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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Friday 3rd July 2015  
  An adult Squacco Heron was found at Southease, East Sussex, mid afternoon, where it showed well along the River Ouse until mid evening. Meanwhile, a Gull-billed Tern spent the same period at Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB, Cheshire.

Lingering rarities included the Hudsonian Whimbrel in West Sussex, Greater Yellowlegs in Hampshire, Little Bittern in Yorkshire, Western Subalpine Warbler in Shetland and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent.

Scarcity highlights were a Melodious Warbler, a Marsh Warbler, a White-winged Black Tern, an American Golden Plover, a Purple Heron and a Ring-billed Gull.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 2nd July 2015  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of an Isabelline Shrike on St Martin's, Isles of Scilly. Elsewhere, a Gull-billed Tern was new in Ceredigion at Ynys-hir, as was a Red-rumped Swallow in Lerwick, Shetland Isles, whilst a Caspian Tern in Norfolk and a Bee-eater in County Durham were both brief encounters.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Hudsonian Whimbrel in West Sussex, Greater Yellowlegs in Hampshire, Little Bittern in South Yorkshire, and Western Subalpine Warbler on the Shetland Isles.

Scarcities included the territorial Melodious Warbler still in the West Midlands, Temminck's Stint (Northumberland), Rose-coloured Starling (Shetland Isles) and Cory's Shearwater (two off the Isles of Scilly).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 1st July 2015  
  A Gull-billed Tern graced the Hayle Estuary in Cornwall this afternoon, until 4.30pm when it flew south. An Alpine Swift was over Beachy Head, West Sussex, briefly before flying off (where a Bee-eater did the same yesterday), and four Bee-eaters were today in Argyll on Islay.

Lingering rarities seen today included the Hudsonian Whimbrel in West Sussex, Greater Yellowlegs in Hampshire, Little Bittern in South Yorkshire and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent.

Scarcity highlights included a Melodious Warbler, an Icterine Warbler, a Golden Oriole, a Glaucous Gull, three Honey Buzzards and four Roseate Terns.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 30th June 2015  
  New discoveries comprised Squacco Heron on Anglesey, Little Bittern in South Yorkshire, two Black-winged Stilts in Essex and a Western Subalpine Warbler on Shetland. The Pacific Golden Plover (Norfolk), Hudsonian Whimbrel (West Sussex) and Greater Yellowlegs (Hampshire) all lingered.

The best of the rest included Melodious Warbler in West Midlands, Icterine Warblers in Highland and Kent, Marsh Warblers on Orkney and Shetland, Temminck's Stint on the Northumberland/ Co Durham border, Night Heron in Somerset and Ring-billed Gull in Cornwall.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 29th June 2015  
  The Pacific Golden Plover lingered in Norfolk and the Hudsonian Whimbrel remained in West Sussex, whilst the Bonaparte's Gull (Kent) and Franklin's Gull (Co Derry) both remained on show. A Bee-eater flew over Fairfield (Kent).

The best of the rest included Icterine Warblers (Kent and Highland), Melodious Warbler (West Midlands), Pectoral Sandpiper (Gloucestershire), Golden Oriole and Red-backed Shrike (Shetland), American Wigeons (Isles of Scilly and Aberdeenshire), White-winged Black Tern (Cleveland) and Cory's Shearwaters (Dorset and Co Wicklow).

A Booted Eagle was reported over Barnes Common (London).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 28th June 2015  
  A Pacific Golden Plover was present for its second day at Breydon Water, Norfolk, whilst five Bee-eaters were nearby over Potter Heigham (with another of the latter over Dungeness, Kent). By amazing coincidence, a male Little Bittern was discovered at Kirkby-on-Bain GPs, Lincolnshire, by the same birder who found yesterday's Squacco Heron at the same site (of which there was no sign).

Lingering rarities seen today included the Hudsonian Whimbrel in Sussex, Greater Yellowlegs in Hampshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in County Wexford, Franklin's Gull in County Derry, Bonaparte's Gull in Kent, King Eider in Highland and Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 27th June 2015  
  A Squacco Heron was found at Kirkby-on-Bain GPs, Lincolnshire mid morning, and was present on and off for the rest of the day. A drake King Eider was just west of Nairn, Highland, and Bee-eaters were seen over Uttoxeter Quarry, Staffordshire, Alderton and Aldeburgh (five), both Suffolk and seven were over Kingsdown and Hawkinge, Kent.

Lingering rarities included the Hudsonian Whimbrel in West Sussex, Blyth's Reed Warbler in Aberdeenshire, Franklin's Gull in County Derry and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 26th June 2015  
  Another great day for finding Bee-eaters, with birds recorded at Lympne, Kent, Lewes and Ashdown Forest (three), East Sussex, eight at Marks Tey, Essex, five at Woodbridge, Suffolk and two at Great Ormes Head, Conwy. Otherwise, a Black Kite was reported from Colligan, County Waterford, and a singing Greenish Warbler was reported from Dunball, Somerset.

Lingering rarities seen today included the Hudsonian Whimbrel in West Sussex, Little Bittern in Suffolk, Squacco Heron in Cleveland, Blyth's Reed Warbler in Aberdeenshire, Franklin's Gull in County Derry and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent.

Scarcity highlights involved a Melodious Warbler, a Serin, an Ortolan Bunting, a Ring-billed Gull, a Green-winged Teal, an American Wigeon and two Ring-necked Ducks.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 25th June 2015  
  Lingering rarities confirmed as still present today were the Hudsonian Whimbrel in West Sussex, Greater Yellowlegs in Hampshire, Franklin's Gull in County Londonderry, Blyth's Reed Warbler in Aberdeenshire and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent.

Otherwise, a flock of 10 Bee-eaters moved from Kent to West Sussex, with another briefly in Lothian, the territorial Melodious Warbler remained in the West Midlands, as did the Ortolan Bunting in Highland, Purple Heron on the Isles of Scilly, and both American Wigeon and Red-necked Phalarope together in Aberdeenshire. Elsewhere, a Marsh Warbler arrived on the Shetland Isles, Golden Oriole in Kent and Red-backed Shrike in Suffolk.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 24th June 2015  
  The highlight of the day was a territorial Blyth's Reed Warbler in Aberdeenshire at Inverurie, where it has been present for around a week.

Continuing rarities were the Hudsonian Whimbrel in West Sussex, Greater Yellowlegs in Hampshire, Franklin's Gull in County Londonderry, Bonaparte's Gull in Kent and King Eider on the Shetland Isles.

Otherwise, brief encounters included a Whiskered Tern in Suffolk, Alpine Swift in Ayrshire, and Red-footed Falcon in Greater Manchester, with Bee-eaters noted in Kent (4) and Norfolk (5).

Scarcities included Ortolan Bunting, Icterine Warbler and Common Rosefinch (all Highland), Rose-coloured Starling (Western Isles), Melodious Warbler (West Midlands), Purple Heron (Somerset), Temminck's Stint (Perth and Kinross), Red-necked Phalarope (Aberdeenshire), Golden Oriole and Green-winged Teal (Shetland Isles).
-  Chris Batty, RBA