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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Thursday 18th April 2013  
  Two Red-rumped Swallows were found today, one at Waltham Brooks, Sussex and one at Kessingland, Suffolk, whilst an Alpine Swift was at Lade gravel pits, Kent. An Alpine Swift was at Castlerock, County Derry yesterday.

Lingering rarities included the Harlequin Duck on the Western Isles, Pied-billed Grebe in Somerset, Alpine Swift in Yorkshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, Lesser Scaup in Lancashire, Ferruginous Duck in Suffolk, Little Bunting in County Durham and Glossy Ibis in Sussex.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 17th April 2013  
  The highlight of the day was the presence of at least five Alpine Swifts, with singles noted in County Dublin at Glasnevin, Kent at both Cliftonville and Dungeness, Norfolk at Lopham Fen, and North Yorkshire at both Filey and Seamer.

Other rarities comprised the Pied-billed Grebe still in Somerset, Pallid Swift on the Isles of Scilly, Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, single Lesser Scaups in both Cleveland and Lancashire, Glossy Ibis in West Sussex, a new Ferruginous Duck in Suffolk at Minsmere, and Little Buntings in Durham and Dorset, the latter seen only briefly at Hengistbury Head.

The best of the rest included Hoopoes in Ceredigion and County Waterford, Rough-legged Buzzards in East Yorkshire and Norfolk, Sabine's Gulls off the Isles of Scilly and Wirral, Dotterel in Conwy and Derbyshire, and a showy Corncrake in East Sussex.

Finally, remarkable news from Gloucestershire concerned a Baillon's Crake picked up dead at Slimbridge.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 16th April 2013  
  Today's new discoveries included a Pallid Swift on Isles of Scilly, Red-rumped Swallow in Devon and Alpine Swifts in North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire.

Lingering rarities comprised Pied-billed Grebe (Somerset), Glossy Ibises (West Sussex and Pembrokeshire), Little Bunting (Co Durham), Lesser Scaups (Cleveland and Gwent) and Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon.

Scarcity highlights included Hoopoes in Somerset and Glamorgan, Wryneck in Gloucestershire, Cattle Egret in Co Down, Bluethroat and Purple Heron in Norfolk, Pallas's Warbler on the Berkshire/Hampshire border, Rose-coloured Starling in Devon and Dotterels in Lancashire and Orkney.

The Flamborough Head Baikal Teal had departed overnight.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 15th April 2013  
  Highlight of the day was the discovery of a drake Baikal Teal at Flamborough Head. Initially picked up flying in off the sea with two Wigeon, it was later relocated on pools on the headland, where it remained until dusk.

Elsewhere rarities comprised Harlequin Duck on Western Isles, White-billed Diver in Highland, Pied-billed Grebe in Somerset, Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan, Glossy Ibises in West Sussex and Pembrokeshire, Little Bunting in Co Durham and Lesser Scaups in Lancashire, Cleveland, Gwent and Herefordshire.

The best of the rest included Hoopoes in Somerset, West Sussex and Hertfordshire, Pallas's Warbler on the Berkshire/ Hampshire border, Rose-coloured Starling in Devon, three Shorelarks in Ceredigion, two Dotterels in Lancashire, Montagu's Harrier in Dorset and Woodchat Shrike in Cornwall.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 14th April 2013  
  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.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 13th April 2013  
  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).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 12th April 2013  
  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.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 11th April 2013  
  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.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 10th April 2013  
  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.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 9th April 2013  
  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.
-  Chris Batty, RBA