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 1st June 2015  
  New discoveries included Black Kite in Norfolk and Bee-eater in Kent, whilst the Greater Yellowlegs (Hampshire), Black-winged Pratincole (Northumberland), Red-footed Falcon (East Sussex), King Eider (Aberdeenshire) and Little Bittern (Suffolk) were all reported again today.

The best of the rest included Surf Scoter (Aberdeenshire), Corncrake (Cheshire), Sabine's Gull (Cornwall), Green-winged Teal (Derbyshire), Lapland Bunting (Orkney), Red-backed Shrike, Marsh Warbler, Golden Oriole and two Ring-necked Ducks (Shetland), Red-necked Phalarope (East Yorkshire), two Long-tailed Skuas, two Common Rosefinches, two Bluethroats, at least two American Wigeons and five Temminck's Stints.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 31st May 2015  
  Lingering mega-rarities comprised the Veery on Orkney, Black-winged Pratincole in Northumberland and Greater Yellowlegs in Hampshire, whilst the Black-winged Stilt in West Sussex, White-rumped Sandpiper in Lincolnshire, Little Bittern in Suffolk, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Red-footed Falcon in East Sussex and Squacco Heron on Isles of Scilly also lingered.

The best of the rest included American Wigeons (pairs in East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire), Corncrake (Cheshire), Icterine Warbler (Norfolk), Shorelark (Gwynedd), Pectoral Sandpiper (Warwickshire), Green-winged Teal (Derbyshire), Golden Oriole (East Yorkshire), Kentish Plover (Fife), Lapland Bunting (Orkney), Cattle Egret (Kent), Surf Scoter (Aberdeenshire), two Bluethroats, four Temminck's Stints and nine Red-necked Phalaropes.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 30th May 2015  
  Highlight of the day was the discovery of a Veery on North Ronaldsay (Orkney). The only previous spring record of this species concerned a bird on Lundy (Devon) on 14th May 1997.

In addition to the Veery new discoveries included Caspian Tern in Lincolnshire, Bee-eaters in Devon (3) and Dorset and Red-footed Falcons in Northamptonshire and East Sussex, whilst Black-winged Pratincole and Gull-billed Tern (Northumberland), Greater Yellowlegs (Hampshire), White-rumped Sandpiper (Lincolnshire), Rustic Bunting (Orkney), Black-winged Stilt (West Sussex), Little Bittern (Suffolk), Squacco Heron (Isles of Scilly), King Eider (Aberdeenshire) and Bee-eater (Cornwall) all lingered.

The best of the rest included Red-backed Shrike (Suffolk), Bluethroats (Kent and Co Wicklow), Kentish Plover (Fife), Pectoral Sandpipers (Nottinghamshire and Co Derry), Spotted Crake (Kent), Corncrake (Cheshire), Red-necked Phalaropes (Cheshire, Gloucestershire, Norfolk [2], West Sussex, Kent, Orkney and Suffolk), Temminck's Stints (Leicestershire, Suffolk and London), Golden Orioles (East Yorkshire, Shetland and Anglesey), Shorelark (Gwynedd), Ring-necked Ducks (Shetland) and Common Rosefinch (Devon).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 29th May 2015  
  In Northumberland, a Black-winged Pratincole was discovered at Bothal Pond mid afternoon, where it remained until late evening. A Gull-billed Tern was present at the same site for a few minutes this evening, before it flew towards the coast.

Other new discoveries today included a Broad-billed Sandpiper in Findhorn Bay, Moray, a White-rumped Sandpiper at Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincolnshire, a Red-rumped Swallow at Covenham Reservoir, Lincolnshire, Bee-eaters at Swanage, Dorset, St Buryan, Cornwall and Berwick, Sussex (two) and the two roaming Black-winged Stilts moved to Potteric Carr YWT, Yorkshire (with another singleton at Sidlesham Ferry, Sussex).

Lingering rarities included the Greater Yellowlegs in Hampshire, Squacco Heron in the Isles of Scilly, Rustic Bunting in Shetland, Rustic Bunting and Bee-eater in Orkney and White-rumped Sandpiper in County Derry.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 28th May 2015  
  Newly discovered today were a White-rumped Sandpiper on Lough Beg, County Derry, a Red-rumped Swallow at Quoile Pondage, County Down and a Black Kite over Hayle, Cornwall. On Unst, Shetland, the lingering Subalpine Warbler was confirmed as a Western Subalpine Warbler.

Other lingering rarities seen today included the Greater Yellowlegs in Hampshire, Squacco Heron in the Isles of Scilly, Rustic Bunting in Shetland and two Black-winged Stilts in Lincolnshire.

Scarcity highlights included singles of Red-backed Shrike, White-winged Black Tern, Night Heron, Pectoral Sandpiper and American Wigeon, three each of Purple Heron and Ring-necked Duck, four Red-necked Phalaropes, 28 Pomarine Skuas and 339 Long-tailed Skuas.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 27th May 2015  
  New discoveries today included a Rustic Bunting at Baltasound, Shetland, single Bee-eaters over Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk and in the St. Just area, Cornwall, and the two roaming Black-winged Stilts spent the day at Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincolnshire.

Lingering rarities included the Greater Yellowlegs in Hampshire, Little Bittern in Suffolk, Squacco Heron in the Isles of Scilly and King Eider in Aberdeenshire.

Scarcity highlights included singles of Melodious Warbler, Golden Oriole, Common Rosefinch, Spotted Crake, Red-necked Phalarope and Sabine's Gull, two each of Purple Heron and Dotterel, three Honey Buzzards and four Temminck's Stints. Skua passage is continuing slowly, with another 19 Long-tailed past Aird an Runair, Western Isles, and the lingering Pomarine remained off Flamborough Head, Yorkshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 26th May 2015  
  The highlight of the day was a singing male Western Bonelli's Warbler at Hickling Broad, Norfolk, albeit only briefly mid morning. Elsewhere, a Bonaparte's Gull was new in Cornwall at Kingsmill Lake, a pair of Black-winged Stilts reappeared in Essex at Bower's Marsh, the Black Stork in Wales flew over Glamorgan then Gwent, and single Bee-eaters flew over two locations in Dorset.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Moltoni's Subalpine Warbler on the Shetland Isles, Greater Yellowlegs in Hampshire, Sardinian Warbler in Cornwall, Little Bittern in Suffolk, Squacco Heron on the Isles of Scilly, Red-footed Falcon in Dorset, White-rumped Sandpiper in Norfolk, Rustic Bunting and Bee-eater on the Orkney Isles, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, and a Black Kite again in Essex.

Scarce migrants included White-winged Black Tern (Cambridgeshire), Ortolan Bunting (County Dublin), Night Heron and Ring-billed Gull (Cornwall), two each of Purple Heron, Temminck's Stint and Dotterel, and three migrant Red-necked Phalaropes.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 25th May 2015  
  A Grey-cheeked Thrush at Termoncarragh, County Mayo was a very unexpected discovery today. This is the first Spring record for the British Isles, and is only the second of the nine Irish records to occur outside County Cork.

Other new discoveries today included a Black Stork over Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire, a White-rumped Sandpiper at Cley NWT, Norfolk, a Subalpine warbler sp on Unst, Shetland, a Red-rumped Swallow at Spurn, Yorkshire and single Black Kites over Chelmsford, Essex and Rye Harbour, Sussex.

Lingering rarities included the Moltoni's Subalpine Warbler in Shetland, Greater Yellowlegs in Hampshire, Little Bittern in Suffolk, Spotted Sandpiper in Herefordshire, Red-footed Falcon in Dorset, Sardinian Warbler in Cornwall, Rustic Bunting in Orkney and King Eider in Aberdeenshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 24th May 2015  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Spotted Sandpiper in Herefordshire at Wellington. Rarities elsewhere comrpised the Moltoni's Subalpine Warbler still on the Shetland Isles, Greater Yellowlegs and Bonaparte's Gull on the Shetland Isles, Sardinian Warbler in Cornwall, Little Bittern in Suffolk, Squacco Heron on the Isles of Scilly, Red-footed Falcon in Dorset, Rustic Bunting on the Orkney Isles, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, and brief Bee-eaters in both Dorset and East Yorkshire.

Scarcities included White-winged Black Tern (Lancashire), Ortolan Bunting (Dorset), American Golden Plover (Devon), Kentish Plover and Hoopoe (both Northumberland), two each of Icterine Warbler, Bluethroat, Purple Heron, Night Heron and migrant Red-necked Phalarope, three of Golden Oriole and Ring-necked Duck, five migrant Dotterel and eight Temminck's Stints.

Skuas continued to pass, with day totals of 203 Long-tailed Skuas and 316 Pomarine Skuas.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 23rd May 2015  
  New rarities discovered today comprised a Gull-billed Tern in Devon along the Exe Estuary, a singing Blyth's Reed Warbler in East Sussex at Forest Row, a subalpine warbler sp - probably a Western Subalpine Warbler - in Dorset at Portland Bill, a Bee-eater on the Orkney Isles on North Ronaldsay, and a brief Alpine Swift in Cheshire.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Moltoni's Subalpine Warbler on the Shetland Isles, two Hooded Mergansers together in County Donegal, Sardinian Warbler in Cornwall, Broad-billed Sandpiper and Little Bittern in Suffolk, Red-footed Falcon in Dorset, Rustic Bunting on the Orkney Isles, Bonaparte's Gull in Hampshire and King Eider in Aberdeenshire.

Scarcities included American Golden Plover (Devon), Common Rosefinch (Cornwall), Bluethroat (Shetland Isles), Golden Oriole (East Yorkshire), Red-necked Phalarope (Suffolk), two each of Purple Heron and Ring-billed Gull, three of Temminck's Stint and Ring-necked Duck, and nine migrant Dotterel.
-  Chris Batty, RBA