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.

Choose a starting date
Sunday 4th August 2013  
  A very good day to be sea-watching in the south-west. The first Mega came mid morning, when a Fea's Petrel flew west past Gwennap Head, Porthgwarra, Cornwall. This site logged 47 Great Shearwaters and 16 Cory's Shearwaters by 6pm. The second Mega species seen was a Yelkouan Shearwater, which flew past Start Point, Devon, late morning. The same observer at the same site then scored a Barolo Shearwater early evening, as well as a single Cory's Shearwater, two Great Shearwaters and an impressive 255 Balearic Shearwaters.

Other new rarities discovered today included a Red-footed Falcon over Langdale End, North Yorkshire, a Gull-billed Tern at Lady's Island Lake and a White-rumped Sandpiper at The Cull, both County Wexford, and a Black Kite over Carbis Bay, Cornwall.

Lingering rarities included seven Two-barred Crossbills and Western Subalpine Warbler on Shetland, another Two-barred Crossbill in Lancashire, Blue-winged Teal in Cambridgeshire, Black Duck in County Kerry, Long-billed Dowitcher in Hampshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Carmarthenshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Kent and Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 3rd August 2013  
  A juvenile Two-barred Crossbill at Browsholme Hall, Lancashire today is, perhaps surprisingly, a first for the county. A Blue-winged Teal was seen on the Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire, and a Black-winged Stilt was at Cley NWT, Norfolk very briefly mid afternoon. An Alpine Swift flew over Gibraltar Point NNR, Lincolnshire and a Black Kite flew over Bastreet Downs, Cornwall.

Lingering rarities included the Western Subalpine Warbler and four Two-barred Crossbills on Fair Isle, Shetland, a single Two-barred Crossbill on Orkney, three Little Bitterns (including a juvenile) in Somerset, Long-billed Dowitcher in Hampshire, Black Duck in County Kerry, single Bonaparte's Gulls in Kent and Lancashire and Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 2nd August 2013  
  A Black Kite over Porthgwarra, Cornwall was the only new rarity discovered today. Late news of a dowitcher species at Pennington Marshes, Hampshire yesterday prompted a search, with confirmation of a Long-billed Dowitcher being present from early afternoon.

Lingering rarities included four Two-barred Crossbills on Fair Isle, Shetland, two more at Stromness, Orkney and a Bonaparte's Gull at Heysham, Lancashire.

Scarcities included a Night Heron in Leicestershire, a Red-necked Phalarope in County Wexford, a Spotted Crake in Northumberland and Pectoral Sandpipers in Lincolnshire, Cheshire, Gwent and Sussex.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 1st August 2013  
  Seabirds stole the headlines today with a Bulwer's Petrel passing west at Galley Head, County Cork the standout sighting; constituting only the second record for Ireland. In Cornwall a Fea's Petrel and a Great Shearwater both passed Porthwgwarra, off the Isles of Scilly a Wilson's Petrel was seen from a pelagic, a Sabine's Gull moved past County Waterford, and extras in County Cork included a Wilson's Petrel at sea, three Cory's Shearwaters and 17 Great Shearwaters passing Galley Head.

Rarities comprised at least 14 Two-barred Crossbills on the Shetland Isles, a Two-barred Crossbill on the Orkney Isles, Long-billed Dowitcher and Lesser Yellowlegs together in Carmarthenshire, and Bonapartes's Gulls in both Kent and Lancashire.

Scarcities included Marsh Warbler (Shetland Isles), Spotted Crake (Northumberland), Cattle Egret (Kent), Night Heron (Leicestershire and South Yorkshire), and Pectoral Sandpiper (Cheshire, Devon and West Sussex).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 31st July 2013  
  Seawatching produced the highlights today, with, in County Cork, three Fea's Petrels and five Long-tailed Skuas passing Galley Head, and nearby a Wilson's Petrel, 2,500 Cory's Shearwaters and 120 Great Shearwaters counted at Mizen Head. In Cornwall a Fea's Petrel passed Porthgwarra, along with four Cory's and 24 Great Shearwaters, with two Cory's Shearwaters off St Ives, and a Long-tailed Skua was noted off The Lizard.

A Two-barred Crossbill was seen briefly in Surrey at Redlands Wood, a Black Kite flew over Rye Street, Kent, and in Lincolnshire three Baltic Gulls were identified: two at Elsham and one at North Hykeham.

Lingering rarities comprised the Gull-billed Tern and eight Two-barred Crossbills on the Shetland Isles, two Two-barred Crossbills on the Orkney Isles, Long-billed Dowitcher in Carmarthenshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Lancashire, and Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire.

Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starling (Highland), Night Heron (Leicestershire), Spotted Crake (Northumberland), Pectoral Sandpiper (West Sussex), and 14 Great White Egrets (including eight together in Somerset).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 30th July 2013  
  Today, Two-barred Crossbills continued to arrive with seven more discovered on the Shetland Isles today, two on the Orkney Isles at Stromness, and one still in Norfolk, at Lynford Arboretum. Other discoveries comprised a Black Kite over-flying the Farne Islands, Northumberland, and a new Baltic Gull at Elsham, Lincolnshire.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Gull-billed Tern on the Shetland Isles, two Little Bitterns in Somerset, Spotted Sandpiper in Northumberland, Long-billed Dowitcher in Carmarthenshire, Bonaparte's Gulls in both Kent and Lancashire, and Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire.

Scarcities included Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Western Isles), Pectoral Sandpiper (Devon and Gwent), and Surf Scoter (County Kerry), whilst seabirding featured Cory's Shearwater (17 off the Isles of Scilly and one passing Cornwall), Great Shearwater (10 off Scilly), and a total of 185 Balearic Shearwater sightings logged between Scilly, East Sussex and County Down.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 29th July 2013  
  Unfortunately there was no sign today of the Mongolian Sand Plover in County Cork.

Yet more Two-barred Crossbills were found today, with three new birds on Foula on the Shetlands, where there were still singles at Sumburgh, on Mainland, and on board a ship to the west of the islands. At least two birds were also still to be found at Lynford Arboretum in Norfolk.

A Lesser Yellowlegs was discovered this afternoon at Pennington Marshes in Hampshire and a Black Stork was reported flying over Ilkeston in Derbyshire. The Caspian Tern remained faithful to Rudyard Lake in Staffordshire and Acre Nook Sand Quarry in Cheshire and the Gull-billed Tern was still on south Mainland, Shetland. Both the Long-billed Dowitcher and the Lesser Yellowlegs were seen at Llanelli in South Wales, but the Yellowlegs was only seen in the morning. Other long-staying rarities included the Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire, at least two Little Bitterns in Somerset and the Bonaparte's Gull in Lancashire.

Amongst the wader passage, there were notable numbers of Wood Sandpipers with over 80 being reported during the day.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Sunday 28th July 2013  
  The highlight of the day was the Mongolian Sand Plover that remained in County Cork, showing into the evening at Ballymacoda. Other lingering rarities comprised the Black Duck still in County Kerry, Gull-billed Tern on the Shetland Isles, Caspian Tern commuting between Cheshire and Staffordshire, Spotted Sandpiper in Northumberland, Bonaparte's Gulls in both Kent and Lancashire, Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire, and two Little Bitterns in Somerset.

New arrivals included a Long-billed Dowitcher in Carmarthenshire - where it joined the long-staying Lesser Yellowlegs at the National Wetlands Centre- three Two-barred Crossbills on the Shetland Isles, a Lesser Yellowlegs in Dumfries and Galloway at Stranraer, a brief Caspian Tern in Hampshire, and a fly-over Black Kite in Northamptonshire. 

Scarcities included Cattle Egret (Kent), Pectoral Sandpiper (Cleveland) and Ring-necked Duck (North Yorkshire), whilst seawatching produced Great Shearwater (Cornwall) and Long-tailed Skuas (County Cork and Devon).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 27th July 2013  
  Another surprisingly busy day for this time of year. Overnight on Shetland a Swinhoe's Petrel was trapped and ringed at Fair Isle during the petrel ringing session, presumably the bird heard at this site five days ago. In County Cork, in Ireland, a Mongolian Sand Plover was found this evening at Ballymacoda. It seems quite likely that this is the bird seen in Moray several days ago.

The arrival of Two-barred Crossbills continued with new birds being found today at Salthouse Heath in Norfolk, whilst on Shetland there were three at Tresta on Mainland, two on a boat at sea to the west and one at Noss, as well as belated news of another on Tuesday at Trondra. A single bird was still at Kelling Heath in Norfolk. Also on Shetland a Gull-billed Tern was on Mainland at Scatness.

In Northumberland a summer plumaged Spotted Sandpiper was a new discovery near Alnmouth. The Caspian Tern continued to commute between Acre Nook Sand Quarry in Cheshire and Rudyard Lake in Staffordshire and was much admired by many. Long staying rarities included the Little Bitterns in Somerset, Lesser Yellowlegs in Carmarthenshire, and Bonaparte's Gull in Lancashire.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Friday 26th July 2013  
  The Bridled Tern present in North East England from 1st-24th July was relocated on Isle of May (Fife) this evening.

The Caspian Tern that had roosted at Acre Nook Quarry (Cheshire) on 24th-25th was today relocated over the Staffordshire border at Rudyard Lake. The bird lingered in Staffordshire until mid evening, when it headed back into Cheshire to again roost at Acre Nook.

A flock of eight Two-barred Crossbills arrived on Fair Isle (Shetland), where Western Subalpine and Icterine Warblers were also logged. A couple of Two-barred Crossbills were also discovered on Unst (Shetland), whilst singles also lingered at two sites in Norfolk.

Elsewhere lingering rarities included Baird's Sandpiper in Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Carmarthenshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Lancashire, Little Bittern in Somerset and Black Duck in Co Kerry.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA