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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Friday 5th July 2013  
  The highlight of the day was the appearance of a species most birders probably thought would never reappear in Britain. A juvenile Ascension Frigatebird was found and photographed sitting on the harbour wall at Bowmore, Islay, Argyll mid morning. It was seen for around twenty minutes before flying off. Later in the day it was apparently seen on and around a fishing boat south-west of Portnahaven, before reappearing only a few miles away, in Loch Indaal, at 4pm, when it flew over Carnain. The only previous British and Western Palaearctic record of Ascension Frigatebird was, coincidentally, also in Argyll, on nearby Tiree in 1953, but was accepted as a Magnificent Frigatebird until 2003 when it was re-identified.

In Northumberland the adult Bridled Tern reappeared, this time on the mainland. It was found at Cresswell Pond NWT early afternoon, and remained in the Druridge Bay area until mid evening at least.

The next potential highlight of the day was a possible Great Black-headed Gull reported yesterday at Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk. A promising description was relayed to the RSPB staff today, but the bird wasn't seen during a thorough search.

Another new discovery today was of at least one new 'barking' male Little Bittern at Ham Wall RSPB, Somerset, where the breeding pair are still showing regularly. The only other lingering rarities seen today were the two Gull-billed Terns at Tacumshin, County Wexford.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 4th July 2013  
  Rarities seen today comprised the Bridled Tern still in Northumberland on the Farne Islands, although it was seen only briefly today, two Gull-billed Terns still together in County Wexford, Bonaparte's Gull in Kent, Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire, and the breeding pair of Little Bitterns in Somerset.

Scarcities included Marsh Warbler (Shetland Isles), Cattle Egret (County Donegal), Red-necked Phalarope (Orkney Isles), Pectoral Sandpiper (Lincolnshire), Ring-necked Duck (Lincolnshire, Lothian and North Yorkshire), Surf Scoter and Temminck's Stint (Aberdeenshire).

Significant late news from yesterday concerned a Snowy Owl on Rousay, Orkney Islands.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 3rd July 2013  
  The highlight of the day was the arrival of two Gull-billed Terns together at Tacumshin, County Wexford.

Rarities elsewhere were headlined by the Bridled Tern still on Inner Farne, Northumberland, whilst the Snowy Owl remained on St Kilda, Western Isles, an the pair of Little Bittern remained in Somerset at Ham Wall.

Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starling and Golden Oriole on the Orkney Isles, Common Rosefinch on Anglesey, Cattle Egret briefly in Kent, Sabine's Gull off Highland, two Surf Scoters together in Aberdeenshire, Ring-necked Duck in Lothian, and single Temminck's Stints in both Aberdeenshire and Northumberland.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 2nd July 2013  
  Fortunately the Bridled Tern remained overnight on the Farne Islands, Northumberland, where it showed intermittently throughout the day on Inner Farne. Rartities recorded elsewhere comprised a Little Bittern continuing in Somerset, and the Bonaparte's Gull still in Kent.

Otherwise, a Surf Scoter inland, in Powys at Lake Vrynwy, was an exceptional find, whilst a Rose-coloured Starling graced the Orkney Islands, Golden Oriole briefly in Berkshire, Common Rosefinch on Anglesey, Red-backed Shrike in Norfolk, Temminck's Stints in both Aberdeenshire and Cleveland, and Ring-necked Ducks in County Armagh and Lothian.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 1st July 2013  
 

An adult Bridled Tern was found on the Farne Islands today. It was on Inner Farne for a short period in mid afternoon but then flew north. However it reappeared there again soon after 6pm and was twitchable for those getting boats to the island in the evening.

Other new rarities found today were an Ortolan Bunting at Blakeney in north Norfolk, a Pacific Golden Plover on North Ronaldsay in the Orkney Islands and a further report of the Black Stork in Gloucestershire, this time at New Fancy View in the Forest of Dean. There was also a belated report of a Two-barred Crossbill yesterday at Eday on the Orkney Islands and a possible Eastern Olivaceous Warbler was reported yesterday at the Ythan Estuary in Aberdeenshire.

