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 30th August 2013  
  The first proper wave of American waders appeared today, with a Baird's Sandpiper, three Semipalmated Sandpipers and an American Golden Plover at Tacumshin, County Wexford, and other Semipalmated Sandpipers on Loch Ordais, Lewis, Western Isles and Shannon Airport Lagoon, County Clare. A Greenish Warbler was also in County Wexford, on Great Saltee Island, and late news concerned a Citrine Wagtail yesterday at Abbotsbury, Dorset, and a smart juvenile Pallid Harrier on Sunday at Cape Wrath, Highland.

Lingering rarities seen today included the Wilson's Phalarope in County Antrim, single Two-barred Crossbills in Norfolk and Yorkshire, Greenish Warblers in County Durham and Shetland, Citrine Wagtails in Shetland and Scilly (two), and two Ferruginous Ducks and a Glossy Ibis in Somerset.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 29th August 2013  
  Drift rarities lingered on, with Booted Warbler still on the Shetland Isles, Citrine Wagtails on both the Shetland Isles and the Isles of Scilly (2), and Greenish Warblers in County Durham, the Orkney Isles and the Shetland Isles (4). Associated scarce migrants included Short-toed Lark (Isles of Scilly), Rose-coloured Starling and Corncrake (Norfolk), Hoopoe (Kent), Lapland Bunting (Orkney Isles), two Icterine Warblers (Shetland Isles), two Red-breasted Flycatchers (East Yorkshire), five Common Rosefinches, six Barred Warblers, 13 Red-backed Shrikes, and 26 Wrynecks.

Nearctic waders were repesented the Wilson's Phalarope still in County Antrim, Lesser Yellowlegs in Carmarthenshire, two White-rumped Sandpipers together in County Donegal, and three Pectoral Sandpipers.

Rarities elsewhere comprised the Pied-billed Grebe still in County Mayo, a Two-barred Crossbill in South Yorkshire, both Ferruginous Duck and Glossy Ibis in Somerset, and a White-winged Black Tern in County Louth.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 28th August 2013  
  Drift rarities continued to dominate the headlines, with two new Booted Warblers discovered on the Shetland Isles (Out Skerries and Whalsay), Arctic Warbler in County Durham, Citrine Wagtails in Norfolk (2), Northumberland and the Isles of Scilly (3), Greenish Warblers in County Durham (2 together at Whitburn), North Yorkshire (2 together at Scarborough), Northumberland, and the Shetland Isles (2). Associated scarce migrants comprised Short-toed Lark (Lincolnshire), Rose-coloured Starling (Norfolk), Red-breasted Flycatcher (East Yorkshire), Marsh Warbler (Shetland Isles), Lapland Bunting (Orkney Isles), Ortolan Bunting (2 in Dorset) and Corncrake (3 on the Shetland Isles), with totals of four Common Rosefinches, five Icterine Warblers, seven Barred Warblers, 10 Red-backed Shrikes and 29 Wrynecks.

Other rarities today were the Pied-billed Grebe still in County Mayo, Snowy Owl in County Donegal, Wilson's Phalarope new in County Antrim, a Ferruginous Duck in Somerset, Bonaparte's Gull in Lancashire, and lingering Two-barred Crossbills in Norfolk and South Yorkshire (4 together).

Scarcities included White-winged Black Tern (County Louth), Temminck's Stint (South Yorkshire), Surf Scoter (Aberdeenshire and Western Isles), three Pectoral Sandpipers and four Spotted Crakes (including two together in Kent).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 27th August 2013  
  Three more Booted Warblers were found today, with birds at Stiffkey, Norfolk, Pegwell Bay, Kent and Climping, Sussex. New Greenish Warblers were at Sandwick, Mainland and Brough, Fetlar, both Shetland, Whinnyfold, Aberdeenshire, Horsey, Norfolk and Flamborough, Yorkshire. Ortolan Buntings were found at Durlston and Portland, both Dorset. Other new rarities included a Pied-billed Grebe on Achill Island, County Mayo, a Red-footed Falcon over Felixstowe Ferry, Suffolk and a Citrine Wagtail on Farne Islands, Northumberland, whilst a Thrush Nightingale was trapped at Graemeshall, Orkney yesterday.

