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.


Monday 21st September 2015

	Highlight of the day was the discovery of a Collared Flycatcher on Mainland Shetland. A Blyth's Reed Warbler, Pallid Harrier and two Little Buntings were also present on the archipelago. Elsewhere new discoveries comprised Spotted Sandpiper on Isles of Scilly, Wilson's Phalarope in Essex and Desert Wheatears in Norfolk and Isles of Scilly, whilst Long-billied Dowitcher (Pembrokeshire) and Lesser Scaup (Somerset) both lingered. The best of the rest included two Glossy Ibises, two Red-breasted Flycatchers, three Buff-breasted Sandpipers, three Wrynecks, four Common Rosefinches, six Pectoral Sandpipers and at least 136 Yellow-browed Warblers (including 53 on Fair Isle, Shetland, and 31 on North Ronaldsay, Orkney).
- Stuart Piner, RBA


Sunday 20th September 2015

	The Shetland Isles provided the highlights of the day with Blyth's Reed Warbler and Pallid Harrier on Fair Isle, Rustic Bunting on Foula, and a Pallid Harrier still on Unst, with ala-island totals of Red-breasted Flycatcher, Common Rosefinch, two Barred Warblers, four Lapland Buntings and eight Yellow-browed Warblers. Elsewhere, new rarities comprised a Long-billed Dowitcher in Pembrokeshire on Skokholm, a Red-footed Falcon in Norfolk at Berney Marshes, and a King Eider passing County Mayo. Scarcities included nine Wrynecks, five Pectoral Sandpipers, four Buff-breasted Sandpipers, two each of both American Golden Plover and Barred Warbler, and single Golden Oriole (East Yorkshire), Red-breasted Flycatcher (Gwynedd), Common Rosefinch (Orkney Isles), Richard's Pipit (Norfolk), Red-necked Phalarope (Herefordshire), Surf Scoter (Lothian), American Wigeon (County Wexford), Cattle Egret (Kent) and Glossy Ibis (County Waterford).
- Chris Batty, RBA


Saturday 19th September 2015

	A Wilson's Phalarope was discovered near Pett, East Sussex mid afternoon, where it remained until dusk. A Western Bonelli's Warbler was on The Garrison, Isles of Scilly, with another Bonelli's Warbler species joining it this evening. Lingering rarities included the Eastern Subalpine Warbler at Flamborough, East Yorkshire, Red-footed Falcon on the Isle of May, Fife and Citrine Wagtail on Unst and Pallid Harrier on Fair Isle, both Shetland. Scarcity highlights included a Woodchat Shrike, two Red-backed Shrikes, a Common Rosefinch, an Icterine Warbler, four Barred Warblers, 12 Yellow-browed Warblers, two Ortolan Buntings, five Wrynecks, two Dotterel, a Red-necked Phalarope, two Grey Phalaropes, two American Golden Plovers, two Buff-breasted Sandpipers, four Pectoral Sandpipers, a Leach's Petrel and eight Honey Buzzards.
- Will Soar, RBA


Friday 18th September 2015

	A Little Swift was present briefly at Titchfield Haven NNR, Hampshire, and a Black Stork flew over Staines Moor, Surrey. Lingering rarities in Shetland included two Pallid Harriers (Northdale, Unst and Fair Isle) and two Western Bonelli's Warblers (Sumburgh Head, Mainland and Burrafirth, Unst). Elsewhere the Red-footed Falcon remained on the Isle of May, Fife, the Subalpine Warbler reappeared at Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire and the Bonaparte's Gull was still at Dawlish Warren NNR, Devon. Scarcity highlights included a Red-breasted Flycatcher, a Serin, a Woodchat Shrike, three Red-backed Shrikes, three Barred Warblers, three Common Rosefinches, 11 Wrynecks, 21 Yellow-browed Warblers, an American Golden Plover, two Red-necked Phalaropes, three Grey Phalaropes, three Pectoral Sandpipers, two Buff-breasted Sandpipers, two Dotterel, two Purple Herons, a White-winged Black Tern and four Honey Buzzards.
- Will Soar, RBA


Thursday 17th September 2015

	The highlight of the day was the reappearance of the Hudsonian Godwit on Inishmore (Co Galway), whilst new discoveries included Citrine Wagtail (Shetland), Western Bonelli's Warbler (Co Cork) and Bonaparte's Gull (Devon). The Red-footed Falcon in Fife, Western Bonelli's Warbler and Pallid Harrier on Shetland, Lesser Scaup in Somerset and Forster's Tern in Co Dublin all lingered. The best of the rest included Woodchat Shrike (North Yorkshire), Glossy Ibis (Essex), Rose-coloured Starling (Isles of Scilly), Red-breasted Flycatcher (Northumberland), Purple Heron (Gloucestershire), American Wigeon (Co Wexford), Cattle Egret (Kent), two American Golden Plovers, two Buff-breasted Sandpipers, two Common Rosefinches, two Red-necked Phalaropes, three Dotterel, three Pectoral Sandpipers, three Lapland Buntings, five Red-backed Shrikes, eight Barred Warblers, 15 Wrynecks and at least 40 Yellow-browed Warblers.
- Stuart Piner, RBA


Wednesday 16th September 2015

	Today's rarities included the Hudsonian Godwit on Inishmore, Go Galway (but only until 9.20am), two Western Bonelli's Warblers on Shetland, Arctic Warbler in Lothian, Red-footed Falcon in Fife and Greenish Warbler on Orkney. The best of the rest included Woodchat Shrike (North Yorkshire), Bluethroat (Northumberland), Merlodious Warbler (Isles of Scilly), Surf Scoter (Lothian), Richard's Pipit (Co Wexford), Hoopoe (Co Cork), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Co Wexford), Rose-coloured Starling (Argyll), Common Rosefinch (Shetland), Red-necked Phalarope (Herefordshire), Dotterel (Isle of Wight), two American Wigeons, three Barred Warblers, three American Golden Plovers, four Grey Phalaropes, five Red-backed Shrikes, five Pectoral Sandpipers, eight Yellow-browed Warblers and nine Wrynecks.
- Stuart Piner, RBA


Tuesday 15th September 2015

	The highlight of the day was the reappearance of the male Hudsonian Godwit in County Galway, on Inishmore, Aran Islands where it showed well until dusk. The same bird - and the first Irish record - had previously been seen further northwest in County Galway, at Inishdawros, on 23rd July 2015. Other rarities comprised a Blyth's Reed Warbler confirmed in County Durham at Marsden Quarry, a Wilson's Petrel off the Isles of Scilly, Arctic Warbler still in Lothian, and the lingering Red-footed Falcon in Fife. On the Shetland Isles a Pallid Harrier remained on Fair Isle, with the Western Bonelli's Warbler still at Sumburgh Head with a further unidentified Bonelli's Warbler species on Unst. Scarcities included Melodious Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Golden Oriole and Dotterel all on the Isles of Scilly, Buff-breasted Sandpiper and American Wigeon together in County Wexford, Surf Scoter and Ring-billed Gull on the Western Isles, Woodchat Shrike (North Yorkshire), Rose-coloured Starling (Cornwall), Cattle Egret (Kent), two each of both Ortolan Bunting and Red-backed Shrike, three Great Shearwaters, four Yellow-browed Warblers, five Pectoral Sandpipers, six Barred Warblers, nine of both Wryneck and Long-tailed Skua, and 14 Grey Phalaropes.
- Chris Batty, RBA


Monday 14th September 2015

	The highlight of the day was a flyover Short-toed Eagle in Hampshire, whilst a Red-footed Falcon (Fife) and Western Bonelli's Warbler (Shetland) were also discovered. Lingering rarities included Pallid Harrier (Shetland), Lesser Scaup (Somerset) and Arctic Warbler (Co Galway). The best of the rest included Woodchat Shrike (North Yorkshire), Spotted Crake (Ceredigion/ Pembrokeshire), Surf Scoter (Aberdeenshire), Red-breasted Flycatcher (Co Mayo), American Wigeon (Argyll), Little Bunting (Fetlar), Glossy Ibis (Somerset), Dotterel (Anglesey), two Common Rosefinches, two Buff-breasted Sandpipers, two Grey Phalaropes, three Pectoral Sandpipers, three Red-necked Phalaropes, six Red-backed Shrikes, seven Barred Warblers, nine Wrynecks and 12 Yellow-browed Warblers.
- Stuart Piner, RBA


Sunday 13th September 2015

	The highlight of the day was the discovery of three Pallid Harriers on the Shetland Isles; two together on Unst at Northdale, and one on Fair Isle. Otherwise, an Arctic Warbler was new in County Galway on Inishbofin, whilst the Arctic Warbler remained in Lothian, as did the Black Stork in East Yorkshire, and the Long-billed Dowitcher on the Shetland Isles. Scarcities included Woodchat Shrike (North Yorkshire), Red-breasted Flycatcher (Northumberland), Lapland Bunting (East Yorkshire), White-winged Black Tern (Norfolk), Temminck's Stint (Gloucestershire), Purple Heron and Glossy Ibis (together in Somerset), Great Shearwater (Pembrokeshire), Long-tailed Skua (Fife), Dotterel (Anglesey), American Wigeon (County Wexford), two each of Icterine Warbler, Common Rosefinch, Red-necked Phalarope, Sabine's Gull, Ring-billed Gull and Cattle Egret, three Ortolan Buntings, four Honey Buzzards, six Barred Warblers, seven Red-backed Shrikes, eight Pectoral Sandpipers, 10 Wrynecks and 17 Yellow-browed Warblers.
- Chris Batty, RBA


Saturday 12th September 2015

	An Eastern Olivaceous Warbler was trapped and ringed at Skaw, Whalsay, Shetland this afternoon. Nearby, a new Citrine Wagtail was on Fair Isle, whilst a Greenish Warbler was found further south at Marsden Quarry, County Durham. The Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler remained at Isbister, as did the Long-billed Dowitcher on Yell, both Shetland. Other lingering rarities included the Arctic Warbler in Lothian, Black Stork in East Yorkshire and Red-footed Falcon in Aberdeenshire. Scarcity highlights included singles of Ortolan Bunting, Bluethroat, Melodious Warbler, Rose-coloured Starling, Corncrake and White-winged Black Tern, two each of Common Rosefinch and Grey Phalarope, three each of Icterine Warbler and Dotterel, four each of Pectoral Sandpiper and Red-necked Phalarope, five each of Red-breasted Flycatcher and Red-backed Shrike, 10 Barred Warblers and 17 each of Yellow-browed Warbler and Wryneck.
- Will Soar, RBA