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 30th December 2013  
  The highlight of the day was a Marsh Sandpiper on North Uist, Western Isles, where it has been present since 13th December: the first December record for Britain, with the latest record prior to this being on 12th October 1982, in Somerset. Meanwhile, in Worcestershire a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll was reported as present for a second day at Lineholt.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Brunnich's Guillemot in Dorset, Pied-billed Grebe on the Western Isles, American Buff-bellied Pipit in Cheshire, White-billed Diver in Devon, seven Two-barred Crossbills together in South Yorkshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Lesser Scaup in Cornwall, and six Glossy Ibises scattered across five counties.

Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starling (Isles of Scilly), American Wigeon (Orkney Isles), Cattle Egret (County Waterford), two Surf Scoters, three each of both Snow Goose and Green-winged Teal, and 16 Parrot Crossbills. Notable gulls included 16 Iceland, nine Glaucous, eight Caspian, four Ring-billed and two Kumlien's.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 29th December 2013  
  Rarities today comprised the Brunnich's Guillemot still in Dorset, Ivory Gull on the Western Isles, American Buff-bellied Pipit in Cheshire, Bonaparte's Gull and White-billed Diver in Devon, two King Eiders in Lothian, single Lesser Scaups in both Cornwall and Glamorgan, Lesser Yellowlegs in Hampshire, and Two-barred Crossbills in Gloucestershire (18), Shropshire (4) and South Yorkshire (8). Glossy Ibises were logged in County Cork, Cornwall (3), Dorset, Greater Manchester, Kent (2), Norfolk, Nottinghamshire, Orkney Isles (2), Somerset, Suffolk and the Western Isles (2).

Scarcities included 24 Parrot Crossbills, 13 Cattle Egrets, 10 each of both Glaucous Gull and Caspian Gull, nine Iceland Gulls, eight each of Great Grey Shrike and Iceland Gull, six Surf Scoters, four Ring-necked Ducks, three each of Rough-legged Buzzard, Ring-billed Gull, Green-winged Teal and Grey Phalarope, two Shorelarks and single Richard's Pipit and Yellow-browed Warbler.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 28th December 2013  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Brunnich's Guillemot in Portland Harbour, Dorset where it once again showed very well. The superb White-billed Diver also remained further west at Brixham, Devon. Another Brunnich's Guillemot was found dead on the beach at Tangwick, Shetland.

The first December Baird's Sandpiper was located at Blennerville, County Kerry.

Other lingering rarities seen today included the American Buff-bellied Pipit in Cheshire, Short-billed Dowitcher on Orkney, Pied-billed Grebe on the Western Isles, King Eider and White-billed Diver on Shetland, Lesser Yellowlegs in Hampshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Two-barred Crossbills in Shropshire (three) and Yorkshire (five), Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan and Richardson's Cackling Goose in County Sligo.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 27th December 2013  
  In Dorset, the Brunnich's Guillemot remained in Portland Harbour, where it often showed exceptionally well. Other lingering rarities seen today included the American Buff-bellied Pipit in Cheshire, White-billed Diver in Devon, single Bonaparte's Gulls in Devon and Cornwall, Lesser Yellowlegs in Hampshire and six Two-barred Crossbills in both Yorkshire and Gloucestershire.

Scarcity highlights included four Grey Phalaropes, two Rough-legged Buzzards, two Great Grey Shrikes, 19 Parrot Crossbills, a Rose-coloured Starling, a Richard's Pipit and a Yellow-browed Warbler.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 26th December 2013  
  Highlight of Boxing Day was a Brunnich's Guillemot in Portland Harbour (Dorset), which showed well throughout the day.

Elsewhere rarities included the White-billed Diver and Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Lesser Yellowlegs in Hampshire, American Buff-bellied Pipit in Cheshire, Ivory Gull in Western Isles, King Eider in Lothian, Two-barred Crossbills in South Yorkshire (7), Gloucestershire (6) and Shropshire (3) and Glossy Ibises in Dorset, Nottinghamshire, Co Cork, Orkney and Suffolk.

The best of the rest included Hoopoe in Conwy, Richard's Pipit in Norfolk, 14 Parrot Crossbills in Nottinghamshire, Rose-coloured Starling and two Yellow-browed Warblers in Scilly and Cattle Egrets in Buckinghamshire and Co Waterford.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 25th December 2013  
  A White-billed Diver was discovered at Brixham (Devon), whilst lingering rarities included Ivory Gulls in East Yorkshire and Western Isles, American Buff-bellied Pipit in Cheshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon and Two-barred Crossbills in South Yorkshire (7) and Forest of Dean. Glossy Ibises were in Suffolk, Dorset, Orkney and Cornwall.

The best of the rest included Cattle Egrets in Devon and Co Waterford, Rose-coloured Starling and Yellow-browed Warbler on Isles of Scilly, Richard's Pipit in Norfolk and Hoopoe in Conwy.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 24th December 2013  
  In East Yorkshire the Ivory Gull lingered at Patrington Haven, whilst another Ivory Gull was on Lewis (Western Isles) for its fourth day.

Elsewhere lingering rarities included Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Two-barred Crossbills in South Yorkshire (7) and Shropshire (3) and Glossy Ibises in Cornwall (2), Gloucestershire (2), Devon and Suffolk.

The best of the rest included Hoopoe (Conwy), Rose-coloured Starling (Isles of Scilly) and the flock of 14 Parrot Crossbills (Nottinghamshire).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 23rd December 2013  
  The Ivory Gull remained today in East Yorkshire at Patrington Haven, with Glossy Ibises in both Cornwall and Suffolk.

Scarcities included eight Parrot Crossbills together in Norfolk, Rose-coloured Starling on the Isles of Scilly, Hoopoe in Conwy, Yellow-browed Warbler in Devon, Cattle Egret in Devon and County Waterford, Ring-necked Duck in Devon and Leicestershire, whilst unseasonal seabirds were a Cory's Shearwater passing Dorset, and a Sabine's Gull in Devon.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 22nd December 2013  
  Lingering rarities confirmed as still present today were the American Buff-bellied Pipit in Cheshire, Ivory Gull in East Yorkshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Lesser Yellowlegs in Hampshire, Lesser Scaup in Highland, Falcated Duck in Oxon, Two-barred Crossbills in Gloucestershire, Shropshire (3) and South Yorkshire (7), with Glossy Ibis in Cornwall, Devon, Staffordshire, Suffolk and West Midlands.

Scarcities included Hoopoe (Conwy), American Wigeon (Northumberland), Rough-legged Buzzard (Norfolk), Rose-coloured Starling (Norfolk and Isles of Scilly), Yellow-browed Warbler (Cornwall (2) and Devon), Cattle Egret (Buckinghamshire, Devon and County Waterford), Surf Scoter (Conwy (3) and Lothian (2)), Ring-necked Duck (Devon and Leicestershire), and Parrot Crossbill (Herefordshire, Norfolk (11), Nottinghamshire (14), South Yorkshire and Suffolk).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 21st December 2013  
  The higlight of the day was an American Buff-bellied Pipit at Burton Marsh, Cheshire; first suspected yesterday, the identification was confirmed this morning and the bird showed well throughout the afternoon. Elswehere, a Falcated Duck in Oxfordshire at Stanton Harcourt, is presumably the bird present at nearby Farmoor Reservoir on 9th-13th December 2012.

Elsewhere, rarities comprised the Ivory Gull still in East Yorkshire at Patrington Haven, a King Eider in Lothian, five Two-barred Crossbills together in South Yorkshire, and Glossy Ibises in County Cavan, Cornwall, County Kerry, Lancashire, Orkney Isles, Suffolk, Western Isles (2) and the West Midlands.

Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starling (Norfolk and the Isles of Scilly), Hoopoe (Conwy), Surf Scoter (Lothian), Ring-necked Duck (Devon), Cattle Egret (Devon, County Waterford (2) and County Wexford), and Parrot Crossbill (8 in Norfolk, and 14 in Nottinghamshire).
-  Chris Batty, RBA