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| Tuesday 27th May 2014 | ||
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| The Scottish Islands had a outstanding day with, in Argyll a Collared Flycather
on Tiree, Rustic Bunting on Iona, and Bee-eater on Mull, on the Western Isles a
Blyth's Reed Warbler on North Uist, on the Orkney Isles an Alpine Swift
still at Birsay, and on the Shetland Isles Blyth's Reed Warbler and
Caspian Stonechat on Fair Isle, and Rustic Buntings at both Pool of Virkie and Out Skerries. Across the archipelagos, scarcity totals comprised six
Red-backed Shrikes, two each of Icterine Warbler and Common
Rosefinch, and singles of Short-toed Lark, Red-breasted
Flycatcher, Bluethroat, Marsh Warbler, Wryneck and Temminck's
Stint. Otherwise, a Greenish Warbler at Landguard, Suffolk was the highlight of the day, whilst four Bee-eaters and a brief Red-footed Falcon were noted in Dorset on Portland, a Blue-winged Teal was new in County Cork at Clonakilty, and both Black Stork and Black Kite overflew East Sussex. Other lingering rarities comprised the Savi's Warbler in Gwent, Lesser Scaup in Cheshire, and breeding pairs of Black-winged Stilt in both Kent and West Sussex. Away from Scotland, scarcities included three Golden Orioles, two each of both Woodchat Shrike and Common Rosefinch, and singles of White-winged Black Tern and Red-breasted Flycatcher (Northumberland), Red-backed Shrike (East Yorkshire), Serin (Isle of Wight), and Pectoral Sandpiper (Gwent). |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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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 26th May 2014 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was a Slender-billed Gull in Norfolk, present at Titchwell briefly mid afternoon. Elsewhere in Norfolk a
Black-headed Bunting was discovered in Cromer, and a Booted Eagle was reported or suspected over Norwich, then North Walsham, then Whitlingham, then Hickling Broad, then Northrepps, and finally Cromer. Discoveries elsewhere included a Blyth's Reed Warbler in Pembrokeshire on Skomer, a Black Stork over West and East Yorkshire then Lincolnshire, a Two-barred Crossbill in Surrey at Horley, Alpine Swift on the Orkney Isles at Birsay, Lesser Scaup in Cheshire at Frodsham, and brief Bee-eaters in both Kent and the Isles of Scilly. Lingering rarities comprised the Little Bittern in Greater Manchester, Broad-billed Sandpiper in North Yorkshire, Savi's Warbler in Gwent, Citrine Wagtail in Gwynedd, two Black-winged Stilts together in West Sussex, and both Caspian Stonechat and Subalpine Warbler on Fair Isle. Scarcities included five Red-backed Shrikes, two each of Golden Oriole, Common Rosefinch, Temminck's Stint and Grey-headed Wagtail, with single Woodchat Shrike (Isles of Scilly), Red-breasted Flycatcher (Fife), Serin (Dorset), Long-tailed Skua (South Yorkshire), Purple Heron (West Yorkshire), Hoopoe (Worcestershire), Bluethroat and Icterine Warbler (Shetland Isles), Marsh Warbler and Grey Phalarope (Orkney Isles). Significant late news concerned a Semipalmated Sandpiper on South Uist, Western Isles on 24th May. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 25th May 2014 | ||
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| In Kent, a pale Booted Eagle flew north over Worth Marsh early
afternoon. Further north, several quality rarities were discovered, the best
being a Broad-billed Sandpiper at Nosterfield NR, Yorkshire, with a male
Little Bittern at Elton Reservoir, Manchester coming a close second. A
female Citrine Wagtail spent the afternoon on Bardsey Island, Gwynedd,
whilst warblers included a Blyth's Reed Warbler at Long Nab, Yorkshire, a
Great Reed Warbler at Saltfleetby, Lincolnshire and a Western
Subalpine Warbler at Esha Ness, Shetland, with a male Black-headed
Wagtail and a Red-rumped Swallow also on the archipelago, on Fetlar
and Mainland respectively.
A White-billed Diver was in Dunnet Bay, Highland and another flew past Lossiemouth, Moray, whilst new or relocating Bee-eaters were seen in Yorkshire (five), Cambridgeshire (five) and Kent (three). Lingering rarity highlights included the Caspian Stonechat and Subalpine Warbler in Shetland, Great Reed Warbler in Somerset, Savi's Warbler in Gwent, four Bee-eaters in Kent, Black-winged Stilts in Somerset and Sussex (two), King Eider in Aberdeenshire and Two-barred Crossbills in Kent and Norfolk. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 24th May 2014 | ||
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| New discoveries today were topped by a singing Great Reed Warbler at
Chew Valley Lake, Somerset and a singing Savi's Warbler at Uskmouth NR,
Gwent, both of which showed very well. Other new discoveries today included an
Alpine Swift and a Blyth's Reed Warbler in Shetland, on Unst and
Foula respectively, a Red-footed Falcon and four Bee-eaters in
Kent and further Bee-eaters in Oxfordshire and Yorkshire (five).
Lingering rarities seen today included the Black-headed Bunting in Pembrokeshire, Caspian Stonechat, Subalpine Warbler and Citrine Wagtail in Shetland and Black-winged Stilts in Somerset, Sussex (two) and Kent. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Friday 23rd May 2014 | ||
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| Highlights today included a Great Reed Warbler trapped at Gibraltar
Point NNR, Lincolnshire, a Broad-billed Sandpiper on Islay, Argyll, a
Citrine Wagtail at Haroldswick, Shetland and a Snowy Owl on
Benbecula, Western Isles. More regular spring rarities included a
Black-winged Stilt in Somerset and a Red-rumped Swallow and four
Bee-eaters in Suffolk, with further Bee-eaters in Kent (five), Norfolk and
County Kerry.
The Baillon's Crake remained in Kent, as did the King Eider in Aberdeenshire and the flock of five Bee-eaters in Yorkshire. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 22nd May 2014 | ||
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| Two Mega-rarities were discovered today - a Baillon's Crake in Kent and
Calandra Lark on Fair Isle (where the Caspian Stonechat, Western Subalpine
Warbler and Bluethroat all lingered). Elsewhere new discoveries included
Bee-eaters in East Yorkshire (5) and Suffolk, Savi's Warbler in Dorset and
Great
Reed Warbler in Berkshire, whilst lingering rarities included Black-headed
Bunting in Pembrokeshire, Two-barred Crossbill in Norfolk, King Eider
in
Aberdeenshire and Red-rumped Swallow on Shetland.
The best of the rest included Grey-headed Wagtail in Norfolk, Red-necked Phalarope in Buckinghamshire, American Wigeon on Western Isles, Red-breasted Flycatcher in Cornwall, two each of Purple Heron, Red-backed Shrike and Pectoral Sandpiper, three Glossy Ibises, three White-winged Black Terns and 11 Temminck's Stints. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 21st May 2014 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was a Black-headed Bunting found this evening on Skomer, Pembrokeshire. Other discoveries included
Rustic Buntings in Argyll, Orkney Isles and Shetland Isles, Black Storks over Greater Manchester and Lincolnshire, three
Black-winged Stilts together in Dorset, Black Kite in Borders and Northumberland, and a
Marbled Duck on the Isle of Wight. The Terek Sandpiper lingered overnight at Covenham Reservoir, Lincolnshire, but departed mid morning. Elsewhere, Caspian Stonechat and two Subalpine Warblers remained on Fair Isle, as did a Red-rumped Swallow on the Shetland Isles, Two-barred Crossbill in Norfolk, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, and pairs of Black-winged Stilt in both Kent and West Sussex. Scarcities included Woodchat Shrike (Isles of Scilly), Marsh Warbler (Lincolnshire), Purple Heron (Suffolk), Hoopoe (Ayrshire), Wryneck (Northumberland), Pectoral Sandpiper (Lincolnshire), American Wigeon (Aberdeenshire), Bluethroat and Common Rosefinch (Shetland Isles), two each of Surf Scoter and migrant Dotterel, three each of White-winged Black Tern (together on the Western Isles), Golden Oriole and Red-backed Shrike, 11 Temminck's Stints, and 48 Long-tailed Skuas (Orkney Isles). |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 20th May 2014 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Terek Sandpiper in Lincolnshire at Covenham Reservoir, where it showed well all day. Elsewhere, rarities included pairs of Black-winged Stilts in Cambridgeshire, Kent and West Sussex, a Two-barred Crossbill in Norfolk, and single Western Subalpine Warblers at both Spurn and Fair Isle, whilst the Caspian Stonechat remained at the latter. Brief encounters included a Black Stork in Conwy, Red-throated Pipit in Northumberland, Red-rumped Swallows in Argyll and the Shetland Isles, Black Kites in Devon and Norfolk, and five Bee-eaters together in East Sussex. Scarcities included Red-spotted Bluethroat (Northumberland), Hoopoe (West Sussex), Red-backed Shrike (Orkney Isles), Wryneck (Shetland Isles), Pectoral Sandpiper (Worcestershire), two migrant Dotterel, three each of both White-winged Black Tern and Golden Oriole, and a total of 17 Temminck's Stints. Significant late news concerned a Blyth's Reed Warbler present yesterday on the Shetland Isles at Quendale. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Monday 19th May 2014 | ||
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| A Bermuda Petrel was photographed from a research vessel c195 miles
west northwest of Slea Head (Co Kerry) this evening.
Elsewhere new discoveries comprised Terek Sandpiper in Lincolnshire, Red-footed Falcons in Norfolk and South Yorkshire and Black Kite and Bee-eater in Kent. Lingering rarities included Black-winged Stilts in Cambridgeshire (3), Kent (3) and West Sussex (2) and Caspian Stonechat and two Western Subalpine Warblers on Fair Isle. The best of the rest included Wryneck, Short-toed Lark and Bluethroat (Shetland), White-winged Black Tern (Gloucestershire/Wiltshire), Red-necked Phalarope (East Yorkshire), American Wigeon (Western Isles), Snow Goose (Aberdeenshire), two Pectoral Sandpipers, three Red-backed Shrikes, at least three Honey Buzzards, six Glossy Ibises, seven Dotterel, seven Golden Orioles and 17 Temminck's Stints. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 18th May 2014 | ||
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| The arrival of European rarities was again notable today with a Great Reed Warbler
in Cambridgeshire at Nene Washes, Tawny Pipit in Devon at Northam Burrows,
Red-rumped Swallows in Cambridgeshire, County Down and the Shetland Isles, Black-winged Stilts in Cambridgeshire (2), Kent (3), Northamptonshire (2) and West Sussex (2),
Black Kites in Cornwall, Hampshire, Kent and Surrey, and Bee-eaters in Hampshire, Norfolk (2), Isles of Scilly and West Sussex (2). Other rarities today included a Spotted Sandpiper new in South Yorkshire at Potteric Carr, Two-barred Crossbill still in Norfolk, and King Eider in Aberdeenshire. Scarcities were headlined by Red-necked Phalarope (East Yorkshire), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Orkney Isles), Short-toed Lark and Golden Oriole (together in Devon), Woodchat Shrike and Golden Oriole (together on the Isles of Scilly), Hoopoe (East Sussex), Wryneck (Shetland Isles), two Pectoral Sandpipers, three Temminck's Stints and five migrant Dotterel. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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