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.

Choose a starting date
Friday 24th October 2014  
  Another Grey-cheeked Thrush was discovered today, on Fair Isle, Shetland, whilst lingering Nearctic landbirds still surviving included the Yellow-billed Cuckoo at Porthgwarra, Cornwall and the Chimney Swift on Lewis, Western Isles.

Most surprising discovery today was a Wilson's Petrel at Tayinloan, Argyll, which was off the Gigha ferry jetty briefly before being killed and eaten by gulls. Both an Olive-backed Pipit and a White-rumped Sandpiper were found on the Isles of Scilly, on St Agnes and Tresco respectively.

Other lingering rarities included the Black Scoter in Angus, Forster's Tern in County Dublin, Pallid Harrier in Somerset, Siberian Stonechat in Hampshire, Spotted Sandpiper in Aberdeenshire and single Lesser Yellowlegs' in Cornwall and County Dublin.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 23rd October 2014  
  An outstanding day for Nearctic landbirds was headlined by a Black-billed Cuckoo on North Ronaldsay, Orkney Isles - the first anywhere in the British Isles since 10th October 1990. Only seen briefly, with attempts to relocate it revealing a Grey-cheeked Thrush. Meanwhile, in Cornwall a Yellow-billed Cuckoo showed for most of the day at Porthgwarra, whilst on the Western Isles a Chimney Swift arrived at the Butt of Lewis, a Grey-cheeked Thrush was found on Barra, and the Hermit Thrush remained on North Uist.

Other rarities comprised the Booted Warbler still in Lothian, Siberian Stonechat in Hampshire, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler and two Little Buntings on the Shetland Isles, Spotted Sandpiper in Aberdeenshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall, King Eider in Highland, a Lesser Scaup in Argyll, and an Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in County Kerry.

On the Isles of Scilly Ortolan Bunting, Rose-coloured Starling, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Corncrake and two American Wigeons were logged, with in Cornwall American Golden Plover, Rose-coloured Starling and Wryneck beinge seen, White-winged Black Tern and Red-breasted Flycatcher remained in East Sussex, single Surf Scoters were in both Lothian and Norfolk, Barred Warbler in Fife and Red-backed Shrike in Suffolk.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 22nd October 2014  
  Highlight of the day was the discovery of a Hermit Thrush on North Uist (Western Isles). Elsewhere new discoveries included a flyby Forster's Tern in Cornwall, Pallid Harrier in Somerset, King Eider in Highland, Little Bunting in Dorset, and Olive-backed Pipit in Shetland.

Lingering rarities included Olive-backed Pipit in Co Durham, Booted Warbler in Lothian, Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall, Siberian Stonechat in Hampshire, two Little Buntings in Shetland, Spotted Sandpiper in Aberdeenshire and Bonaparte's Gull in Devon.

In addition to the Forster's Tern seawatchers logged Ring-billed Gull (Western Isles), Sabine's Gulls, Long-tailed and Pomarine Skuas, Grey Phalaropes, Leach's Petrels, Balearic Shearwaters and Little Auks, whilst Surf Scoters were logged in Norfolk and East Yorkshire. A Red-backed Shrike (Suffolk), Barred Warbler (Fife), Ortolan Bunting (Devon), White-winged Black Tern (East Sussex), Wryneck (Pembrokeshire), Ring-necked Duck (Cornwall), American Wigeon (Orkney), two Great Grey Shrikes, two American Golden Plovers, two Red-breasted Flycatchers, two Rose-coloured Starlings, two Green-winged Teals, two Cattle Egrets, three Shorelarks and approximately nine Rough-legged Buzzards were also logged.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 21st October 2014  
  Hurricane Gonzalo created excellent seawatching conditions on western coastlines; the headline sighting was a Bridled Tern off Pendeen (Cornwall) this morning, whilst a Cory's Shearwater, Long-tailed and Pomarine Skuas, Grey Phalaropes, Leach's Petrels, Balearic Shearwaters and Sabine's Gulls reports also featured heavily in today's news.

A Lesser Yellowlegs was discovered in Cornwall and a Richardson's Cackling Goose was in Argyll, whilst lingering rarities included Olive-backed Pipits in Co Durham and Shetland, Lesser Yellowlegs in Co Dublin, Siberian Stonechat in Hampshire and Booted Warbler in Lothian

The best of the rest included Barred Warbler and Common Rosefinch (Isles of Scilly), Pectoral Sandpiper (Argyll), Red-backed Shrike (Suffolk), American Wigeon (Highland), Ring-necked Duck (Cornwall), White-winged Black Tern (East Sussex), two Rose-coloured Starlings, two American Golden Plovers, two Great Grey Shrikes three Shorelarks and five Rough-legged Buzzards.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 20th October 2014  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Black Scoter in Angus at Lunan Bay, whilst in East Yokshire a Pallid Swift flew over Flamborough Head.

Elsewhere, lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Spotted Sandpiper in Aberdeenshire, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Devon, Booted Warbler in Lothian, Siberian Stonechat in Hampshire, Olive-backed Pipit in County Durham, and both Forster's Tern and Lesser Yellowlegs in County Dublin.

On the Shetland Isles the Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler remained with Red-throated Pipit, Olive-backed Pipit, Little Bunting, Red-breasted Flycatcher and four Lapland Buntings. Meanwhile, on the Isles of Scilly, Short-toed Lark, Rose-coloured Starling, Richard's Pipit, Green-winged Teal and Yellow-browed Warbler were all logged.

Scarcities included Kentish Plover (Glamorgan), White-winged Black Tern (East Sussex), Pallas's Warbler (Norfolk), Rose-coloured Starling (Cornwall), Hoopoe (Dumfries and Galloway), and a total of eight Rough-legged Buzzards.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 19th October 2014  
  The second Franklin's Gull for Hampshire was seen in flight at Blashford Lakes HWT early afternoon. A Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler was at Voe, Shetland, a Semipalmated Sandpiper was in Plymouth, Devon and a Spotted Sandpiper was identified at Inverallochy, Aberdeenshire, having been present a week.

Lingering rarities included the Penduline Tit at Titchwell, Norfolk, Siberian Stonechat at Titchfield Haven, Hampshire, single Olive-backed Pipits in Sunderland, County Durham and on Fair Isle, Shetland (with a Red-throated Pipit and Little Bunting also on Fair Isle), and a Forster's Tern and Lesser Yellowlegs in County Dublin.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 18th October 2014  
  New discoveries comprised a Siberian Stonechat in Hampshire and Penduline Tit in Norfolk.

Lingering rarities included Olive-backed Pipits in Co Durham and Fair Isle (3), Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan and Powys, Red-throated Pipit and two Little Buntings on Fair Isle, Blue-winged Teal (or hybrid) in Northumberland, White-rumped Sandpiper on Western Isles and Lesser Yellowlegs in Co Dublin. An Isabelline Shrike was reported at Easington (East Yorkshire).

The best of the rest included White-winged Black Tern in East Sussex, Red-backed Shrike in Suffolk, American Golden Plover and Ring-necked Duck in Cornwall, Cattle Egret in Kent, Short-toed Lark on Isles of Scilly, American Wigeon on the Co Leitrim/ Co Donegal border, Bluethroat on Shetland and Kentish Plover in Glamorgan. At least eight Great Grey Shrikes, 13 Rough-legged Buzzards, three Shorelarks, three Glossy Ibises, four Pallas's Warblers, three Richard's Pipits, three Pectoral Sandpipers, four Barred Warblers, four Rose-coloured Starlings and two Red-breasted Flycatchers were also recorded.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 17th October 2014  
  The only new rarity reported today was an Olive-backed Pipit in Sunderland, County Durham, which showed very well from mid morning until dusk.

Lingering rarities still present today included single Isabelline Shrikes in Yorkshire and Norfolk, Siberian Stonechat in Lothian, Olive-backed Pipit in Northumberland, Olive-backed Pipit, Red-throated Pipit and Little Bunting on Fair Isle, Subalpine Warbler in Cornwall, Snowy Owl in Moray, Lesser Yellowlegs in County Dublin and Blue-winged Teal (or hybrid) in Northumberland.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 16th October 2014  
  Another Isabelline Shrike was found today, this time in Kent at Sandwich Bay, with the other two remaining at Warham, Norfolk and Kilnsea, Yorkshire. Also at Kilnsea a Pallid Swift was present briefly, whilst a Red-throated Pipit was found at Norby, Shetland.

Lingering rarities still present today included the Steppe Grey Shrike and Olive-backed Pipit in Norfolk, Red-flanked Bluetail in Shetland, Booted Warbler and Siberian Stonechat in Lothian, Olive-backed Pipit in Northumberland and Subalpine Warbler in Cornwall.

There was no sign of the Siberian Thrush in Shetland.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 15th October 2014  
  The ninth Siberian Thrush for Britain was found in Shetland this evening, where it was trapped and released at Scousburgh at dusk. Astonishingly, it was found to be bearing a Norwegian ring, and is therefore almost certainly the individual trapped and ringed at Husoy on 24th September.

Two Isabelline Shrikes were found today, first at Kilnsea, Yorkshire then at Warham Greens, Norfolk (which was later found to be present for its second day). Yorkshire also gained a Radde's Warbler at Easington and a Little Bunting at Flamborough, whilst Norfolk produced a Dusky Warbler at Wells. Other new discoveries included a Snowy Owl near Thurso, Highland, a Red-footed Falcon at Northwick Warth, Gloucestershire, an Olive-backed Pipit on Brownsman, Northumberland, an Alpine Swift at Dinton Pastures, Berkshire, a Dusky Warbler at Reculver, Kent, a Little Bunting on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, a Richardson's Cackling Goose on Barra, Western Isles and a Forster's Tern at Rogerstown, County Dublin.

Lingering rarity highlights included the Steppe Grey Shrike, Olive-backed Pipit and Radde's Warbler in Norfolk, Booted Warbler and Siberian Stonechat in Lothian, Subalpine Warbler in Cornwall, White-rumped Sandpiper in the Western Isles and an Olive-backed Pipit, Red-throated Pipit and two Little Buntings on Fair Isle, Shetland.
-  Will Soar, RBA