||
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| 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. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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