Lingering rarities seen today included the Booted Warbler in Aberdeenshire, Arctic Warbler in County Durham, Greenish Warbler in County Durham and four on Shetland, Ortolan Bunting in Yorkshire, two Citrine Wagtails and a White-rumped Sandpiper on Scilly, Lesser Yellowlegs in Carmarthenshire, Snowy Owl in County Donegal, Bonaparte's Gull in Lancashire, and Ferruginous Duck and Glossy Ibis in Somerset.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Monday 26th August 2013  
  Another busy day, almost as exciting as yesterday. Highlights included an Arctic Warbler at Whitburn, County Durham, single Booted Warblers at Drums, Aberdeenshire and Burnham Overy, Norfolk, a Western Bonelli's Warbler at Hope Point, Kent, a Subalpine Warbler at Easington, Yorkshire and a Thrush Nightingale on Fair Isle, Shetland. Five Greenish Warblers were discovered, with new birds in County Durham, Yorkshire (two) and Shetland (two), and a further eight lingering birds were seen, in Norfolk, Yorkshire (two), Northumberland, Orkney and Shetland (three). Single Ortolan Buntings were on Portland, Dorset and at Flamborough, Yorkshire, and a Citrine Wagtail was on North Ronaldsay, Orkney with two on Tresco, Isles of Scilly.

Associated scarcity tallies included at least 57 Wrynecks, 22 Icterine Warblers, 16 Red-backed Shrikes, eight Common Rosefinches, three Red-breasted Flycatchers, three Barred Warblers, two Bluethroats, a Short-toed Lark and a Marsh Warbler.

An American Golden Plover was on South Uist, Western Isles and a Baird's Sandpiper was at Owenahincha, County Cork, whilst late news from yesterday involved a singing Iberian Chiffchaff at Looe, Cornwall.

Lingering rarities included the Booted Warbler and Western Subalpine Warbler in Shetland, two Two-barred Crossbills in Yorkshire, Blue-winged Teal in Cambridgeshire, two Citrine Wagtails and a Lesser Yellowlegs in County Wexford, another Lesser Yellowlegs in Carmarthenshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Lancashire and Glossy Ibis in Somerset.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 25th August 2013  
  Exceptional birding today along the coast between Kent and the Shetland Isles, where highlights included a Western Bonelli's Warbler in Norfolk at Happisburgh, a brief Black-headed Bunting in Aberdeenshire at Girdle Ness, an Ortolan Bunting in East Yorkshire at Buckton, a Booted Warbler still on the Shetland Isles, and 21 Greenish Warblers located, including six each in Aberdeenshire and the Shetland Isles, and two each in East Yorkshire, Norfolk, Northumberland and Suffolk. Associated scarce migrants comprised 88 Wrynecks (including 27 at Spurn, East Yorkshire), 29 Icterine Warblers, 10 Red-backed Shrikes, nine Barred Warblers (five on the Shetland Isles), eight Common Rosefinches, and single Short-toed Lark, Bluethroat and Marsh Warbler.

Nearctic waders comprised a Baird's Sandpiper in County Donegal at Blanket Nook, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cornwall at Wadebridge, White-rumped Sandpiper on the Isles of Scilly, Lesser Yellowlegs in both Carmarthenshire and County Wexford, two Buff-breasted Sandpipers and three Pectoral Sandpipers.

Other rarities reported were a flyby Franklin's Gull in Lincolnshire at Freiston Shore, a Glossy Ibis new in Somerset at Shapwick Heath, Snowy Owl still in County Donegal, seven Two-barred Crossbills together in South Yorkshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Lancashire, White-winged Black Terns in both Essex and County Louth, and Citrine Wagtails in Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and County Wexford (2).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 24th August 2013  
  Classic fall conditions on the east coast brought more classic early autumn migrants today. Rarest was the Booted Warbler on Blakeney Point, Norfolk (with one at Hadston Carrs, Northumberland for a second day). Greenish Warblers provided most of the rest of the rarity news, with birds on Brownsman, Northumberland, Tarbat Ness and Lybster, both Highland, and Bridge of Don, Loirston Country Park, Boddom and Collieston, all Aberdeenshire. Single Citrine Wagtails were at Quendale, Shetland and Porth Hellick, Scilly.

Lingering rarities included single Greenish Warblers at Sumburgh Head and on Foula, Shetland, single Citrine Wagtails in Cornwall and County Kerry, another Citrine Wagtail and a Lesser Yellowlegs in County Wexford, another Lesser Yellowlegs in Carmarthenshire and four Two-barred Crossbills in Yorkshire.

Scarcity highlights included eight Barred Warblers, nine Icterine Warblers, nine Red-backed Shrikes, 31 Wrynecks, two Common Rosefinches, a Hoopoe, at least two Spotted Crakes, five Great Shearwaters, four Cory's Shearwaters, four Sabine's Gulls, three Long-tailed Skuas, four Dotterel, two Red-necked Phalaropes, two Temminck's Stints, three Pectoral Sandpipers, four Buff-breasted Sandpipers and two Ring-necked Ducks.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 23rd August 2013  
  A good arrival of early autumn migrants today included five Greenish Warblers (North Ronaldsay, Orkney, Girdle Ness, Aberdeenshire, Foula and two at Sumburgh, Shetland), and two Citrine Wagtails (Farne Islands, Northumberland and Marazion, Cornwall). A Caspian Tern was at Tacumshin, County Wexford, and a Wilson's Petrel flew past Bridges of Ross, County Clare.

Lingering rarities included the Booted Warbler on Fair Isle, nine Two-barred Crossbills in Yorkshire, Lesser Yellowlegs and Citrine Wagtail in County Wexford, Bonaparte's Gull in Lancashire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Hampshire and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 22nd August 2013  
  The highlight of a busy day was the arrival of a Booted Warbler on Fair Isle, Shetland Isles, where it joined Western Subalpine, Marsh and Barred Warblers. Rarities elsewhere included two Citrine Wagtails, Lesser Yellowlegs and Buff-breasted Sandpiper together in County Wexford, Citrine Wagtail in Conwy (at Conwy RSPB), seven Two-barred Crossbills and a White-rumped Sandpiper in Norfolk, six Two-barred Crossbills together in South Yorkshire, Bonaparte's Gull still in Lancashire, American Golden Plover in County Mayo, Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire, a flyover Black Stork in Leicestershire, a brief Alpine Swift in County Antrim, and a Marbled Duck in Cheshire.

Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starling (Pembrokeshire), Melodious Warbler (Isles of Scilly), Icterine Warbler (both Aberdeenshire and Orkney Isles), Red-breasted Flycatcher (East Yorkshire), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Orkney Isles), Spotted Crake (Northumberland and Somerset), Red-necked Phalarope (Norfolk), Surf Scoter (Angus), Night Heron (South Yorkshire) and four Pectoral Sandpipers.

Seabirds included Fea's Petrel, Wilson's Petrel, 27 Cory's Shearwaters and 48 Great Shearwaters all at sea off County Cork, and a Sabine's Gull passing County Clare.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 21st August 2013  
  The highlight of the day was the arrival of a Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Wexford, where it joined both Lesser Yellowlegs and Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Tacumshin, with other American waders present today comprising the Wilson's Phalarope still in Highland, Lesser Yellowlegs in Carmarthenshire, Buff-breasted Sandpiper in County Clare, and single Pectoral Sandpipers in Cleveland, Cornwall, County Louth, Kent and Northumberland.

Rarities elsewhere included eight Two-barred Crossbills in South Yorkshire, with another Two-barred Crossbill in Norfolk, Citrine Wagtail and Western Subalpine Warbler together on the Shetland Isles, Bonaparte's Gull in Lancashire, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset and Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire.

Scarcities included Night Heron (South Yorkshire), Surf Scoter (Aberdeenshire), Red-necked Phalarope (Norfolk), Spotted Crake (Somerset), Red-backed Shrike (Isles of Scilly) and Common Rosefinch (Shetland Isles). Seawatching produced Cory's Shearwater (1,107 off County Cork, 7 each off County Clare and the Isles of Scilly), Great Shearwater (290 off County Cork and 8 off County Clare), Long-tailed Skua (County Clare) and Sabine's Gull (10 off County Clare and 3 off Highland).
-  Chris Batty, RBA