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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Saturday 16th November 2013  
  A Pacific Diver was found off Pendower Beach in Gerrans Bay, Cornwall today, while Britain's third largest flock of Two-barred Crossbills was in the Forest of Dean, where at least 17 were between Kensley Lodge and Crabtree Hill. A Ferruginous Duck was at Dungeness RSPB, Kent.

The Western Orphean Warbler (confirmed by photographs showing tail details) remained in Pembrokeshire. Other lingering rarities included the Lesser Grey Shrike in Northumberland, Lesser Yellowlegs and Long-billed Dowitcher in Hampshire, White-rumped Sandpiper in Lincolnshire, American Golden Plover in County Cork, Siberian Stonechat in Orkney, single Two-barred Crossbills in Yorkshire, Norfolk, Surrey and Kent, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, Black Kite in Kent, single Bonaparte's Gulls in Devon and Northumberland and Lesser Scaup and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset. Glossy Ibises remained in Kent, Gloucestershire (two) and Nottinghamshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 15th November 2013  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Orphean Warbler species in Pembrokeshire at Orlandon, where it showed throughout the day. In Northumberland a Lesser Grey Shrike was identified at Long Nanny, and in Norfolk a Northern Harrier a Welney has presumably relocated from the contiguous Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire.

Elsewhere, rarities comprised both Pied-billed Grebe and Black Duck still in County Mayo, Two-barred Crossbill in Norfolk, Siberian Stonechat on the Orkney Isles, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Red-breasted Goose, Long-billed Dowitcher and Lesser Yellowlegs all in Hampshire, King Eider in Moray, White-rumped Sandpiper in Lincolnshire, Lesser Scaup in County Galway, County Kerry and Somerset, and Glossy Ibis in Gloucestershire (2), Kent and Nottinghamshire.

Scarcities included 11 Parrot Crossbills (10 in Norfolk and one in Kent), Golden Oriole (County Down), Serin (East Yorkshire), Richard's Pipit (Dorset), Red-backed Shrike (Isles of Scilly), Yellow-browed Warbler (Cornwall), American Wigeon (Highland), Ring-necked Duck (Leicestershire), two each of Barred Warbler, Surf Scoter and Lesser Snow Goose, three each of both Shorelark and Great Grey Shrike, and a total of 32 Lapland Buntings.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 14th November 2013  
  An orphean warbler, present for its fifth day in a garden in St Brides (Pembrokeshire), was identified from photographs this evening, having originally been identified as a Lesser Whitethroat.

In Norfolk the Thayer's Gull left Cley NWT early morning, having roosted overnight, but failed to make a reappearance this evening. Elsewhere lingering rarities included Two-barred Crossbills in Kent and Surrey, Lesser Scaup in Somerset, Lesser Yellowlegs in Hampshire, Northern Harrier in Co Wexford, White-rumped Sandpiper and Blue-winged Teal in Lincolnshire and Glossy Ibises in Norfolk, Essex and Gloucestershire (2). A Black Kite was reported flying over Rye Harbour Nature Reserve (East Sussex) and in Shetland two White-billed Divers were in Bluemull Sound.

The best of the rest included Serin (East Yorkshire), Red-breasted Flycatcher in East Sussex, Richard's Pipit (Dorset) and at least five Parrot Crossbills (Kent and Norfolk [4+])

In Hampshire a dead Myrtle Warbler was found in Southampton Docks.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 13th November 2013  
  The highlight of the day was a juvenile Thayer's Gull discovered late this afternoon at Cley, Norfolk, perhaps the fourth record for Britain, and all since 2007.

Rarities elsewhere comprised the Siberian Stonechat still on the Orkney Isles on Westray, Two-barred Crossbill in Kent and Surrey, Red-breasted Goose and Lesser Yellowlegs in Hampshire, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Lancashire, White-rumped Sandpiper in Cornwall and Lincolnshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Blue-winged Teal in Lincolnshire, White-billed Diver on the Shetland Isles, Black Kite in Kent, and six Glossy Ibises scattered around England.

Scarcities included Serin and Barred Warbler (both East Yorkshire), Rough-legged Buzzard (Suffolk), American Wigeon (Merseyside), four each of Richard's Pipit, Shorelark, Surf Scoter, Lesser Snow Goose and Ring-billed Gull, five Yellow-browed Warblers, 10 Great Grey Shrikes, 13 Parrot Crossbills (including 12 together in Norfolk), and 23 Lapland Buntings.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 12th November 2013  
  Rarities today comprised a Semipalmated Sandpiper new in Lancashire at Knott End, Red-breasted Goose, Long-billed Dowitcher and Lesser Yellowlegs all still in Hampshire, Dusky Warbler in both Devon and the Isles of Scilly, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, White-rumped Sandpiper in Cornwall and Lincolnshire, King Eider in Moray, Blue-winged Teal in Lincolnshire, Lesser Scaup in County Galway and County Westmeath, Northern Harrier in Cambridgeshire, and five Glossy Ibises; including two in Gloucestershire.

