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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Monday 22nd April 2013  
  In Somerset the two Whiskered Terns remained at Shapwick Heath NNR before they reappeared at Durleigh Reservoir (Somerset) and Witcombe Reservoir (Gloucestershire) later in the day.

In West Sussex a Bonelli's warbler species was seen (but not heard) at Church Norton, a Subalpine Warbler was reported at Boultham Mere (Lincolnshire) and a Lesser Scaup relocated to Holme Pierrepont (Nottinghamshire).

Elsewhere lingering rarities included Western Subalpine Warblers in Lincolnshire and Gwynedd, Glossy Ibises in Pembrokeshire and West Sussex, White-billed Divers in Aberdeenshire (2) and Orkney, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset, Lesser Scaups in Lancashire, Herefordshire, Cornwall and Cleveland, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, Pied-billed Grebe in Somerset, Little Bunting in Co Durham, Pallid Swift on Isles of Scilly, Harlequin Duck on Western Isles and King Eider on Shetland.

Scarcity highlights included American Wigeon in Clyde, Woodchat Shrikes in Cornwall, Pembrokeshire, Gwynedd and Somerset, Hoopoe in Co Waterford, Rose-coloured Starling in Devon, Pectoral Sandpiper in Northumberland, Cattle Egret and Purple Heron in Kent, Common Rosefinch in West Sussex and Wryneck on Isles of Scilly.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 21st April 2013  
  The highlight of the day was the impressive gathering of White-billed Divers off the Portsoy area of Aberdeenshire. At least eight were a couple of miles offshore from a boat during the morning, with another seven seen from land, and yet another four a little further west off Sandend.

Other rarities discovered today included two Whiskered Terns at Shapwick Heath, Somerset, a Subalpine Warbler in Dorset in a Portland garden briefly, a Lesser Scaup in Nottinghamshire, Black Kites at Bovey Tracey, Devon and Westleton, Suffolk and at least one Red-rumped Swallow at St Just, Cornwall and another on Portland, Dorset. A stunning flava wagtail was present at Northam Burrows Country Park which was probably a Grey-headed Wagtail, but no mention has been made of its call.

Lingering rarities included the Pallid Harrier in Pembrokeshire, Pied-billed Grebe in Somerset, Harlequin Duck and Richardson's Canada Goose in the Western Isles, single Western Subalpine Warblers in Gwynedd and Lincolnshire and Little Bunting in County Durham.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 20th April 2013  
  The highlight of a busy day was a Pallid Harrier on Skomer, Pembrokeshire which, perhaps surprisingly, is a first for Wales. A singing Iberian Chiffchaff was on The Lizard, Cornwall, with a Red-rumped Swallow in the same county at Porthgwarra. Further east two Black Storks were seen flying over Dorchester, Dorset, whilst a Western Subalpine Warbler was at Gibraltar Point NNR, Lincolnshire, a Penduline Tit at Dungeness, Kent and a Black Kite was over Croydon, London. In Scotland a white Gyr was seen at Orphir, Orkney, a White-billed Diver was on Mull, Argyll and two Richardson's Canada Geese were at Balelone, North Uist, Western Isles.

Highlights of the lingering rarities were the Harlequin Duck on the Western Isles, Pied-billed Grebe in Somerset, two Northern Harriers in County Wexford, Western Subalpine Warblers in Gwynedd and Lincolnshire, Pallid Swift on the Isles of Scilly, Blue-winged Teal in Cheshire and Little Bunting in County Durham.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 19th April 2013  
  New rarities discovered today included an adult male Pallid Harrier over Forfar Loch, Angus, a female Citrine Wagtail at Swillington Ings, Yorkshire, single Subalpine Warblers at Poole Harbour, Dorset and Mynydd Mawr, Gwynedd, a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on Islay, Argyll, a drake Blue-winged Teal at Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB, Cheshire /Flintshire and a female Ferruginous Duck at Barrow Gurney Reservoirs, Somerset.

Lingering rarities included the Harlequin Duck and White-billed Diver on the Western Isles, Pied-billed Grebe in Somerset, Pallid Swift on the Isles of Scilly, Red-rumped Swallow in Suffolk, Little Bunting in County Durham, single Lesser Scaups in Glamorgan and Lancashire, Ferruginous Duck in Suffolk, Red-breasted Goose in Argyll and Glossy Ibis in Sussex.
-  Will Soar, RBA
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