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 25th October 2013  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Cape May Warbler on Unst. Elsewhere around the Shetland Isles a Red-flanked Bluetail was discovered on Mainland at Walls, and a Little Bunting was new at Hoswick. Meanwhile, on the Isles of Scilly Subalpine Warbler, Pallas's Warbler, Rose-coloured Starling, Barred Warbler, Red-backed Shrike, Spotted Crake, two Red-breasted Flycatchers and four Yellow-browed Warblers were logged.

In Norfolk a Radde's Warbler was found at Happisburgh, whilst other late autumn specials included a Red-throated Pipit in Devon on Lundy, Dusky Warbler in East Yorkshire at Spurn, Penduline Tit in Kent at Dungeness, and Pallid Swift in both Dorset and Norfolk.

Other rarities comprised the Semipalmated Plover and Red-breasted Goose both still present in Hampshire, Two-barred Crossbill in Norfolk, Baird's Sandpiper and American Golden Plover in County Kerry, three Blue-winged Teals together in Lincolnshire, Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan, Northern Harrier in Cambridgeshire and County Wexford, and 12 Glossy Ibises across four counties; Essex (2), Greater Manchester (4), Kent and Western Isles (5).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 24th October 2013  
  The Cape May Warbler remained at Baltasound on Unst, but in strong winds and squally showers it was only seen intermittently. However, it did show very well for a period in the afternoon allowing those who made the long journey northwards to get some gripping views. At the other end of the country, the Semipalmated Plover was found again on Hayling Island in Hampshire, roosting with Ringed Plovers during the afternoon.

A Western Bonelli's Warbler was found at Holkham in Norfolk and Pallid Swifts were found at Felbrigg in Norfolk and Christchurch in Hampshire. A Subalpine Warbler was new in on St.Mary's on the Scillies. A Penduline Tit was found at Dungeness in Kent. New Glossy Ibises were over Angmering and (possibly the same bird later) at Pagham in West Sussex and at Leighton Moss in Lancashire, with four briefly at Rumworth Lodge Reservoir in Greater Manchester.

Lingering rarities included Two-barred Crossbills in Kent and Norfolk, Dusky Warbler in Yorkshire, Sardinian Warbler in Borders, Western Bonelli's Warbler in Cleveland, Northern Harrier in Cambridgeshire, Baird's Sandpiper in County Kerry, Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan, with a further six Glossy Ibises scattered through Essex, Kent, Somerset and Carmarthenshire.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Wednesday 23rd October 2013  
  A Cape May Warbler found today on Unst, Shetland Isles is the second British (and second Western Palearctic) record - following a male in song at Paisley Glen, Clyde on 17th June 1977 - and is, without doubt, the highlight of the autumn in Britain. It was discovered in gardens near Baltasound, where it was still present at dusk. On Fair Isle the Siberian Rubythroat remained in the morning, as did Olive-backed Pipit and Little Bunting. Meanwhile, on the Isles of Scilly two Rose-coloured Starlings, Short-toed Lark, Barred Warbler, Red-backed Shrike, Wryneck, Spotted Crake and seven Yellow-browed Warblers were logged, although the star bird was a Fea's Petrel seen from the departing Scillonian III.

Discoveries elsewhere included a Red-eyed Vireo in Cornwall at Prussia Cove, a Pallid Swift in Norfolk between Cley and Weybourne, an American Golden Plover in Somerset at Blagdon Lake, Cackling Goose in Highland at Scrabster, and a Glossy Ibis in Worcestershire at Upton Warren.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Sardinian Warbler in Borders, Pallid Swift in Cleveland, Siberian Stonechat in North Yorkshire, single Two-barred Crossbills in both Kent and Norfolk, two Dusky Warblers in East Yorkshire, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, three Blue-winged Teals together in Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Carmarthenshire, Northern Harrier in Cambridgeshire and County Wexford, two Cackling Geese in Argyll, and 13 more Glossy Ibises.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 22nd October 2013  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the male Siberian Rubythroat on Fair Isle, where Paddyfield Warbler, Red-throated Pipit and Olive-backed Pipit were all also logged. Elsewhere around the Shetland Isles American Buff-bellied Pipit, Coues's Arctic Redpoll, Little Bunting, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Glaucous Gull and two Yellow-browed Warblers were noted. Meanwhile, on the Isles of Scilly the Sora remained with Short-toed Lark, Spotted Crake, two Spoonbills and 10 Yellow-browed Warblers.

Elsewhere, an Isabelline Wheatear was reported in East Yorkshire at Patrington Haven, with other new rarities comprising a Pallid Swift in Norfolk at Winterton, Thrush Nightingale and American Golden Plover together in County Cork on Dursey Island, Little Bunting on the Western Isles on Barra, and a Black-bellied Dipper on South Ronaldsay, Orkney Isles.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present included Sardinian Warbler in Borders, Forster's Tern in County Dublin, Pallid Swift in Cleveland, Siberian Stonechat in North Yorkshire and Northumberland, Dusky Warbler in East Yorkshire, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, Baird's Sandpiper in County Kerry, Blue-winged Teal in County Cork, White-rumped Sandpiper in Norfolk, Northern Harrier in Cambridgeshire, two Richardson's Cackling Geese in Argyll, and nine Glossy Ibises across four English counties.

Scarcities included seven Parrot Crossbills together in Kent, Pallas's Warblers in Borders and Northumberland (2), Rose-coloured Starling in Cornwall and Norfolk, and Hoopoe in both County Durham and Nottinghamshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 21st October 2013  
  Highlight of the day was the discovery of a male Siberian Rubythroat on Fair Isle, whilst on Orkney a Paddyfield Warbler was in Kirkwall.

Elsewhere rarity sightings included Western Bonelli's Warbler and Pallid Swift in Cleveland (with probable Pallid Swifts in Kent and Suffolk and reports of unidentified Common or Pallid Swifts in Norfolk and London), Sora on Isles of Scilly, Olive-backed Pipit in Pembrokeshire, Dusky Warbler in East Yorkshire, Siberian Stonechats in Northumberland and North Yorkshire, White-rumped Sandpiper in Norfolk, Red-flanked Bluetails in Orkney and Shetland, Sardinian Warbler in Borders, Baird's Sandpiper in Co Kerry, Two-barred Crossbill and six Parrot Crossbills in Kent, two Richardson's Cackling Geese in Argll, three Blue-winged Teals in Lincolnshire, Little Bunting in Orkney, and Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire.

The best of the rest included three Glossy Ibises, two Hoopoes, two Rose-coloured Starlings, two Short-toed Larks, Red-breasted Flycatcher (Co Durham), Spotted Crake (Isles of Scilly) and Pallas's Warbler (Borders)

Yesterday a Northern Harrier was photographed at Ouse Washes RSPB, where it was present for its third day.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 20th October 2013  
  Five new rarities were discovered on Shetland today, the highlight being a Red-flanked Bluetail at Upper Voe, Mainland. A Lanceolated Warbler and an Olive-backed Pipit were on Fair Isle, while back on Mainland a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll was at Swinister and a Coues's Arctic Redpoll was at Quendale.

Further south, a Siberian Stonechat was seen at Howick, Northumberland and an Isabelline Shrike was at Donna Nook, Lincolnshire. Other new rarities included a Blue-winged Teal at Ballycotton, County Cork, an Olive-backed Pipit on North Ronaldsay, Orkney and Glossy Ibises were at East Chevington, Northumberland and Abberton Reservoir, Essex.

Lingering rarity highlights included the Semipalmated Plover in both Hampshire and West Sussex, a Sora on Tresco, Isles of Scilly, Red-flanked Bluetail on Orkney, Pallid Swift and Western Bonelli's Warbler in Cleveland, Sardinian Warbler and Radde's Warblers in Borders and the Isles of Scilly, Dusky Warblers in Fife, Cleveland and Yorkshire, Siberian Stonechat in Yorkshire, Olive-backed Pipit and White-rumped Sandpiper on Shetland, Long-billed Dowitcher and Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, Forster's Tern in County Dublin, Northern Harrier in County Wexford and Two-barred Crossbill and six Parrot Crossbills in Kent.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 19th October 2013  
  Despite being the best county in Britain to see Sora, with a third of the accepted records, today is the first time two have been present at the same time, or even the same year, on the Isles of Scilly. The long staying individual was present all day on the Great Pool, Tresco, whilst one was retrospectively identified from photographs taken at the Shooters' Pool, Lower Moors, St Mary's.

The Semipalmated Plover was again present on Hayling Island, Hampshire for just over three hours, and it was also seen nearby on Pilsey Sands, West Sussex briefly, where it was also seen yesterday.

Other new discoveries today included a Whiskered Tern at Bamburgh, Northumberland, Radde's Warblers at St Abb's Head, Borders and on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, Dusky Warblers at Sea Palling, Norfolk, Fife Ness Muir, Fife and Hartlepool Headland, Cleveland, an Olive-backed Pipit at Vidlin, Shetland, a Red-throated Pipit at Church Norton, West Sussex, Little Buntings at Flamborough Head, Yorkshire and on North Ronaldsay, Orkney, a Pacific Golden Plover at Breydon Water, Norfolk, a Blue-winged Teal at Rahasane Turlough, County Galway and Glossy Ibises at Welney WWT, Norfolk and Freshwater, Isle of Wight.

Lingering rarity highlights included the Isabelline Shrike on Shetland, Daurian Shrike in Yorkshire, Pallid Swift and Western Bonelli's Warbler in Cleveland, Sardinian Warbler in Borders, Siberian Stonechat in Yorkshire, Northern Harrier in County Wexford and Forster's Tern in County Dublin.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 18th October 2013  
  The Semipalmated Plover was present again at Hayling Island in Hampshire between 11.30am and 2.30pm when it flew off, possibly into Sussex.

New rarities found today comprised two more Red-flanked Bluetails, one at Spurn in Yorkshire and one at Westray on the Orkney Islands, a Dusky Warbler, also at Spurn, four Glossy Ibises which flew east along the north Norfolk coast and an American Golden Plover on Fair Isle.

Lingering rarities included Isabelline Shrike, Citrine Wagtail, Red-throated Pipit and White-rumped Sandpiper on the Shetland Isles, Sora on the Scilly Isles, Western Bonelli's Warbler and Coue's Arctic Redpoll in Cleveland, Dusky Warblers at Filey and Aldborough in Yorkshire and Weybourne in Norfolk, Olive-backed Pipit and Little Bunting on the Farne Islands in Northumberland, Two-barred Crossbills in Norfolk (2) and Hemsted in Kent (where there were also 5 Parrot Crossbills), Red-breasted Goose and Long-billed Dowitcher in Hampshire, Daurian Shrike and Siberian Stonechat in Yorkshire, Sardinian Warbler in Borders and Blue-winged Teals in Clyde and Lincolnshire (3). Apart from those in north Norfolk a further 11 Glossy Ibises were reported from Kent to Cumbria.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Thursday 17th October 2013  
  The highlight of today was the discovery of the first Semipalmated Plover for mainland Britain for fifteen years. The first-winter was seen and heard at Black Point, Hayling Island, Hampshire as the tide rose mid morning, but flew east and wasn't seen again.

Other new discoveries today included a Grey-cheeked Thrush at Mizen Head, County Cork, an Isabelline Shrike on Whalsay, a Citrine Wagtail at Fleck and a White-rumped Sandpiper at Boddam, all Shetland, a Pallid Swift at Hartlepool, Cleveland, a Coues's Arctic Redpoll on North Ronaldsay, Orkney, two Olive-backed Pipits at Flamborough, Yorkshire, Dusky Warblers at Hook, County Wexford, Caernarfon, Gwynedd and Filey, Yorkshire and a Bonaparte's Gull at Rush, County Dublin. A new Glossy Ibis was at Pensthorpe, Norfolk.

Lingering rarity highlights included the Sora on the Isles of Scilly, Red-flanked Bluetail in Suffolk, Siberian Stonechat and Daurian Shrike in Yorkshire, Western Bonelli's Warblers in Yorkshire and Orkney, Sardinian Warbler in Borders, Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Cleveland, Two-barred Crossbill in Kent and Forster's Tern in County Dublin.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 16th October 2013  
  The highlight of the day was a Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler on the Isles of Scilly, on Gugh: the first record of this species on the islands. Elsewhere, around the archipelago, Purple Heron, Short-toed Lark, Spotted Crake, Wryneck, Lapland Bunting, Balearic Shearwater and 10 Yellow-browed Warblers were logged.

On the Shetland Isles Blyth's Reed Warbler, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Dusky Warbler, Red-throated Pipit, Richard's Pipit, Arctic Redpoll, Purple Heron, four Yellow-browed Warblers and five Lapland Buntings.

Along the English east coast a Siberian Stonechat was discovered in North Yorkshire at Scalby Nab, a Radde's Warbler was in County Durham, Red-flanked Bluetail and Radde's Warbler in Suffolk, Daurian Shrike and two Little Buntings in East Yorkshire, Western Bonelli's Warbler and Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Cleveland, Olive-backed Pipit and two Little Buntings together in Northumberland, and the Dusky Warbler still in Norfolk.

Otherwise, rarities comprised the Sardinian Warbler still in Borders, Forster's Tern in County Dublin, Blyth's Reed Warbler on the Orkney Isles, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan, American Golden Plover in County Galway, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, and Glossy Ibises in Essex, Kent and Somerset (3).
-  Chris Batty, RBA