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 27th September 2013  
  Today's eastern Mega on Shetland was a Brown Shrike at Wester Quarff, Mainland this evening. Also new on the islands were three Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls at Sullom, and a Booted Warbler on the Out Skerries for its second day.

Other new discoveries today included a Greenish Warbler in a garden at Killimster, Highland, a Blyth's Reed Warbler trapped on Skokholm, Pembrokeshire, a Western Bonelli's Warbler at Garinish, County Cork, a Rustic Bunting at Whitburn, County Durham, a Black Kite over Christchurch Harbour, Dorset, a Black-winged Stilt on the Hayle Estuary, Cornwall, a Baird's Sandpiper on Carrahane Strand, County Kerry, single American Golden Plovers at Lough Foyle, County Derry and Ballycotton, County Cork and single Red-breasted Geese at Mersehead RSPB, Dumfries and Galloway and in Langstone Harbour, Hampshire. Glossy Ibises were seen at Leighton Moss RSPB, Lancashire (12), Doffcocker, Greater Manchester, Ynys-hir RSPB, Ceredigion, Gillan, Cornwall and Chew Valley Lake and Blagdon Lake, Somerset.

Lingering rarity highlights included the Brown Shrike on North Ronaldsay, Sykes's Warbler on Fair Isle, Sardinian Warbler in Borders, Booted Warbler in County Wexford, Arctic Warbler, Western Subalpine Warbler and Blyth's Reed Warbler on Shetland (with another of the latter in County Durham), Siberian Stonechat in Gwynedd and Laughing Gull on Orkney.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 26th September 2013  
  A fantastic day for avian arrivals from the east was headlined by a Sykes's Warbler on Fair Isle, Shetland this afternoon. Other new discoveries on Shetland included Blyth's Reed Warblers at Funzie, Fetlar and Burrafirth, Unst, and single Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls in the Norwick area of the latter island and at Fladdabister, Mainland. Further south, on Orkney, a Blyth's Reed Warbler and an Arctic Warbler were on South Ronaldsay, and an Olive-backed Pipit was seen on Papa Westray, while other Blyth's Reed Warblers were on Barra, Western Isles, and at Whitburn, County Durham. A Tawny Pipit was reported from Zennor, Cornwall, an Alpine Swift was at Old Head of Kinsale, County Cork, a Red-rumped Swallow flew over Landguard NR, Suffolk, a Little Bunting was on Blakeney Point, Norfolk and 15 Glossy Ibises were briefly at the Cotswold Water Park, Wiltshire.

The only arrivals from the west found today was the first Red-eyed Vireo of the year, at Inch Strand, County Cork and a American Golden Plover over Appleby Carrs, Lincolnshire.

Lingering rarity highlights included Booted Warbler and Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Wexford, Sardinian Warbler in Borders, Siberian Stonechat in Gwynedd, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll, Western Subalpine Warbler and Olive-backed Pipit in Shetland, Lesser Yellowlegs' in Kent and County Galway and three Blue-winged Teals in Lincolnshire.

The big talking point of the day, however, involved Yellow-browed Warblers, with one of the biggest arrivals ever noted in Britain. At least 490 individuals were counted, the vast majority predictably on the Northern Isles and the east coast. The largest counts came from Shetland, with 102 on Unst, 57 on Mainland, 40 on Fair Isle, 15 on Fetlar and 13 on Foula. Elsewhere, 17 were on North Ronaldsay, Orkney, 13 at Mire Loch, Borders, 12 in the Spurn area, Yorkshire and 11 on Holy Island, Northumberland.

Smaller (but still good) numbers of Red-breasted Flycatchers, Wrynecks, Common Rosefinches, Barred Warblers, Bluethroats, Richard's Pipits, Red-backed Shrikes and Corncrakes were also seen, along with an Icterine Warbler, a Marsh Warbler, a Woodchat Shrike and a Serin.

A Sooty Shearwater at Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire is potentially the first inland record of the species for Britain.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 25th September 2013  
  On a highly eventful day the main news was the unfortunate disappearance of the Eastern Kingbird on Inishboffin, Co.Galway. Reported in thick fog as still present at 8.10am by two observers, it was not subsequently relocated by others despite improved visibility. For most, it was an unfortunate deja vu of last year's '2nd day' dip of the same species in the same county! Today, a Blackpoll Warbler was a minor consolation.

Away from western Ireland it was far north east Scotland, and Fair Isle in particular, which stole the show. An uncharacteristically showy White's Thrush was found on Fair Isle early morning and before lunch was joined by an Upland Sandpiper. Later in the day a Lanceolated Warbler and Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll completed a stellar Fair Isle day. Meanwhile, Shetland mainland hosted its own Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll as well as an Olive-backed Pipit. On Unst there was an Ortolan Bunting.

The UK mainland 'rarity of the day' was an Olive-backed Pipit at Runswick, North Yorkshire. However, it was a major fall of Yellow-browed Warblers which overshadowed just about everything else.  All the way up the East Coast, from Essex to Unst, there were multiples at many sites including 17 on Holy Island, Northumberland.

Rarities elsewhere included a Booted Warbler on Skokholm, a White-rumped Sand on The Farnes, Tawny Pipit briefly in E.Sussex and a Glossy Ibis in Devon.

Finally, although not in the UK, a Rufous Bush Chat in the Netherlands might be a sign of even better things to come on this side of the North Sea in the next 24-48 hours, let's hope so!
-  Brian Egan, RBA
Tuesday 24th September 2013  
  The higlight of the day was the discovery of the second Eastern Kingbird for the Western Palearctic, again - like last year - in County Galway, but this time on Inishbofin. New rarities elsewhere included a Brown Shrike on North Ronaldsay, Orkney Isles, a Siberian Stonechat in Gwynedd on Bardsey Island, and a Booted Warbler found on Hook Head, County Waterford.

On the Shetland Isles Two-barred Crossbill, three Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls, Arctic Warbler, Citrine Wagtail, Western Subalpine Warbler, Little Bunting, Ortolan Bunting, three each of Red-breasted Flycatcher, Barred Warbler and Red-backed Shrike, 11 Common Rosefinches, 14 Lapland Buntings and 58 Yellow-browed Warblers were logged. Meanwhile, on the Isles of Scilly Ortolan Bunting, Rose-coloured Starling, Icterine Warbler, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, two Roseate Terns, four Sabine's Gulls and eight Wrynecks were noted.

Nearctic waders included Baird's Sandpiper (County Donegal (2) and County Kerry (2)), Lesser Yellowlegs (Kent and County Wexford), American Golden Plover (County Clare and County Kerry) and six Pectoral Sandpipers.

Otherwise, lingering rarities confirmed as still present included the Elegant Tern in County Kerry, four Two-barred Crossbills together in South Yorkshire, Bonaparte's Gull and nine Glossy Ibises in Devon, Lesser Scaup in Greater Manchester, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset, and Glossy Ibis in Cornwall.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 23rd September 2013  
  Shetland produced a fine selection of rarities today - the Baltimore Oriole reappeared on Unst (having initially been found on 19th September), whilst Unst also hosted Two-barred Crossbill, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll, Blyth's Reed Warbler and Arctic Warbler. Elsewhere on the Shetland Isles a Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler was discovered on Out Skerries, a Citrine Wagtail was on Foula and Olive-backed Pipit, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and two Blyth's Reed Warblers were on Mainland.

Away from Shetland new discoveries included a River Warbler on North Ronaldsay and a Bonelli's warbler species on Burray (Orkney), Booted Warbler in Pembrokeshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Kent and Black Stork in Cumbria.

The best of the rest included two Semipalmated Sandpipers, Lesser Yellowlegs and American Golden Plover in Co Wexford, American Golden Plovers in Co Clare and Orkney, Baird's Sandpipers in Co Donegal (2) and Co Kerry, at least four Two-barred Crossbills in South Yorkshire, three Blue-winged Teals in Lincolnshire, Lesser Grey Shrike in Suffolk, Lesser Yellowlegs and Bonaparte's Gull in Devon and Glossy Ibises in Devon (flocks of 11 and 9) and Somerset (2). In Co Cork a Fea's Petrel flew past Dursey Island.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 22nd September 2013  
  On Shetland today's highlights included Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on Mainland and Blyth's Reed Warbler and Two-barred Crossbill on Unst.

In Ireland rarities included Elegant Tern in Co Kerry, American Golden Plovers in Co Clare, Co Wexford, Co Galway and Co Derry (2), Baird's Sandpipers in Co Kerry and Co Donegal (2), Semipalmated Sandpipers in Co Cork and Co Wexford (2) and Lesser Yellowlegs in Co Wexford.

Elsewhere rarity sightings comprised Lesser Grey Shrike in Suffolk, Red-rumped Swallow in Essex, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Blue-winged Teals in Clyde and Lincolnshire (3), American Golden Plovers in Northumberland and Argyll, Two-barred Crossbills in Norfolk (3) and South Yorkshire (2), Glossy Ibises in Somerset (2) and Cornwall (4), Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon and Carmarthenshire, Lesser Scaup in Greater Manchester, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset and King Eider in Moray.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 21st September 2013  
 

The Wilson's Warbler remained in a garden at the west end of Dursey Island in County Cork throughout the day and, although it continued to be elusive, it was seen by a number of birders who had made the long journey westwards for it. In Hampshire, however, there was no such luck with the Brown Shrike at Hook-with-Warsash, which was not seen at all today. In County Kerry the Elegant Tern was again on the Shannon Estuary.

A Semipalmated Sandpiper was seen briefly this a'noon at Hoylake on the Wirral, a Blyth's Reed Warbler was a new find on Foula in the Shetlands and a Lesser Scaup was found at Bryn Bach Country Park in Gwent. Further new rarities were an Ortolan Bunting, which flew over Hayling Island in Hampshire, a second American Golden Plover at Tacumshin in County Wexford and an Arctic Redpoll on Mainland Shetland. A Fea's Petrel was reported from the Fishguard to Rosslare Ferry and a male Red-footed Falcon was reported over Barnes in London.

