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 11th July 2013  
  A Caspian Tern flew north west past Walcott in Norfolk early this afternoon. In South Wales, the Lesser Yellowlegs reappeared near Llanelli at the National Wetlands Centre WWT this morning and was present throughout the day and the three Little Bitterns were still to be seen, mostly in flight, at Ham Wall in Somerset.

Scarce waders included a Temminck's Stint again at Derwent Reservoir in Northumberland, a Pectoral Sandpiper at Rainham Marshes in London and 2 Grey Phalaropes seen at sea north of Fair Isle. The Common Rosefinch remained in Perth and Kinross, the Ring-necked Duck was still in Lothian, there was a scattering of Spoonbills in Norfolk, Gloucestershire and south Wales and there was a huge total of 470 Mediterranean Gulls in one field at Sopley in Hampshire.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Wednesday 10th July 2013  
  The Bridled Tern started working its way further south today, being seen off Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire at 11.15am. A Caspian Tern headed north past Hopton-on-Sea, Norfolk an hour later, and a Black Kite flew over Hugh Town, Isles of Scilly.

Lingering rarities included a single Gull-billed Tern at Tacumshin, County Wexford, a Black Kite near Sancreed, Cornwall, at least two Little Bitterns at Ham Wall RSPB, Somerset, King Eider on the Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire and Glossy Ibis at Marloes Mere, Pembrokeshire.

Scarcities seen today included a Marsh Warbler, a Roseate Tern, a Ring-necked Duck, two Surf Scoters, two Pomarine Skuas and three Caspian Gulls.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 9th July 2013  
  Highlight of the day was the discovery of a Terek Sandpiper at Tacumshin (Co Wexford), where a Gull-billed Tern also lingered. Elsewhere in Ireland a Bonaparte's Gull flew past the Waterford coastline.

In Northumberland the mobile Bridled Tern appeared offshore at Coquet Island whilst in Cornwall Black Kite sightings came from Sancreed, The Lizard and Camelford. Three Little Bitterns remained in Somerset and the long-staying Glossy Ibis was still in Pembrokeshire.

The best of the rest included Common Rosefinch in Perth & Kinross, Temminck's Stint in Aberdeenshire, Red-backed Shrike in North Yorkshire and Pectoral Sandpipers in Gwent and Cornwall.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 8th July 2013  
  Today's lingering rarities included the Bridled Tern in Northumberland, Little Bitterns in Somerset, Lesser Yellowlegs in Carmarthenshire, Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire, Western Subalpine Warbler in Shetland, King Eider in Aberdeenshire and Gull-billed Terns in Co Wexford.

Other notable sightings included Common Rosefinches in Perth & Kinross and Lincolnshire, Ring-necked Duck in Lothian, Pectoral Sandpiper in Gwent, Cattle Egret in Co Donegal, Great White Egret on Isle of Wight and Temminck's Stint in Aberdeenshire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 7th July 2013  
  Quality discoveries today included a flyover Two-barred Crossbill at Whitburn, County Durham and a Caspian Tern from a ferry in the Irish Sea, just east of Carnsore Point, County Wexford, whilst the only twitchable new rarity was a Lesser Yellowlegs at Llanelli WWT, Carmarthenshire.

Lingering rarities included the Bridled Tern in Northumberland, two Gull-billed Terns in County Wexford, three Little Bitterns in Somerset, single Bonaparte's Gulls in London and Kent and King Eider in Aberdeenshire.

Scarcity highlights included a Common Rosefinch, two Pomarine Skuas, a Temminck's Stint, two Surf Scoters and a Ring-necked Duck.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 6th July 2013  
  The adult Bridled Tern relocated to Cleveland, being seen in the Saltholme RSPB area for a little over an hour early afternoon before it reappeared back at East Chevington, Northumberland mid evening.

A stunning summer plumaged Bonaparte's Gull was found at Cross Ness LNR, London. It is likely to be a returning bird from last winter, either of which would now be in second-summer plumage, although no obvious signs of immaturity are visible in the first few photographs posted online. The fifth Subalpine Warbler of the year for Fair Isle, Shetland was also found today, and a Lesser Yellowlegs was discovered on North Ronaldsay, Orkney.

Other lingering rarities included the two Gull-billed Terns in County Wexford, at least three Little Bitterns in Somerset, Bonaparte's Gull in Kent and Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
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