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| Sunday 14th April 2013 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Red-flanked Bluetail in Norfolk at Horsey
Gap, where it went on to show throughout the afternoon. Elsewhere, the first Alpine Swifts of the year arrived
in Britain - more than three weeks later than is typical - in Cleveland
(Skinningrove), Lancashire (Marton Mere) and West Sussex (Pagham Harbour), but none of them lingered
for long. A Lesser Scaup identified at Borwick Water, Lancashire, was perhaps the twelth individual of this species to be recorded across Britain and Ireland in 2013, but only the second female. Elsewhere, lingering rarities confirmed as still present were both the Harlequin Duck and Richardson's Canada Goose on the Western Isles, Pied-billed Grebe in Somerset, Red-breasted Goose in Dumfries and Galloway, Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan, Little Bunting in County Durham, Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire and West Sussex, with single Lesser Scaups in Cleveland, Clyde, Glamorgan, Herefordshire and Lincolnshire. The best of rest included Hoopoes in Glamorgan and Somerset, White Storks over Bedfordshire and Cornwall, a new Ring-billed Gull in Argyll, the Pallas's Warbler still in Berkshire, and the Rose-coloured Starling in Devon. |
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| - Chris Batty, 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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| Saturday 13th April 2013 | ||
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| In Scotland another White-billed Diver was located; a new bird joining the existing
individual in Gruinard Bay, Highland, whilst the long-staying returning bird remained
off South Ronaldsay, Orkney Isles. This brings the total of White-billed Divers noted in Scotland during March and April
2013 to eighteen. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the American Coot in County Galway, Pied-billed Grebe in Sonmerset, Red-breasted Goose in Dumfries and Galloway, Long-billed Dowitcher in Pembrokeshire, King Eider in the Shetland Isles, Little Bunting in County Durham, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, and single Lesser Scaups in each of Cleveland, Clyde, Herefordshire and Lincolnshire. In Suffolk a Black Kite flew over Stowmarket. The Pallas's Warbler remained in Berkshire, as did the American Wigeon in Devon, whilst newly discovered scarcities included Serin (Kent), Hoopoe (Glamorgan), Dotterel (Lancashire), Lapland Bunting (Gwynedd) and three Shorelarks (Ceredigion). |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Friday 12th April 2013 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the return of the drake King Eider to
Aberdeenshire; seen first on the Ythan Estuary then later at Blackdog. Presumably
it is the same individual that has frequented this coast between March and June every year since 2010. Other rarities comprised the Pied-billed Grebe still in Somertset, Red-breasted Goose in Dumfries and Galloway, Little Bunting in County Durham, single Lesser Scaups in Clyde, Cornwall, Gwent, Herefordshire and Lincolnshire, and the count of White-billed Divers off Lewis, Western Isles, reached seven. Otherwise, the Pallas's Warbler remained in Berkshire, as did the American Wigeon in Devon and the Black Brant in Cumbria, with new arrivals including a Ring-necked Duck in Derbyshire, Ring-billed Gull in Somerset and Green-winged Teal in London. Migrant totals from across Britain included 62 Ring Ouzels, 31 Black Redstarts, 26 Garganey and 14 Firecrests. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 11th April 2013 | ||
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| A Black Kite was seen in Suffolk flying north over Bramfield. A new
White-billed Diver was off Port Skigersta, Lewis, Western Isles whilst the
new White-billed Diver in Gruinard Bay, Highland was the third found by
the same observer in three days.
Lingering rarities included the Harlequin Duck on the Western Isles, American Coot in County Galway, Pied-billed Grebe in Somerset, Little Bunting in County Durham, Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire, Red-breasted Goose in Dumfries and Galloway and single Lesser Scaups in Lincolnshire, Cornwall, Cleveland and Herefordshire. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 10th April 2013 | ||
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| Another White-billed Diver near Gairloch, Highland was the only new
rarity found today, whilst late news was released of a Red-flanked Bluetail
in Norfolk, at Burnham Overy last Sunday.
Lingering rarities still present today included the Harlequin Duck and two White-billed Divers on the Western Isles, Pied-billed Grebe in Somerset, Little Bunting in County Durham, two Penduline Tits in Kent, Red-breasted Goose and Richardson's Canada Goose in Dumfries and Galloway and single Lesser Scaups in Gwent, Glamorgan, Clyde, Lincolnshire and Cornwall. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 9th April 2013 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the discovery of a White-billed Diver in Highland at
Gairloch. Rarities elsewhere comprised the Red-breasted Goose still in Dumfries and Galloway,
Little Bunting in County Durham, and single Lesser Scaups in both Cornwall and Herefordshire. Scarce migrants included Hoopoe (Cornwall), Kentish Plover (East Sussex), Pallas's Warbler (Berkshire), Surf Scoter (Lothian), Rough-legged Buzzard (Shetland Isles), Temminck's Stint (four together in Kent), Rose-coloured Starling and American Wigeon (both in Devon). Otherwise, across-Britain migrant totals included 26 Garganey, 36 Firecrests, 56 Ring Ouzels and 59 Black Redstarts. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Monday 8th April 2013 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the reappearance of the Killdeer in Lancashire at Alston Wetland, albeit only present there briefly. Elsewhere, a
Black Kite flew over Brighton, East Sussex, a new White-billed Diver
was found on Lewis, Western Isles, Little Bunting reappeared in County Durham at Houghton-le-Spring, as did the
King Eider on Fetlar, Shetland Isles. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present included the American Coot in County Galway, Pied-billed Grebe in Somerset, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, White-billed Diver on the Orkney Isles, Glossy Ibis in West Sussex, and single Lesser Scaups in Cleveland, Cornwall, Gwent and Herefordshire. Scarcities included Pallas's Warbler in Berkshire, Kentish Plover and three Temminck's Stints in Kent, Rose-coloured Starling and American Wigeon in Devon, and a Ring-billed Gull in London. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 7th April 2013 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the discovery of Lancashire's first ever
Killdeer at Alston Reservoirs, Longridge, present for a couple of hours from
mid morning. Typically mobile, it flew off once, only to reappear a short while
later, before doing the same, but not returning. Astonishingly, it was found by
the same observer who found what may have been the same individual in County
Donegal on 29th March, which was also a county first.
Lingering rarities included the Pied-billed Grebe at Ham Wall RSPB, Somerset, Lesser Yellowlegs at Ernesettle, Devon, White-billed Diver off Herston, Orkney, Long-billed Dowitcher and Glossy Ibises at Dale and Marloes, Pembrokeshire, Ferruginous Duck at Otmoor RSPB, Oxfordshire and single Lesser Scaups at Cosmeston Lakes, Glamorgan, Tredegar, Gwent, Siblyback Lake, Cornwall, Freiston Shore RSPB, Lincolnshire, Saltholme RSPB, Cleveland and Wellington GPs, Herefordshire. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 6th April 2013 | ||
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| A Red-breasted Goose flew past Oare Marshes NR and Margate, both Kent
with Dark-bellied Brent Geese mid morning.
Elsewhere, lingering rarities comprised the Harlequin Duck and Richardson's Canada Goose on the Western Isles, Pied-billed Grebe in Somerset, Penduline Tit in Kent, Long-billed Dowitcher and Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire (with another of the latter in Sussex), Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, Bonaparte's Gull in Highland, Ferruginous Duck in Oxfordshire and single Lesser Scaups in Cornwall, Gwent, Glamorgan, Herefordshire, Lincolnshire and Cleveland. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Friday 5th April 2013 | ||
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| Lingering rarities included Harlequin Duck and White-billed Diver
in Western Isles, Pied-billed Grebe in Somerset, Long-billed Dowitcher in Pembrokeshire,
Penduline Tit in Kent, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, Lesser Scaups in Gwent, Cleveland,
Lincolnshire and Cornwall, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire and American Coot in Co Galway.
The best of the scarcities were the Rose-coloured Starling in Devon and White-spotted Bluethroats in Dorset, Isles of Scilly and Isle of Wight. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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