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 23rd October 2015  
  A White's Thrush was discovered today at Gulberwick, Shetland, as was a White-rumped Sandpiper on Lough Swilly, County Donegal.

Lingering rarities comprised the Blyth's Pipit in the Isles of Scilly, Northern Harrier in Orkney, Siberian Stonechat in Norfolk, Olive-backed Pipit in Shetland, Gull-billed Tern in County Kerry, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Richardson's Cackling Goose in Argyll and Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan.

Scarcity highlights included a Pallas's Warbler, a Barred Warbler, a Little Bunting, a Shorelark, a Temminck's Stint, two Ortolan Buntings, two Serins, two American Golden Plovers, two Ring-necked Ducks, two Green-winged Teals, two American Wigeon, three Little Auks, three Rose-coloured Starlings, five Glossy Ibises, six Pomarine Skuas, six Richards's Pipits, eight Leach's Petrels, up to nine Rough-legged Buzzards, 12 Lapland Buntings, 21 Great Grey Shrikes and 29 Yellow-browed Warblers.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 22nd October 2015  
  New discoveries comprised an Arctic Warbler in Co Mayo and a White-rumped Sandpiper in Co Kerry, whilst Siberian Stonechat (Norfolk), Blyth's and Olive-backed Pipits (Isles of Scilly), Lesser Scaup (Glamorgan), Ferruginous Duck and Long-billed Dowitcher (Hampshire), Pallid Harrier (Co Mayo), American Herring Gull (Cornwall), Gull-billed Tern (Co Kerry), Richardson's Cackling Geese (Argyll) and Northern Harrier (Orkney) all lingered.

The best of the rest included Short-toed Lark, Common Rosefinch and Ortolan Bunting (Isles of Scilly), Shorelark (Suffolk), Red-backed Shrike (Co Cork), Temminck's Stint (Somerset), Pallas's Warbler (North Yorkshire), two American Golden Plovers, two Rose-coloured Starlings, seven Richard's Pipits and at least 21 Great Grey Shrikes.

Significant late news concerns potentially the first Chestnut Bunting for Britain, present on Papa Westray, Orkney Isles on 19th-20th October, but unfortunately not identified until after it had departed. There are nine accepted records in the Western Palearctic: in the Netherlands in 1937, Norway 1974 and 2010, Malta 1983, Slovenia 1987, Finland 2002, France 2009 and 2014, and Hungary 2011. All of these records fell between 24th September and 12th November, with six in October. Chestnut Bunting is currently only on Category E of the British List, with eight rejected records of presumed escapes; on Foula (Shetland Isles) on 9th-13th June 1974, Isle of May (Fife) 11th June 1985, Fair Isle (Shetland) 15th-16th June 1986, Bardsey Island (Gwynedd) 18th-19th June 1986, Out Skerries (Shetland Isles) 2nd-5th September 1994, Salthouse (Norfolk) 30th May-1st June 1998, Whitburn (County Durham) 17th-20th May 2000, and Fair Isle (Shetland) 4th-7th September 2002.
-  Stuart Piner and Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 21st October 2015  
  New discoveries included Siberian Stonechat in Norfolk, Spotted Sandpiper on Isles of Scilly and Lesser Yellowlegs and Cackling Goose in Argyll, whilst Brown Shrike (Cornwall), Dusky Warbler (Lincolnshire), Blyth's Pipit and Olive-backed Pipit (Isles of Scilly), Olive-backed Pipit (Shetland), Lesser Scaup (Glamorgan), Red-flanked Bluetail (Kent), White-rumped Sandpiper (Northumberland) and Gull-billed Tern (Co Kerry) all lingered.

The best of the rest included Red-breasted Flycatcher (Co Wexford), Pallas's Warbler and Barred Warbler (East Yorkshire), two Ortolan Buntings, two American Golden Plovers, three Rose-coloured Starlings, three Richard's Pipits, five Rough-legged Buzzards and five Glossy Ibises.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 20th October 2015  
  An excellent day for discoveries with a Brown Shrike in Cornwall at Porthgwarra, a Siberian Rubythroat on the Shetland Isles on Fair Isle, a White's Thrush on the Shetland Isles on Unst, and three new Red-flanked Bluetails: in County Cork at Mizen Head, Kent at Sandwich Bay, and  Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire.