Scarcities included 10 Parrot Crossbills together in Norfolk and one still in Kent, Rough-legged Buzzard (Suffolk), Ring-billed Gull (County Kerry), two Barred Warblers, three each of both Shorelark and Yellow-browed Warbler, four Surf Scoters and five each of both Richard's Pipit and Lapland Bunting.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 11th November 2013  
  New discoveries included a flyby King Eider on Western Isles and Dusky Warbler in Devon, whilst lingering rarities included Lesser Yellowlegs in Hampshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, two White-rumped Sandpipers in Cornwall, Lesser Scaups in Co Galway and Somerset, Black-throated Thrush in Shetland, Glossy Ibis in Nottinghamshire and Two-barred Crossbill in Kent.

The best of the rest included at least 13 Parrot Crossbills (12+ in Norfolk and a lone bird in Kent), Barred Warbler in East Yorkshire and Red-breasted Flycatcher in East Sussex.

Late news from yesterday concerned a White-billed Diver in Shetland and Bonaparte's Gull in West Yorkshire, whilst on Saturday a White-rumped Sandpiper was in East Yorkshire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 10th November 2013  
  New discoveries today included a Lesser Yellowlegs at Lepe Country Park, Hampshire, a drake Blue-winged Teal at Wellington GPs, Herefordshire, a drake King Eider off Yell, Shetland and a Dusky Warbler south of St Buryan, Cornwall. Glossy Ibises relocated to Willington, Derbyshire, Ouse Washes RSPB, Cambridgeshire, North Slob WWR, County Wexford and Tramore Backstrand, County Waterford.

The Pied Wheatear remained on view all day at Collingham GPs, Nottinghamshire, where it showed very well on occasion. Other lingering rarities included Dusky Warbler on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, single Two-barred Crossbills at Broomhead Reservoir, Yorkshire and Hemsted Forest, Kent, Northern Harrier at Tacumshin, Wexford, three White-rumped Sandpipers on the Hayle Estuary, Cornwall, Lesser Scaup at Chew Valley Lake, Somerset, Red-breasted Goose at Sturt, Hampshire and Bonaparte's Gull at Dawlish, Devon. Glossy Ibises remained in Hertsforeshire, Essex (at least two), Gloucestershire (two) and Nottinghamshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 9th November 2013  
  A Pied Wheatear at Collingham Pits, Nottinghamshire is an outstanding inland record, but news wasn't released until after dark. A Black-throated Thrush was found at Gulberwick, Shetland this morning, before it moved a short distance north-east to Sound this afternoon. A Coues's Arctic Redpoll was trapped and ringed on Whixall Moss, Shropshire, a Gyr was at Balemore and two White-rumped Sandpipers were in North Bay, both Western Isles, and a Lesser Scaup was at Murlach, County Galway.

Lingering rarities still present today included the Penduline Tit in Gwent, single Two-barred Crossbills in Surrey and Kent, three White-rumped Sandpipers in Cornwall, Blue-winged Teal in Lincolnshire, Lesser Scaup in Somerset, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, single Bonaparte's Gulls in Devon and Northumberland and Northern Harrier in County Wexford. Glossy Ibises were seen in Essex, Suffolk, Hertfordshire and Nottinghamshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 8th November 2013  
  An American Golden Plover was seen at Aughinish, County Limerick, whilst new or relocating Glossy Ibises were at Amwell NR, Hertfordshire, Wick, Highland, Holland Haven, Essex and Seaton Marshes, Devon.

Lingering rarities comprised the Penduline Tit in Gwent, Two-barred Crossbills in Norfolk and Surrey, Subalpine Warbler on Scilly, Little Bunting on Orkney, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, Lesser Scaup in Somerset, Northern Harrier in County Wexford and Glossy Ibises in Kent, Essex, Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

Scarcity highlights included a Red-breasted Flycatcher, two Barred Warblers, six Yellow-browed Warblers, two Rose-coloured Starlings, two Richard's Pipits, two Red-backed Shrikes, six Great Grey Shrikes, seven Shorelarks, a Grey Phalarope and a Rough-legged Buzzard.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 7th November 2013  
  Two of today's headline discoveries were trapped and ringed at English south coast bird observatories - a Dusky Warbler at Portland (Dorset) and Coues's Arctic Redpoll at Dungeness (Kent) - whilst in Gwent a Penduline Tit was at Uskmouth NR and in Cheshire a Bonaparte's Gull roosted at Rostherne Mere.

Lingering rarities included Lesser Scaup in Somerset, Blue-winged Teal in Lincolnshire, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, White-rumped Sandpiper on Western Isles, Two-barred Crossbill in South Yorkshire and Subalpine Warbler on Isles of Scilly.

Ten Glossy Ibises, three Surf Scoters, three Rose-coloured Starlings, two Yellow-browed Warblers, Common Rosefinch and Barred Warbler (East Yorkshire), Richard's Pipit and Red-breasted Flycatcher (Cornwall), Cattle Egret (Kent), Red-backed Shrike (West Sussex) and American Wigeon (Highland) were also recorded.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA