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 13th September 2013  
  An orange-billed tern was present at Beale, County Kerry from mid afternoon, and was eventually identified as an Elegant Tern. This is the first record of the species in Ireland since 2005, when one was seen at Gormanston, County Meath on 19th July.

The best of the rest was a totally unexpected Great Reed Warbler found in a mist net on Salisbury Plain, the first record for Wiltshire. The other new passerines today were two Arctic Warblers, one on Dursey Island, County Cork and one on Fair Isle, Shetland. New waders included a Baird's Sandpiper in County Dublin, two Semipalmated Sandpipers in County Kerry and two in County Wexford, where there was also at least two American Golden Plovers.

Lingering rarities included the Pied-billed Grebe in County Mayo, Western Bonelli's Warbler on Shetland, six Two-barred Crossbills in Yorkshire (with one in Norfolk), Citrine Wagtail in Cornwall, single Lesser Yellowlegs' in Devon and Carmarthenshire, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Kent, two Baird's Sandpipers on the Western Isles, White-rumped Sandpiper in Cornwall, Lesser Scaup in Greater Manchester, two Ferruginous Ducks in Somerset and a Glossy Ibis in Somerset.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 12th September 2013  
  New arrivals today included an adult Lesser Yellowlegs in Exeter, Devon and an adult American Golden Plover on Fair Isle, Shetland.

Lingering rarities included the Western Bonelli's Warbler and Arctic Warbler on Shetland, Citrine Wagtail in Cornwall, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Kerry, White-rumped Sandpiper in Cornwall, single American Golden Plovers in Argyll and County Wexford, Blue-winged Teal in Clyde, Lesser Scaup in Greater Manchester and Glossy Ibis in Somerset.

Scarcity highlights included a Red-breasted Flycatcher, two Icterine Warblers, three Red-backed Shrikes, seven Wrynecks, three Common Rosefinches, a Rose-coloured Starling, five Lapland Buntings, three Spotted Crakes, a Corncrake, a Great Shearwater, two Long-tailed Skuas, a Sabine's Gull, a Ring-billed Gull, an Iceland Gull, two Honey Buzzards, four Buff-breasted Sandpipers and ten Pectoral Sandpipers.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 11th September 2013  
  Rarities today included five Two-barred Crossbills together in South Yorkshire, Western Bonelli's, Western Subalpine and Arctic Warbler all on the Shetland Isles, Black Kite on the Western Isles, Citrine Wagtail in Cornwall, Blue-winged Teal in Clyde, and Glossy Ibis and two Ferruginous Ducks in Somerset.

Nearctic waders comprised the Lesser Yellowlegs still in Carmarthenshire, Baird's Sandpipers in County Mayo and the Western Isles (2), Semipalmated Sandpipers in Argyll, County Kerry and County Wexford, American Golden Plovers in Argyll (three on Tiree), Cornwall and County Wexford, White-rumped Sandpiper in Cornwall, Buff-breasted Sandpipers in Lancashire, Isles of Scilly and County Wexford, and a total of nine Pectoral Sandpipers.

Scarce migrants included 10 Lapland Buntings, seven Wrynecks, six Common Rosefinches, four Red-backed Shrikes, two Icterine Warblers (Dorset and the Isles of Scilly), two Yellow-browed Warblers, Marsh Warbler (Shetland Isles) and Spotted Crake (Kent). Seawatching produced 46 sightings of Long-tailed Skuas from watchpoints between North Yorkshire (including 14 passing Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire) and Kent, along with four Sabine's Gulls.

Significant late news concerns a Greater Yellowlegs at Reculver, Kent on 10th September, with a Snowy Owl present again on St Kilda, Western Isles on the same day.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 10th September 2013  
  Rarities today included Western Bonelli's Warbler in Pembrokeshire, two Two-barred Crossbills together in South Yorkshire, Blue-winged Teal in Clyde, Citrine Wagtail in Cornwall, Ortolan Bunting on the Isles of Scilly, Little Bunting on the Shetland Isles, and both Ferruginous Duck and Glossy Ibis in Somerset.

Nearctic waders comprised Baird's Sandpipers in County Mayo and the Western Isles (two together on South Uist), Semipalmated Sandpipers in Kent (at Dungeness), County Wexford and County Wicklow, American Golden Plovers in Argyll (two together on Tiree), Cornwall, Western Isles and County Wexford, White-rumped Sandpiper in Cornwall, Buff-breasted Sandpipers in Lancashire, Isles of Scilly, Western Isles and County Wexford, and a total of 12 Pectoral Sandpipers.

Scarce migrants included eight Common Rosefinches, seven each of both Red-backed Shrike and Wryneck, two Temminck's Stints (Fife and North Yorkshire), two Yellow-browed Warblers (both Shetland Isles), Rose-coloured Starling (Cornwall), Spotted Crake (Berkshire), Dotterel (South Yorkshire), Icterine Warbler and Corncrake (both on the Shetland Isles). Seawatching produced 27 sightings of Long-tailed Skua from watchpoints between Northumberland and Kent, along with two Sabine's Gulls (in East Yorkshire and Kent).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 9th September 2013  
  Several American waders were logged today, including 20 Pectoral Sandpipers, five Semipalmated Sandpipers, five Buff-breasted Sandpiper, three American Golden Plovers, two White-rumped Sandpipers, two Lesser Yellowlegs, Baird's Sandpiper (Co Mayo) and Long-billed Dowitcher (Hampshire).

Elsewhere lingering rarities included Western Bonelli's Warbler (Pembrokeshire), Pied-billed Grebe (Co Mayo), Lesser Scaup (Greater Manchester), Glossy Ibis (Somerset), Blue-winged Teal (Clyde), five Two-barred Crossbills (South Yorkshire), two Ferruginous Ducks (Somerset), Citrine Wagtail (Shetland) and Ortolan Bunting (Scilly).

At least one Icterine Warbler (Scilly), Barred Warbler (Shetland), two Temminck's Stints, three Common Rosefinches, four Spotted Crakes, five Red-backed Shrikes and eight Wrynecks were all reported.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 8th September 2013  
  Two Western Bonelli's Warblers were found today, one on Ramsey Island, Pembrokeshire and one at Virkie, Shetland. A Citrine Wagtail was also on Shetland at Skaw, Unst, while other new rarities included a Wilson's Phalarope on Lough Beg, County Derry, a Gyr at Brandon Head, County Kerry, a Baird's Sandpiper at Snettisham, Norfolk and single Ortolan Buntings at Whitminster, Gloucestershire and on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly.

Lingering rarities included the Pied-billed Grebe and Black Duck in County Mayo, Western Subalpine Warbler on Fair Isle, Citrine Wagtail and Baird's Sandpiper in Cornwall, single Semipalmated Sandpipers in Cornwall, Argyll and County Wexford, single White-rumped Sandpipers in Cornwall and Northumberland, three Two-barred Crossbills in Yorkshire, Blue-winged Teal in Clyde, Lesser Scaup in Greater Manchester, and Ferruginous Duck and Glossy Ibis in Somerset.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 7th September 2013  
  Mega seabirds recorded today included a Fea's Petrel north past the Highland coast this evening, being seen first at Helmsdale at 5pm and then Duncansby Head at 8.20pm. In County Clare, a Barolo Shearwater flew past the Bridges of Ross.

Other new discoveries today were a Blyth's Reed Warbler on Fair Isle, Shetland, a Citrine Wagtail and an American Golden Plover at Cahore and Tacumshin, County Wexford, a White-rumped Sandpiper and Semipalmated Sandpiper at Davidstow and Marazion, Cornwall, another Semipalmated Sandpiper at Louisburgh, County Mayo and a Blue-winged Teal at Frankfield Loch, Clyde.

Lingering rarity highlights included the Stilt Sandpiper in Cheshire, Pied-billed Grebe and Black Duck in County Mayo, three Ortolan Buntings in Dorset, Semipalmated Sandpipers in Hampshire, Argyll, County Clare and County Wexford, White-rumped Sandpiper in Northumberland, Lesser Yellowlegs in Carmarthenshire and Lesser Scaup in Greater Manchester.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 6th September 2013  
  A Black-and-White Warbler was discovered in the Funzie Willows on Fetlar, Shetland today, and was still present this evening, when news was released. This is the second earliest autumn Black-and-White Warbler to reach Britain, after one was found dead in Cornwall on 1st September 1982.

The Farne Islands in Northumberland produced their second Mega alert in as many days, when their second Fea's Petrel of the year flew north through Inner Sound early afternoon. The Yellow-breasted Bunting remained on Brownsman, but the poor weather prevented any boats from sailing.

Other new discoveries today included a Western Bonelli's Warbler on Blakeney Point, Norfolk, an Arctic Warbler on Fair Isle, Shetland, a Black Kite over Lower Farm GP, Berkshire and single Semipalmated Sandpipers at Keyhaven, Hampshire and on Tiree, Argyll.

Lingering rarities included the Stilt Sandpiper in Cheshire, two Semipalmated Sandpipers in County Wexford, White-rumped Sandpiper in Northumberland, American Golden Plover in Argyll, Ortolan Bunting in Dorset, Two-barred Crossbill in Yorkshire, Snowy Owl in County Donegal, Lesser Scaup in Greater Manchester and Ferruginous Duck and Glossy Ibis in Somerset.
-  Will Soar, RBA
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