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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Monday 16th September 2013  
  Highlight of the day was the continued presence of the showy Great Snipe at Kilnsea (East Yorkshire). Elsewhere rarity sightings included Blue-winged Teals in Lincolnshire (2) and Clyde, Bonaparte's Gulls in Devon and Lancashire, three Two-barred Crossbills in Norfolk, Citrine Wagtail in Cornwall, Lesser Scaup in Greater Manchester, Lesser Grey Shrike in Suffolk, two Ferruginous Ducks in Somerset, Western Subalpine Warbler on Fair Isle and Glossy Ibis in Somerset.

In Ireland the Elegant Tern (Co Kerry), Semipalmated Sandpipers in Co Kerry and Co Wexford and American Golden Plovers in Co Derry (3) and Co Clare were all recorded.

Away from Ireland, Nearctic wader records included Wilson's Phalarope in Norfolk, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon and Shetland and American Golden Plovers in Highland and Argyll.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 15th September 2013  
  Ireland scored well with seabirds today, as the strong westerly gales hit the coast. A Barolo Shearwater went past Deelick Point, County Kerry, whilst nearby Brandon Point saw a Fea's Petrel. Further Fea's Petrels were also seen past Bridges of Ross, County Clare and Mizen Head, County Cork, and a Wilson's Petrel also went past the latter site. The most unexpected Fea's Petrel, however, was one which flew south past Bardsey Island, Gwynedd early evening, where a probable Barolo Shearwater was also seen mid afternoon.

A Lesser Grey Shrike was discovered near Sizewell, Suffolk late afternoon, where it continued to show well into the evening. An Ortolan Bunting was seen at Dungeness, Kent, whilst new rare waders found today included a Baird's Sandpiper at Killala, County Mayo and single American Golden Plovers at Portnaluchaig, Highland and The Hermitage, County Louth, with another joining the recent bird at Lady's Island Lake, County Wexford. A Bonaparte's Gull was reported from the Isles of Scilly, where it apparently flew through Porthcressa Bay.

Despite all the new rarities today, the lingering Great Snipe at Kilnsea, East Yorkshire will go down as the highlight for many, as it continued to show ridiculously well down to a couple of feet. Other lingerers included the Elegant Tern at Beal Point, County Kerry, Wilson's Phalarope and five American Golden Plovers in County Derry, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, two Two-barred Crossbills in Yorkshire and one in Norfolk, Lesser Scaup in Greater Manchester and Glossy Ibis in Somerset.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 14th September 2013  
  Despite nearly 700 British records, a truly twitchable Great Snipe has been very hard to come by in recent years, so a bird found in a ditch at Kilnsea, East Yorkshire will undoubtedly be very popular if it lingers, especially if it continues to show as well as it did this evening.

In County Kerry, the Elegant Tern remained in the Beal Point area on the south side of the Shannon Estuary.

Other new discoveries today included a Greenish Warbler on the Great Orme, Conwy, a Tawny Pipit at Abbotsbury and a Red-rumped Swallow at Middlebere, both Dorset, a Two-barred Crossbill at Grindon Lough, Northumberland and a Ferruginous Duck at Portrunny, Count Roscommon. New waders found included a Baird's Sandpiper in County Dublin and American Golden Plovers in County Derry (five), County Wexford (two) and County Mayo.
-  Will Soar, RBA
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