Rarities confirmed as still present were the Pallid Harrier in County Mayo, Blyth's Pipit, Red-flanked Bluetail and Olive-backed Pipit on the Isles of Scilly, Greater Yellowlegs on the Isle of Wight, Red-flanked Bluetail, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler and Olive-backed Pipit in Norfolk, Gull-billed Tern in County Kerry, Siberian Stonechat in East Yorkshire, Dusky Warbler in Lincolnshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Hampshire, Northern Harrier on the Orkney Isles, and Lesser Sacup in Glamorgan.

Significant late news from Cornwall concerned a White's Thrush reported yesterday at Porthgwarra, and on Saturday a Pied Wheatear at Botallack.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 19th October 2015  
  The highlight of the day was a Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler on Fair Isle, Shetland, there alongside Radde's Warbler, Olive-backed Pipit, Ortolan Bunting, Little Bunting and Bluethroat.

In Norfolk two Red-flanked Bluetails remained alongside two Isabelline Shrikes, Olive-backed Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Pallas's Warbler and Little Bunting.

On the Isles of Scilly the Hudsonian Whimbrel was seen again, as well as the Blyth's Pipit, Red-flanked Bluetail, an Olive-backed Pipit, Short-toed Lark and two Little Buntings.

Elsewhere, a Pallid Harrier was discovered in County Mayo, the Isabelline Shrike remained in Devon, as did a Penduline Tit in Suffolk, Gull-billed Tern in County Kerry, Siberian Stonechat in East Yorkshire, Dusky Warblers on East Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and the Shetland Isles (2), Long-billed Dowitcher in Hampshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Lesser Scaup in County Mayo, and Northern Harrier on the Orkney Isles.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 18th October 2015  
  New rarities today comprised a Red-flanked Bluetail and an Olive-backed Pipit at Hemsby, Norfolk (with others of the latter species at Brevig, Western Isles, Whitburn, County Durham, Hartlepool, Cleveland and Portland, Dorset), two Penduline Tits at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler at Kingsdown, Kent, Red-throated Pipit on Tresco, Isles of Scilly, Lesser Scaup on Achill Island, County Mayo and single White-rumped Sandpipers at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB, Aberdeenshire and Blennerville, County Kerry.

Rarities lingering in Norfolk included two Red-flanked Bluetails, two Isabelline Shrikes, an Olive-backed Pipit, a Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler and a Blyth's Reed Warbler. Scilly continued to hold the Hudsonian Whimbrel, Blyth's Pipit and Red-flanked Bluetail, whilst Shetland still had a Radde's Warbler and two Dusky Warblers.

Other lingerers included the Gull-billed Tern in County Kerry, Isabelline Shrike and Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Siberian Stonechat, Olive-backed Pipit and Dusky Warbler in Yorkshire (with another of the latter still in Cornwall), Greater Yellowlegs on the Isle of Wight, White-rumped Sandpiper in Northumberland and Long-billed Dowitcher in Hampshire.

There were no sightings of the Wilson's Warbler on Lewis.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 17th October 2015  
  New discoveries today included an American Herring Gull near St Just, Cornwall, a Gull-billed Tern near Tralee, County Kerry, a Dusky Warbler at Dale of Walls, Shetland, a Radde's Warbler at Kenidjack Valley, Cornwall and a Black Kite near Farnborough, Hampshire.

Rarities lingering in Norfolk included two Red-flanked Bluetails, two Isabelline Shrikes, an Olive-backed Pipit, a Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler and a Blyth's Reed Warbler. Scilly continued to hold the Hudsonian Whimbrel, Blyth's Pipit and Red-throated Pipit, whilst Shetland still had a Red-flanked Bluetail, an Olive-backed Pipit, a Radde's Warbler and another Dusky Warbler.

Other lingering rarities included the Wilson's Warbler in the Western Isles, Northern Harrier in Orkney, Siberian Stonechat in Yorkshire, Isabelline Shrike in Devon, single Dusky Warblers in Cornwall, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and Northumberland, Blyth's Reed Warbler in County Cork, Long-billed Dowitcher in Hampshire, White-rumped Sandpiper in Northumberland and Lesser Scaup in County Kerry.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 16th October 2015  
  In Kent, a Short-toed Treecreeper was in the trapping area at Dungeness this afternoon. Three new Red-flanked Bluetails were found today, at Kergord, Shetland, Wells Woods, Norfolk and Low Newton-by-the-Sea, Northumberland, new Dusky Warblers were at Flamborough, Yorkshire and Farne Islands, Northumberland, and a Lesser Scaup was on Lough Gill, County Kerry.

Lingering rarities included the Wilson's Warbler in the Western Isles, Hudsonian Whimbrel, Blyth's Pipit, Siberian Stonechat and Red-flanked Bluetail in the Isles of Scilly, Isabelline Shrikes in Devon and Norfolk (two), Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler and Red-flanked Bluetail in Norfolk, single Blyth's Reed Warblers in Norfolk and County Cork, Dusky Warbler in Cornwall, Radde's Warbler in Shetland, another Siberian Stonechat in Yorkshire, single Olive-backed Pipits in Norfolk and Yorkshire and White-rumped Sandpiper in Northumberland.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 15th October 2015  
  Another great day for rarity sightings was headlined by the continued presence of the Wilson's Warbler on Lewis, Western Isles.

Norfolk hosted three Isabelline Shrikes, at least two Hume's Yellow-browed Warblers, Olive-backed Pipit, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Red-flanked Bluetail and Radde's Warbler, Isles of Scilly held a Hudsonian Whimbrel, Siberian Stonechat, Blyth's Pipit, Red-throated Pipit and Red-flanked Bluetail, whilst Shetland produced Blyth's Pipit, three Olive-backed Pipit, Siberian Stonechat and Radde's Warbler. Elsewhere an Arctic Warbler, Lesser Yellowlegs and Blyth's Reed Warbler in Co Cork, two Olive-backed Pipits and a Siberian Stonechat in East Yorkshire, Two-barred Crossbill in Co Mayo, Isabelline Shrike, Bonaparte's Gull and Ridgway's Cackling Goose in Devon, Dusky Warbler in Cornwall, Northern Harrier on Orkney, White-rumped Sandpiper in Northumberland, Long-billed Dowitcher in Hampshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Moray, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Gloucestershire and Dusky Warbler in Lincolnshire were all reported.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 14th October 2015  
  The Wilson's Warbler lingered on Lewis (Western Isles) for its second day. Elsewhere rarity sightings comprised Pied Wheatear, Siberian Stonechat, two Olive-backed Pipits, Radde's Warbler, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Dusky Warbler and Pallid Harrier on Shetland, Blyth's Pipit, Red-throated Pipit and Red-flanked Bluetail on Isles of Scilly, two Isabelline Shrikes, Red-flanked Bluetail and Blyth's Reed Warbler in Norfolk, White-rumped Sandpiper in Northumberland, Olive-backed Pipit and Siberian Stonechat in East Yorkshire, Isabelline Shrike in Devon, Dusky Warbler in Lincolnshire, Olive-backed Pipit in Dorset, Northern Harrier in Orkney and Semipalmated Sandpiper in Gloucestershire.

The best of the rest included Surf Scoter (Angus), Spotted Crake (Cheshire), Temminck's Stint (West Yorkshire), Purple Heron (Somerset), Short-toed Lark (Isles of Scilly), White-winged Black Tern (Shropshire), Serin (Isles of Scilly), Melodious Warbler (Isles of Scilly), Corncrake (Lincolnshire), two Pectoral Sandpipers, two Rose-coloured Starlings, two Red-backed Shrike, three American Wigeons, three Common Rosefinches, three Pallas's Warblers, four Barred Warbler, four American Golden Plovers, four Red-breasted Flycatcher, seven Glossy Ibises, eight Little Buntings and nine Richard's Pipits.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA