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 30th August 2015  
  New discoveries today included two juvenile Pallid Harriers together at Hillwell, Shetland, single Citrine Wagtails on North Ronaldsay, Orkney and at Black Hole Marsh, Devon and a Red-rumped Swallow at Dungeness RSPB, Kent.

Lingering rarities included the Black Storks in East Sussex and East Yorkshire, Red-footed Falcon in Lincolnshire, Lesser Scaup in Somerset (now at Chew Valley Lake) and two Bee-eaters in Cumbria.

Scarcity highlights were singles of Woodchat Shrike, Marsh Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Ortolan Bunting, Rose-coloured Starling, Dotterel, Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Red-necked Phalarope, two each of Bluethroat, Barred Warbler and Hoopoe, three White-winged Black Terns, at least six Honey Buzzards, seven Red-backed Shrikes and 21 Wrynecks. A flock of 23 Cattle Egrets in the Avon Valley in Dorset and Hampshire is almost certainly a British record.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 29th August 2015  
  New discoveries today included a Citrine Wagtail at Tacumshin, County Wexford and Bee-eaters at Harman's Cross (two) and Hengistbury Head, both Dorset and Collieston and Loch of Strathbeg RSPB, both Aberdeenshire. The Paddyfield Warbler found at Collieston, Aberdeenshire yesterday was still present.

Other lingering rarities included the Black Storks in East Yorkshire and East Sussex, Red-footed Falcons in East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, two Bee-eaters in Cumbria, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset and two Wilson's Petrels again from a pelagic off County Cork.

Scarcity highlights were singles of Woodchat Shrike, Melodious Warbler, Barred Warbler, Dotterel and White-winged Black Tern, two each of Bluethroat, Hoopoe, Icterine Warbler and Pectoral Sandpiper, eight Red-backed Shrikes, 10 Honey Buzzards and 17 Wrynecks.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 28th August 2015  
  In Cornwall a Red-billed Tropicbird was seen heading west past Gwennap Head, Porthgwarra this morning.

Other new discoveries today included a Lesser Grey Shrike at Cromer, Norfolk, an Arctic Warbler at Scousburgh, Shetland, a Greenish Warbler on North Ronaldsay, Orkney, a Bee-eater over Conwy, a Black Stork over Landguard, Suffolk then at Clacton-on-Sea, Essex and a Ferruginous Duck at Chew Valley Lake, Somerset.

Lingering rarities included the Black Stork in East Yorkshire, Red-footed Falcon in Lincolnshire and two Bee-eaters in Cumbria.

Scarcity highlights were a Marsh Warbler, a Rose-coloured Starling, two Barred Warblers, three Icterine Warblers, five Red-backed Shrikes, 13 Wrynecks, five Dotterels, a Purple Heron, a Night Heron and a Spotted Crake. Seawatching also produced two Sabine's Gulls, 120 Cory's Shearwaters and 33 Great Shearwaters.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 27th August 2015  
  Today's raritiy sightings included Pallid Harrier on Shetland, Bee-eaters in Shetland (7), Cumbria (2+) and Aberdeenshire, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Wilson's Petrel and a dowitcher species on Isles of Scilly, Bonelli's warbler species in Devon, Spotted Sandpiper in Wiltshire, Red-footed Falcons in Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire and Black Stork in East Yorkshire. A Rose-coloured Starling (Western Isles), Hoopoe (Highland), Temminck's Stint (Kent), Ortolan Bunting (East Yorkshire), two White-winged Black Terns, two Barred Warblers, six Red-backed Shrikes, 12 Wrynecks and a flock of 26 Dotterel were also recorded today.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 26th August 2015  
  A Broad-billed Sandpiper visited Scorton GPs, North Yorkshire briefly mid morning, a Western Bonelli's Warbler was trapped and ringed at Portland Bill, Dorset and seven Bee-eaters were found at Veensgarth, Shetland.

Lingering rarities present today included the Forster's Tern in County Louth, Black Stork in East Yorkshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lancashire, Spotted Sandpiper in Wiltshire, Red-footed Falcon in Lincolnshire, Citrine Wagtail in Shetland, two Bee-eaters in Cumbria and Lesser Scaup in Somerset.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 25th August 2015  
  New discoveries today included a Lesser Grey Shrike, Arctic Warbler and Citrine Wagtail in Shetland (at Lunna, Walls and Quendale respectively), a Red-footed Falcon and Greenish Warbler in Aberdeenshire (at Newtonhill and Loch of Strathbeg RSPB), another Red-footed Falcon at Donna Nook, Lincolnshire and another Greenish Warbler at Spurn, Yorkshire.

Lingering rarities included the Black Stork in West Sussex, Forster's Tern in County Louth, Red-footed Falcons in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lancashire, Spotted Sandpiper in Wiltshire, Greenish Warblers in Shetland and Aberdeenshire and Lesser Scaup in Somerset.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Monday 24th August 2015  
  A busy day was headlined by the sighting of a Chimney Swift from a boat in The Minch (Highland). A dark-rumped petrel species was also reported from the same boat.

Elsewhere new discoveries included a flyover Terek Sandpiper in Norfolk, Baird's Sandpiper in Highland, Greenish Warblers in Aberdeenshire, Northumberland and Co Durham and Red-footed Falcons in East Yorkshire (at least two) and Fife. Lingering rarities comprised Spotted Sandpiper (Wiltshire), Wilson's Petrel (Isles of Scilly), Western Bonelli's Warbler (Isles of Scilly), Lesser Yellowlegs (Lancashire), Black Storks (Aberdeenshire and East Yorkshire), Forster's Tern (Co Louth), Bee-eaters (Cumbria) and Red-footed Falcon (Lincolnshire), whilst the Booted Warbler was reported again in Norfolk.

An excellent scattering of scarcities on the east coast, mainly in NE England, included Icterine Warblers, Barred Warblers, Red-backed Shrikes and Wrynecks . A Night Heron (West Yorkshire), White-winged Black Tern (East Yorkshire), Spotted Crake (East Yorkshire), Ortolan Bunting (Borders), two White Storks, two Dotterels, five Temminck's Stints and six Pectoral Sandpipers were also recorded.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 23rd August 2015  
  Classic east coast fall conditions produced just that this evening, with good numbers of common and scarce migrants arriving. Rarities were hard to come by, however, with just a Greenish Warbler at Boarhills, Fife being involved. Other new rarities discovered today included a Fea's or Zino's Petrel past Kilcummin Head, County Mayo, a Gull-billed Tern past St Mary's Island, Northumberland, a Pallid Harrier at Loch of Spiggie, Shetland, a Lesser Yellowlegs at Conder Green, Lancashire, a Bonaparte's Gull at Teignmouth, Devon and a Subalpine Warbler species on The Garrison, Isles of Scilly.

Lingering rarities included the Booted Warbler in Norfolk, Western Bonelli's Warbler in the Isles of Scilly, single Black Storks in Aberdeenshire and West Sussex, Spotted Sandpiper in Wiltshire, White-rumped Sandpiper and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent, Red-footed Falcon in Lincolnshire, three Bee-eaters in Cumbria and Lesser Scaup in Somerset.

Scarcity totals included 19 Wrynecks, 19 Icterine Warblers, seven Barred Warblers, a Marsh Warbler, a Common Rosefinch, five Red-backed Shrikes, an Ortolan Bunting, six Pectoral Sandpipers, three Red-necked Phalaropes, a Spotted Crake, a Night Heron, a White-winged Black Tern and 26 Dotterel. Seabirds included two Leach's Petrels, a Grey Phalarope, five Great Shearwaters, two Cory's Shearwaters, ten Long-tailed Skuas and seven Pomarine Skuas.

As well as very large numbers of Pied Flycatchers (the largest reported gatherings included 75 at Spurn, 52 at Flamborough Head, 45 on Blakeney Point, 40 on Isle of May and 30 at Burnham Overy Dunes), today saw a large movement of Wood Sandpipers with at least 192 reported (including 34 at Black Hole Marsh, Devon and 22 at Pennington Marshes, Hampshire).
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 22nd August 2015  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Booted Warbler in Norfolk at Salthouse, whilst other Booted Warblers wre confirmed as still present on both the Orkney and Shetland Isles. Also, three Bonelli's Warblers were found; in Cornwall at Bass Point, the Isles of Scilly on St Mary's, and in Dorset at Portland Bill, with the last bird heard to call and confirmed as Western. Associated scarce migrants included two Grey-headed Wagtails, four Icterine Warblers, eight each of both Barred Warbler and Red-backed Shrike, and a total of 10 Wrynecks.

other rarities today comprised the returning Forster's Tern in County Louth at Dundalk, single Black Storks in Aberdeenshire, East Sussex and East Yorkshire, Spotted Sandpiper in Wiltshire, Red-footed Falcon in Lincolnshire, Lesser Scaup in Somerset, and two Bee-eaters at the nest in Cumbria. Brief encounters inclued a Citrine Wagtail in Cumbria, Alpine Swift in Suffolk, and a Black Kite in Nottinghamshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 21st August 2015  
  New discoveries today included a Booted Warbler on North Ronaldsay, Orkney and a Bonelli's Warbler species on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly.

Lingering rarities seen today included the Booted Warbler on Fair Isle, Shetland, Spotted Sandpiper at Coate Water Country Park, Wiltshire, Red-footed Falcon at Willow Tree Fen LWT, Lincolnshire and two adult Bee-eaters still at the nesting site at Lower Gelt, Cumbria.

Scarcity highlights were five Barred Warblers, six Icterine Warblers, seven Red-backed Shrikes, 10 Wrynecks, a Rose-coloured Starling, an American Golden Plover, a Temminck's Stint, three Pectoral Sandpipers and a Spotted Crake. Sea watching and pelagics produced 64 Great Shearwaters, 19 Cory's Shearwaters, two Long-tailed Skuas, two Pomarine Skuas and two Sabine's Gulls.
-  Will Soar, RBA