Lingering rarities included Lesser Grey Shrike in Suffolk, three Blue-winged Teals in Lincolnshire, four Two-barred Crossbills in Norfolk, American Golden Plovers in Northumberland, Shetland, Orkney, County Wexford and County Clare, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, County Galway and County Wexford, Baird's Sandpiper in County Kerry, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Wexford, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon and Laughing Gull on Orkney.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Friday 20th September 2013  
  News of the day related to the presence of a male Wilson's Warbler on Dursey Island, County Cork, for the last three days. It was first glimpsed on Wednesday evening, with a single sighting yesterday and it remained in a garden at the west end of the island today, where it maintained its elusiveness.

From the east, a first-winter Brown Shrike was discovered in Hampshire at Chilling near Hook-with-Warsash, where it represented the first record for the county.

Other new discoveries today included a female Red-footed Falcon near Aylsham, Norfolk, a Blyth's Reed Warbler at Quendale, Shetland and an Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in Leicestershire. New Nearctic waders included a Lesser Yellowlegs at Murlach, County Galway and American Golden Plovers in Shetland (two), Cumbria, County Donegal, County Galway and the Isles of Scilly.

The Irish Elegant Tern appeared in County Clare briefly, before heading straight back to County Kerry this evening. Other lingering rarities highlights included the Lesser Grey Shrike in Suffolk, three Blue-winged Teals in Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs' in Devon and County Wexford, Baird's Sandpiper in County Kerry, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Wexford, Laughing Gull in Orkney, Bonaparte's Gulls in Lancashire, Devon and the Isles of Scilly and four Two-barred Crossbills in Norfolk.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 19th September 2013  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Baltimore Oriole on the Shetland Isles - the second American landbird of the autumn, following a Black-and-white Warbler on the adjacent island of Fetlar on 6th September. It consitutes the third record of Baltimore Oriole for the Shetland Isles following singles on Fair Isle on 19th-20th Septermber 1974 and at Baltasound, Unst on 26th September 1890 - the latter bird at the very same site of todays record.

Other rarities today included the Elegant Tern in County Kerry, Pied-billed Grebe in County Mayo, Lesser Grey Shrike in Suffolk, Laughing Gull and Arctic Warbler on the Orkney Isles, two Arctic Warblers and two Little Buntings on the Shetland Isles, three Two-barred Crossbills together in Norfolk, three Blue-winged Teals together in Lincolnshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Lancashire and Glossy Ibis in Somerset. Nearctic waders comprised the Wilson's Phalarope still in Norfolk, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Dorset, Baird's Sandpiper in County Kerry, Lesser Yellowlegs in both Devon and County Wexford, Buff-breasted Sandpipers in Leicestershire, Orkney Isles and the Scilly Isles, American Golden Plovers in County Clare, Highland, Northumberland, Orkney Isles, and the Shetland Isles, and a total of 14 Pectoral Sandpipers.

Scarce migrants included 34 Lapland Buntings, 31 Yellow-browed Warblers, six Common Rosefinches, four each of Barred Warbler, Wryneck and Ring-billed Gull, three Red-backed Shrikes, two each of Rose-coloured Starling, Icterine Warbler and Spotted Crake, and single Marsh Warbler (Orkney Isles), White-winged Black Tern (County Wexford), Cattle Egret (Lincolnshire), Red-breasted Flycatcher, Richard's Pipit and Corncrake (all on Shetland Isles).

Seawatching accumulated 341 Balearic Shearwaters, 94 Leach's Petrels, 38 Grey Phalaropes, 34 Sabine's Gulls, 19 Long-tailed Skuas and 12 Great Shearwaters.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 18th September 2013  
  Rarities noted today included the Pied-billed Grebe still in County Mayo, Lesser Grey Shrike in Suffolk, Two-barred Crossbill in both Norfolk and South Yorkshire, Little Bunting on the Shetland Isles, King Eider in Moray, three Blue-winged Teals together in Lincolnshire, Glossy Ibis in Somerset, and single Bonaparte's Gulls in Devon, Lancashire and the Isles of Scilly.

Nearctic waders were represented by the Wilson's Phalarope still in Norfolk, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon and County Wexford, American Golden Plovers in County Clare, Highland, Orkney Isles and County Wexford, eight Buff-breasted Sandpipers and 12 Pectoral Sandpipers.

Seawatching highlights comprised two Wilson's Petrels passing County Mayo, and across country totals of 137 Leach's Petrels, 93 Balearic Shearwaters, 40 Grey Phalaropes, 10 Sabine's Gulls and three Long-tailed Skuas.

Other scarce migrants included 30 Lapland Buntings, 12 Yellow-browed Warblers, seven Common Rosefinches, six Wrynecks, three Spotted Crakes, two each of both Rose-coloured Starling and Ring-billed Gull, and single Melodious Warbler (Gwynedd), White-winged Black Tern (County Wexford) and Corncrake (Shetland Isles).
-  Chris Batty, RBA