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 5th September 2013  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Yellow-breasted Bunting on Brownsman, Northumberland. Although the eleventh record of this species on the Farne Islands - all since 1972, and all between 20th August and 20th September - the last widely watched Yellow-breasted Bunting in Britain was at Portland, Dorset on 3rd September 2003, with others on the Isles of Scilly in 2003, 2001 and 2000. The recent dearth of records reflecting a significant decline in the World population.

Elsewhere, new rarities included the first Aquatic Warbler of the autumn - at South Milton Ley, Devon - a Tawny Pipit in East Sussex at Rye Harbour, four Ortolan Buntings together in Dorset at Portland Bill, and two Arctic Warblers on the Shetland Isles; on Fair Isle, and at Maywick, Mainland.

Nearctic waders were represented by the Stilt Sandpiper still in Cheshire, Baird's Sandpipers in both Argyll and County Kerry, Semipalmated Sandpipers in Dorset and Pembrokeshire, American Golden Plover in Argyll, Buff-breasted Sandpiper on the Western Isles, and a total of 11 Pectoral Sandpipers (including four in Nottinghamshire).

Other lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Pied-billed Grebe in County Mayo, Two-barred Crossbill in South Yorkshire, Western Subalpine Warbler and Greenish Warbler on the Shetland Isles, Lesser Scaup in Greater Manchester, and both Ferruginous Duck and Glossy Ibis in Somerset.

Scarce migrants included eight Wrynecks, six Lapland Buntings, five each of both Spotted Crake and Red-backed Shrike, four Common Rosefinches, three Barred Warblers, two each of White-winged Black Tern and Icterine Warbler, and single Ring-necked Duck (County Durham), Corncrake (Shetland Isles), and Dotterel (Devon).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 4th September 2013  
  The highlight of the day was the arrival of an Arctic Warbler on Fair Isle, Shetland Isles. Elsewhere, a Lesser Yellowlegs joined the Semipalmated Sandpiper on the Gann Estuary, Pembrokeshire, a Red-rumped Swallow was reported in Hampshire at New Arlesford, and in Cornwall a Citrine Wagtail was located on The Lizard and a Red-rumped Swallow flew over Land's End.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still comprised the Stilt Sandpiper in Cheshire, Two-barred Crossbill in South Yorkshire, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Dorset, Citrine Wagtail, Western Subalpine Warbler and Greenish Warbler on the Shetland Isles, Lesser Scaup in Greater Manchester, American Golden Plover on the Western Isles, Ferruginous Duck and Glossy Ibis in Somerset, and single White-rumped Sandpipers in County Donegal, County Dublin and Northumberland.

Scarce migrants included nine Pectoral Sandpipers, seven Wrynecks, five each of both Common Rosefinch and Spotted Crake, four Red-backed Shrikes, two each of Red-breasted Flycatcher (County Cork), Icterine Warbler, Lapland Bunting and Sabine's Gull (County Clare), and single Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Shetland Isles), Night Heron (South Yorkshire), Long-tailed Skua (Cleveland), Ring-necked Duck (County Durham), and Corncrake (Shetland Isles).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 3rd September 2013  
  Nearctic wader discoveries today included a Semipalmated Sandpiper on the Gann Estuary, Pembrokeshire, a Lesser Yellowlegs near Wadebridge, Cornwall, a White-rumped Sandpiper at Blennerville, County Kerry, and three American Golden Plovers (North Ronaldsay, Orkney and Benbecula and South Uist, Western Isles). A Bonaparte's Gull was on Portmore Lough, County Antrim, and a Tawny Pipit was at Bembridge, Isle of Wight.

The Swinhoe's Petrel was retrapped again on Fair Isle overnight, whilst other lingering rarities seen today included the Pied-billed Grebe in County Mayo, Lesser Scaup in Greater Manchester, Greenish Warbler and three Citrine Wagtails on Shetland and Glossy Ibis in Somerset.

Waders included the Stilt Sandpiper in Cheshire, Semipalmated Sandpipers in County Wexford (two), Dorset and the Western Isles, White-rumped Sandpipers in Northumberland, Shetland and County Dublin and an American Golden Plover in County Mayo.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Monday 2nd September 2013  
  New discoveries included a Semipalmated Sandpiper in Dorset, Lesser Scaup in Greater Manchester, Baird's Sandpiper in Suffolk and White-rumped Sandpipers in Northumberland, Shetland and Co Dublin. In Cheshire the Stilt Sandpiper was still at Neumann's Flash before it relocated to Sandbach Flashes.

Elsewhere lingering rarities included Greenish Warblers in Co Durham and Shetland (2), American Golden Plover in Co Mayo, Glossy Ibis in Somerset, Two-barred Crossbills in South Yorkshire and Norfolk, Lesser Yellowlegs in Carmarthenshire, Citrine Wagtails on Fair Isle and Mainland Shetland and Semipalmated Sandpipers in Co Wexford (2) and Western Isles.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 1st September 2013  
  Lingering rarities included Stilt Sandpiper (Cheshire), Glossy Ibis (Somerset), Citrine Wagtails (Scilly and Shetland [2]), Two-barred Crossbills (South Yorkshire [6+] and Norfolk), Lesser Yellowlegs (Carmarthenshire), Bonaparte's Gull (Lancashire) and Greenish Warbler (Co Durham). Semipalmated Sandpipers arrived at Abbotsbury Swannery (Dorset) and North Uist (Western Isles).

In Ireland a Greenish Warbler (Co Cork), Semipalmated Sandpipers (Co Wexford [2] and Co Clare), White-rumped Sandpiper in Co Donegal and American Golden Plover and Pied-billed Grebe (Co Mayo) were today's most notable sightings.

Scarcity highlights included Rose-coloured Starling (Norfolk), Short-toed Lark (Lincolnshire), Dotterel (Conwy), Ring-necked Duck (Lothian), Red-breasted Flycatcher (Scilly), four Spotted Crakes, seven Pectoral Sandpipers, eight Red-backed Shrikes and at least 20 Wrynecks.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 31st August 2013  
  A Stilt Sandpiper at Neumann's Flash (Cheshire) was today's headline discovery. Elsewhere rare waders included White-rumped Sandpiper in Suffolk, Semipalmated Sandpipers in Co Wexford (4), Western Isles and Co Donegal, Lesser Yellowlegs in Carmarthenshire and American Golden Plover and Baird's Sandpiper in Co Wexford.

A Barolo Shearwater off Loop Head (Co Clare), Booted Warbler on Shetland, Citrine Wagtails on Fair Isle, Mainland Shetland (2) and Isles of Scilly (3), Greenish Warblers in Shetland, Co Durham and Northumberland, Snowy Owl in Co Donegal, Pied-billed Grebe in Co Mayo, Bonaparte's Gull in Lancashire, two Two-barred Crossbills in South Yorkshire and Glossy Ibis in Somerset were all logged today.

The best of the rest included at least 25 Wrynecks, nine Red-backed Shrikes, eight Spotted Crakes, three Pectoral Sandpipers, two Short-toed Larks, Night Heron (South Yorkshire), Rose-coloured Starling (Norfolk), Ring-necked Duck (Lothian) and Dotterel (Conwy).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
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