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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Sunday 21st September 2014  
  Despite the continued presence of the Masked Shrike at Spurn, the bird of the day must surely be Fea's Petrel. One was found off Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire at 8.15am, and was tracked north along the coast through North Yorkshire, Cleveland, County Durham and Northumberland, being logged at at least 15 sites up to Holy Island at 6.15pm. At 4.45pm a second Fea's Petrel went north past Whitburn, County Durham.

A Barolo Shearwater was seen from a research vessel off County Kerry, whilst other new discoveries included single Arctic Warblers at Lissagriffin, County Cork and Norby, Shetland, an Olive-backed Pipit on Fair Isle, a lingering Black Kite over Sculthorpe, Norfolk and a White-rumped Sandpiper at Blanket Nook, County Donegal.

Other lingering rarity highlights seen today included single Olive-backed Pipits in Norfolk and Yorkshire, Red-throated Pipit, Pallid Harrier, Rustic Bunting and four Little Buntings in Shetland, Siberian Stonechat in Northumberland, Greenish Warbler in Norfolk, Snowy Owl in Moray, Forster's Tern in County Louth and Lesser Yellowlegs in Hampshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 20th September 2014  
  The highlight of the day was the early morning discovery of Britain's third Masked Shrike at Kilnsea, East Yorkshire, where it remained until dusk, with an Olive-backed Pipit nearby. Elsewhere, a Semipalmated Sandpiper was identified in Hampshire at Keyhaven Lagoon, a Snowy Owl was discovered in Highland at Inchnadamph, and a Franklin's Gull was reported at St John's Point, County Down, whilst brief encounters included Red-throated Pipit (Lincolnshire), Little Bunting (East Yorkshire) and Black Kite (Cambridgeshire).

On the Shetland Isles a Pallid Harrier remained (Loch of Spiggie), with Red-throated Pipit (Fair Isle), Great Reed Warbler (Bressay), and Arctic Warbler (Hoswick) all new, supported by Rose-coloured Starling, Barred Warbler, Red-backed Shrike, two Bluethroats, three each of both Little Bunting and Barred Warbler, four Red-breasted Flycatchers, five Common Rosefinches and 15 Yellow-browed Warblers. Meanwhile, on the Isles of Scilly the Booted Warbler remained with a Common Rosefinch and Wryneck.

Lingering rarities elsewhere comprised the Daurian Shrike (Orkney Isles), Snowy Owl (Moray), Siberian Stonechat (Northumberland), Bonelli's warbler (Cornwall), Lesser Yellowlegs (Hampshire), White-rumped Sandpiper (County Antrim), Lesser Scaup (Glamorgan), and three Olive-backed Pipits (in Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Orkney).

Away from Shetland and Scilly, scarcities included White-winged Black Tern (Cambridgeshire), Cattle Egret and Red-necked Phalarope (Cheshire) and Temminck's Stint (Worcestershire), Marsh Warbler and Great Grey Shrike (both East Yorkshire), two each of Melodious Warbler, Rose-coloured Starling, Richard's Pipit and Sabine's Gull, three Buff-breasted Sandpipers, four Red-backed Shrikes, nine each of Wryneck and Pectoral Sandpiper, 16 Barred Warblers, 27 Red-breasted Flycatchers and 47 Yellow-browed Warblers.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 19th September 2014  
  New discoveries today included the autumn's first Red-flanked Bluetail at Sumburgh Head, Shetland, a Booted Warbler at Peninnis Head, Isles of Scilly, a Pallid Harrier at Eastside, Orkney, an Olive-backed Pipit at Wells, Norfolk and a Siberian Stonechat on Holy Island, Northumberland. A Greenish Warbler was on Whalsay, Shetland, and new Little Buntings included two at Sumburgh and one at Fladdabister, both Shetland, two on North Ronaldsay, Orkney and two also on the Farne Islands, Northumberland. An unidentified Bonelli's warbler species was in Kenidjack Valley, Cornwall, an Arctic Redpoll was reported from St Martin's, Isles of Scilly and a Wilson's Petrel was off County Kerry.

Lingering rarities seen today included the Pallid Harrier in Norfolk, Daurian Shrike and Olive-backed Pipit on Orkney (with another of the latter in Lincolnshire), Rustic Bunting and Greenish Warbler in Northumberland (with another of the latter in Norfolk), Snowy Owl in Moray, single Lesser Yellowlegs' in Hampshire and County Donegal and the White-rumped Sandpiper in County Antrim.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 18th September 2014  
  New discoveries comprised Pallid Harriers on Mainland Shetland and Blakeney Point (Norfolk), Olive-backed Pipits at Gibraltar Point (Lincolnshire) and North Ronaldsay (Orkney), Greenish Warbler on Barra (Western Isles), Red-throated Pipit at Whitesands Bay (Pembrokeshire) and Little Buntings at Filey (North Yorkshire) and Bempton Cliffs (East Yorkshire). A Wilson's Petrel was seen at sea c196 miles west of Co Galway.

Lingering rarities included Rustic Buntings in North Yorkshire and Northumberland, Lesser Yellowlegs in Hampshire, Forster's Tern in Co Louth, Greenish Warblers in Norfolk and Northumberland, White-rumped Sandpiper in Co Antrim, Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan and Little Buntings on Shetland (3), Orkney and Northumberland.

The best of the rest included Melodious Warbler in Argyll, Rose-coloured Starling in Cornwall, Buff-breasted Sandpiper on Lewis (Western Isles), Ortolan Buntings on Isles of Scilly and Devon, American Golden Plover in Co Kerry, Purple Heron in Somerset, Cattle Egret in Cheshire, Temminck's Stint in Worcestershire, Short-toed Lark on Shetland and Glossy Ibis in Kent in addition to multiple Red-breasted Flycatchers, Barred Warblers, Red-backed Shrikes, Yellow-browed Warblers and Common Rosefinches.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 17th September 2014  
  Once again, the products of the continued easterly winds were evident, with the Dauran Shrike still on the Orkney Isles, Pallid Harrier on the Shetland Isles, Rustic Buntings in North Yorkshire (new at Filey) and Northumberland, and Greenish Warblers in Norfolk (new at Winterton) and Northumberland. Associated scarcities included 38 Yellow-browed Warblers, 28 Red-breasted Flycatchers, 16 Barred Warblers, seven Lapland Buntings, six each of Little Bunting, Common Rosefinch, Red-backed Shrike and Wryneck, three Ortolan Buntings, two each of Rose-coloured Starling and Richard's Pipit, and single Short-toed Lark (Orkney Islands), Golden Oriole (Northumberland), Marsh Warbler (Shetland Islands) and Great Grey Shrike (East Yorkshire).

Otherwise, the Snowy Owl continued (Moray), as did the Forster's Tern (County Louth), White-rumped Sandpiper (County Antrim), Lesser Yellowlegs (both Hampshire and Pembrokeshire), with Night Heron (Lancashire), Red-necked Phalarope and Cattle Egret (Cheshire), Temminck's Stint (Worcestershire), two Ring-billed Gulls, three Dotterel, four Long-tailed Skuas and Glossy Ibises, six Sabine's Gulls and 11 Pectoral Sandpipers.

Significant late news from Cornwall concerned a Western Bonelli's Warbler at Nanjizal on 15th September, with an Aquatic Warbler there on 9th September.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 16th September 2014  
  Despite it being another very busy day, only three rarities were discovered. These were a Red-throated Pipit at Rattray Head, Aberdeenshire, a Little Bunting on Fair Isle, Shetland and a Bonaparte's Gull at Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin. Surprising news came from the Isle of Wight, where the twelve Bee-eaters reappeared at Brading Marsh.

Lingering rarities included the Rustic Bunting, Little Bunting, Greenish Warbler and Blue-winged Teal (or hybrid) in Northumberland, Pallid Harrier in Shetland, Forster's Tern in County Louth, Lesser Yellowlegs in Hampshire and Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Monday 15th September 2014  
  Today's new rarities comprised Daurian Shrike on North Ronaldsay (Orkney), Rustic Bunting on Farne Islands (Northumberland), Red-throated Pipit over Breydon Water (Norfolk), Two-barred Crossbill at Forest of Dean (Gloucestershire), Lesser Yellowlegs at Marloes Mere (Pembrokeshire) and Pallid Harrier over Sammy's Point (East Yorkshire).

The Pallid Harrier on Fair Isle, Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan, Greenish Warbler in Northumberland and Lesser Yellowlegs in Hampshire all lingered.

The best of the rest included Purple Heron (Devon), Temminck's Stint (Worcestershire), Hoopoe (Norfolk), Richard's Pipit (Pembrokeshire), American Golden Plover (Co Kerry), Grey Phalarope (Worcestershire), White-winged Black Tern (Somerset) and Marsh Warbler (East Yorkshire), in addition to two each of Rose-coloured Starling, Ortolan Bunting, Common Rosefinch, Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Dotterel. 32 Red-breasted Flycatchers, 31 Yellow-browed Warblers, 12 Barred Warblers, 11 Wrynecks, ten Pectoral Sandpipers, six Honey Buzzards and five Red-backed Shrikes were also logged today.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 14th September 2014  
  The record of the day was the astounding news of four Long-billed Dowitchers flying over Annesley Pit Top in Nottinghamshire. Duos have appeared in Britain on eight previous occasions, but the only group larger than this was in Ireland: a flock of five at Rahasane Turlough, County Galway in 1963. Single Little Buntings and Greenish Warblers were discovered in both Northumberland and the Isles of Scilly, with the only other rarity being a Forster's Tern at Dundalk, County Louth.

Lingering rarities were the Pallid Harrier in Shetland, Lesser Yellowlegs in Hampshire and the Blue-winged Teal (or hybrid) in Northumberland.

It was a superb day for scarce migrants, mainly on the east coast, with totals of 34 Red-breasted Flycatchers, 18 Wrynecks, 16 Barred Warblers, 16 Yellow-browed Warblers, four Common Rosefinches, five Red-backed Shrikes, two Great Grey Shrikes, four Honey Buzzards, three Dotterel, two Corncrakes, two Lapland Buntings, a Marsh Warbler and a Hoopoe.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 13th September 2014  
  The second Whiskered Tern for the Isles of Scilly was seen today, on the Great Pool on Tresco. The only other record was from the same island, when one was shot in August 1851. Two Black-winged Stilts flew over Ferrybridge, Dorset, with two Bee-eaters doing the same over Brading, Isle of Wight. Further north, a Greenish Warbler was seen at Castlebay, Barra, Western Isles.

Lingering rarities seen today included the Stilt Sandpiper in County Wexford, Snowy Owl on the Aberdeenshire /Moray border, Citrine Wagtail in the Western Isles, Rustic Bunting in Shetland, Lesser Yellowlegs in Hampshire, Bonaparte's Gull in County Durham and Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 12th September 2014  
  The only new rarity reported today was a Citrine Wagtail at Grutness, Shetland, with late news from yesterday of a Lanceolated Warbler on the Isle of May, Fife.

Lingering rarities still present today included the Stilt Sandpiper in County Wexford, single Lesser Yellowlegs' in Hampshire and Pembrokeshire and Bonaparte's Gull in County Durham.
-  Will Soar, RBA