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 22nd November 2013  
  New discoveries today included a female King Eider off Blacksod, County Mayo, a Dusky Warbler at Quendale, Shetland, a Ferruginous Duck at Blashford Lakes HWT, Hampshire and a Glossy Ibis at Tacumshin, County Wexford.

Lingering rarities included the Caspian Stonechat in the Isles of Scilly, Western Orphean Warbler in Pembrokeshire, Short-billed Dowitcher in Orkney, Pacific Diver in Cornwall, Lesser Grey Shrike in Northumberland, Two-barred Crossbill in Norfolk, Lesser Yellowlegs in Hampshire and White-rumped Sandpiper in Lincolnshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 21st November 2013  
  The headline news today concerned the re-identification of the Siberian Stonechat on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly. Present on the island since Sunday, the tail pattern was seen well and photographed today, confirming it as Britain's fourth Caspian Stonechat of the form variegatus, or hemprichii.

Further north, and also present since at least Sunday, an American Robin was at South Loch Eynort, South Uist, Western Isles where it also showed very well. A Coues's Arctic Redpoll at Oxmoor LNR, Cheshire was also found last Sunday, but this one hasn't been seen since.

Lingering rarities included the Western Orphean Warbler at Marloes, Pembrokeshire, Pacific Diver in Gerrans Bay, Cornwall, Lesser Grey Shrike at Long Nanny, Northumberland, Lesser Yellowlegs at Lepe Country Park, Hampshire, Two-barred Crossbill in the Forest of Dean and two Glossy Ibises at Slimbridge WWT, both Gloucestershire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 20th November 2013  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Western Orphean Warbler in Pembrokeshire at Orlandon Kilns. Elsewhere, rarities comprised the Short-billed Dowitcher still on the Orkney Isles, Lesser Grey Shrike in Northumberland, Siberian Stonechat on the Isles of Scilly, five Two-barred Crossbills and two Glossy Ibises in Gloucestershire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Hampshire, and on the Shetland Isles both King Eider and White-billed Diver.

Scarcities included four Great Grey Shrikes, two Ring-necked Ducks (County Donegal and Northamptonshire), Parrot Crossbill (Hampshire), Serin (East Yorkshire), Richard's Pipit (Norfolk), Ring-billed Gull (Merseyside) and Yellow-browed Warbler (Devon).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 19th November 2013  
  Rarities today comprised the Western Orphean Warbler still in Pembrokeshire, Short-billed Dowitcher on the Orkney Isles, Pacific Diver in Cornwall, Lesser Grey Shrike in Northumberland, Two-barred Crossbills in Gloucestershire (8) and Surrey, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Lesser Yellowlegs and Long-billed Dowitcher in Hampshire, White-rumped Sandpiper in Lincolnshire, and two Glossy Ibises in Gloucestershire.

Scarcities included Serin (East Yorkshire), Rose-coloured Starling (Norfolk), American Wigeon (Highland), Grey Phalarope (Angus), two each of Surf Scoter, Ring-billed Gull and Cattle Egret, three Yellow-browed Warblers (including in Buckinghamshire), four Shorelarks, five Richard's Pipits (including four together in Norfolk), five Great Grey Shrikes, seven Lapland Buntings, and nine Parrot Crossblls (one in Hampshire and eight together in Norfolk).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 18th November 2013  
  In Norfolk a Yellow-breasted Bunting made a brief appearance on Blakeney Point this afternoon and in Pembrokeshire the Western Orphean Warbler remained in a garden near Marloes. Elsewhere lingering rarities included Lesser Yellowlegs in Hampshire, 9 Two-barred Crossbills in Gloucestershire, Lesser Scaups in Co Galway and Somerset, Pacific Diver in Cornwall, Bonaparte's Gulls in Devon and Northumberland, White-rumped Sandpiper in Lincolnshire, Richardson's Cackling Goose in Argyll, Lesser Grey Shrike in Northumberland and two Glossy Ibises in Gloucestershire. In Kent a Black Kite was seen in flight between Hamstreet and Ashford.

The best of the rest included Serin in East Yorkshire, Rose-coloured Starling and at least ten Parrot Crossbills in Norfolk and Richard's Pipit in Dorset.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 17th November 2013  
  The fourth Short-billed Dowitcher for Britain was identified on North Ronaldsay, Orkney today. Other new discoveries included a Siberian Stonechat on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, an American Golden Plover at Sennen, Cornwall and a Glossy Ibis over Chilwell, Nottinghamshire.

Significant late news concerned a suppressed Dusky Thrush in Devon, which was present for at least eight days up to the 2nd November in gardens in Paignton, where it showed very well for the selected few.

Back to today, the Western Orphean Warbler was still present in a garden near Marloes, Pembrokeshire. Other lingering rarities included the Pacific Diver in Cornwall, Lesser Grey Shrike in Northumberland, Two-barred Crossbills in Gloucestershire (14), Norfolk, Yorkshire, Surrey and Kent, Lesser Yellowlegs and Long-billed Dowitcher in Hampshire, White-rumped Sandpiper in Lincolnshire, American Golden Plover in County Cork, Gyr on the Western Isles, Black Kite in Kent, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, single Lesser Scaups in Somerset, County Kerry and County Galway and Glossy Ibises in Gloucestershire (two) and Nottinghamshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
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