The Glossy Ibis remained in Pembrokeshire and the pair of Little Bitterns were still to be found in Somerset. The Melodious Warbler continued its stay in Nottinghamshire as did the Common Rosefinch on Anglesey and the Surf Scoter off Filey in Yorkshire. A Purple Heron was seen at Dungeness in Kent.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Sunday 30th June 2013  
 

A male Sardinian Warbler was trapped and ringed at Mire Loch, St Abb's Head in Borders early morning, but wasn't seen after it was released.

The breeding Little Bitterns in Somerset are showing a little more regularly as they are presumably now feeding young. Lingering rarities included the Bonaparte's Gull in Kent, King Eider in Aberdeenshire and Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire.

Scarcity highlights included the Melodious Warbler in Nottinghamshire, a Short-toed Lark on Isles of Scilly, Golden Orioles in Lincolnshire and Orkney, Common Rosefinches in Perth & Kinross and Anglesey, Ring-necked Ducks in Co Armagh and North Yorshire, Surf Scoters in Aberdeenshire and North Yorkshire, Purple Heron in East Yorkshire, Great Shearwater off Co Galway and Cory's Shearwater off Cornwall.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 29th June 2013  
 

A Lesser Yellowlegs was found on Mainland Orkney at The Loons RSPB reserve, but remained only brielfy, and also on the wader theme, there was a possible Pacific Golden Plover at Orford Ness in Suffolk.

Lingering rarities seen today included the Bonaparte's Gull in Kent, the Ferruginous Duck in Somerset, the Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire and at least the female Little Bittern still in Somerset.

The Melodious Warbler remained at Tiln in Nottinghamshire, the Purple Heron was still at Tophill Low in Yorkshire, along with the drake Surf Scoter off Filey and a Cory's Shearwater which flew past Spurn. The Common Rosefinch remained on Anglesey.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Friday 28th June 2013  
  A Ferruginous Duck was found at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB, Norfolk mid afternoon. Lingering rarities included at least the female Little Bittern at Ham Wall RSPB, Somerset and the Glossy Ibis at Marloes Mere, Pembrokeshire, whilst the possible Margelanic Lesser Whitethroat remained on territory in Devon.

Scarcity highlights included a Melodious Warbler, two Common Rosefinches, a Purple Heron, a Cory's Shearwater, a Temminck's Stint, two Red-necked Phalaropes, three Surf Scoters and two Ring-necked Ducks.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 27th June 2013  
  An impressively quiet day rarity wise, with no confirmed sightings of anything.

Scarcities seen today included a new Red-backed Shrike at Leighton Moss RSPB, Lancashire, a Melodious Warbler in Nottinghamshire, a Dotterel on the Isles of Scilly, a Purple Heron, Pectoral Sandpiper and Surf Scoter in Yorkshire, a Temminck's Stint in Fife, single Common Rosefinches in Perth and Kinross and Anglesey, a Sabine's Gull in Devon, a Ring-billed Gull in County Kerry, single Ring-necked Ducks in County Armagh, Yorkshire and Lothian and a Roseate Tern in Dorset.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 26th June 2013  
  The White-throated Needletail on the Isle of Harris, Western Isles, widely dubbed "bird of the century" by many of the birders who connected, remained over Loch Direcleit from mid morning until early afternoon, where it showed exceptionally well, often flying within inches of the gathered crowd. It flew south at 12.30pm, around five minutes before the first boat passengers arrived on site, but was relocated just over two hours later, over moorland a little further south. The day took an unexpected and, for many, upsetting turn when, at around 5.45pm, the swift collided with the only wind turbine in the south of the island, and was picked up dead a few minutes later.

A Black-winged Pratincole on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent was the only new rarity discovered today. It was first located at 11.40am, although it was distant and mobile, last being seen at 4pm when it flew off west.

Lingering rarities seen today included the breeding Little Bitterns at Ham Wall RSPB, Somerset, Bonaparte's Gull at Oare Marshes KWT, Kent, King Eider on the Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire and Glossy Ibis at Marloes Mere, Pembrokeshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA