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.


Thursday 14th January 2016

	In Co Wexford a 1st-winter female King Eider was discovered at Rosslare, but the Vega Gull was nowhere to be seen in Duncannon. Lingering rarities included Glaucous-winged Gull (Co Cork), Pallid Harrier (Norfolk), American Herring Gull (Cornwall), Ferruginous Duck (Hampshire), Penduline Tits (two Gloucestershire, one Kent), Long-billed Dowitcher (Northumberland), Bonaparte's Gull (Hampshire) and Lesser Scaup (Glamorgan and Cornwall). The best of the rest included Richard's Pipit (Kent), two Serins (Cambridgeshire), Hoopoe (West Midlands/Staffordshore), Yellow-browed Warbler (Somerset) and Little Bunting (Devon).
- Stuart Piner, RBA


Wednesday 13th January 2016

	Rarities today comprised the Vega Gull again in County Wexford, Glaucous-winged Gull still in County Cork, Mourning Dove still on the Shetland Isles, both Pacific Diver and Lesser Scaup in Cornwall, a Red-breasted Goose new in Essex on the Dengie, Pallid Harrier in Norfolk, two Penduline Tits together in Gloucestershire, Dusky Warbler in Somerset, Long-billed Dowitcher in Northumberland, single Bonaparte's Gulls in both Buckinghamshire/Hertfordshire and Devon, Ferruginous Duck in Hampshire, King Eider in Fife, and the Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan again. Scarcities included Little Bunting (Devon), Pallas's Warbler (Wirral), Hoopoe (West Midlands), Serin (two together in Cambridgeshire), American Wigeon (Devon, Northumberland and County Waterford), a totals of nine Glossy Ibises and 35 Caspian Gulls; including 23 together at Rufforth, North Yorkshire.
- Chris Batty, RBA


Tuesday 12th January 2016

	The adult Vega Gull was not seen at all during the day today at Duncannon harbour in County Wexford and in County Cork there were no reports either way on the adult Glaucous-winged Gull at Castletownbere. Two Black-bellied Dippers were found today at Lower Voe on Mainland Shetland and the Mourning Dove remained in gardens in Lerwick. On Mainland Orkney the Brunnich's Guillemot was again in Scapa Bay. Other lingering rarities included the two Penduline Tits in Gloucestershire, the Pallid Harrier in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gulls in Herts/Bucks and Devon, Lesser Scaups in Cornwall and Shetland, Dusky Warbler in Somerset and Ferruginous Duck and Long-billed Dowitcher in Hampshire.
- Pete Hayman, RBA


Monday 11th January 2016

	In Co Wexford an adult Vega Gull was present for its second day at Duncannon. BOURC currently treat Vega Gull as a form of American Herring Gull, but other authorites consider it to be a monotypic species. Either way, this bird is potentially the first Vega Gull to be identified in the Westen Palearctic. Elsewhere rarity highlights included Brunnich's Guillemot in Orkney, Glaucous-winged Gull in Co Cork, Hudsonian Whimbrel, Lesser Scaup and Pacific Diver in Cornwall, Bonaparte's Gull in Hertfordshire, Mourning Dove in Shetland, Greater Yellowlegs in Isle of Wight, Pallid Harrier in Norfolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in Northumberland, Dusky Warbler in Somerset, Penduline Tits in Hampshire (3) and Gloucestershire (2) and Ferruginous Duck in Hampshire.
- Stuart Piner, RBA


Sunday 10th January 2016

	Rarities today comprised the Glaucous-winged Gull and Spotted Sandpiper still in County Cork, Mourning Dove on the Shetland Isles, Pacific Diver and Lesser Scaup in Cornwall, Forster's Tern in County Galway, Pallid Harrier in Norfolk, two Penduline Tits together in Kent, Dusky Warbler in Somerset, Bonaparte's Gulls in both Buckinghamshire/Hertfordshire and Devon, Long-billed Dowitcher in Northumberland, and Ferruginous Duck in Hampshire. Scarities included Serin (two together in Cambridgeshire), Pallas's Warbler (Wirral), Hoopoe (West Midlands), Richard's Pipit (Kent and West Yorkshire), Black Brant (two together in Hampshire), Surf Scoter (two in Lothian), three Yellow-browed Warblers, four Cattle Egrets, six Rough-legged Buzzards, and a total of 19 Glossy Ibises.
- Chris Batty, RBA


Saturday 9th January 2016

	Lingering rarities still present today included the Glaucous-winged Gull at Castletownbere, County Cork, Brunnich's Guillemot at Scapa Bay, Orkney, Mourning Dove at Lerwick, Shetland, Hudsonian Whimbrel and Pacific Diver in Mount's Bay, Cornwall, Forster's Tern at Corranroo, County Clare, Bonaparte's Gull at Wilstone Reservoir, Hertfordshire and College Lake, Buckinghamshire (and another still at Dawlish, Devon), Pallid Harrier at Flitcham, Norfolk, Dusky Warbler at Ham Wall RSPB, Somerset, Long-billed Dowitcher at Hemscott Hill, Northumberland, King Eider at Ruddon's Point, Fife and Lesser Scaup at Dozmary Pool, Cornwall. Three Penduline Tits were still present at Titchfield Haven NNR, Hampshire, with another still at Dungeness RSPB, Kent. Scarcity highlights included a Hoopoe, a Pallas's Warbler, a Kumlien's Gull, two Grey Phalaropes, three Richard's Pipits, three Yellow-browed Warblers, three Great Grey Shrikes, four Waxwings, six Ring-billed Gulls and seven Shorelarks.
- Will Soar, RBA


Friday 8th January 2016

	The second live Brunnich's Guillemot for Orkney was discovered today, off Scapa Pier near Kirkwall. Nearby in Shetland, the Mourning Dove remained in Lerwick, whilst the Glaucous-winged Gull also remained at Castletownbere, County Cork. Other lingering rarities included the Pacific Diver and Lesser Scaup in Cornwall, Bonaparte's Gull in Hertfordshire, Pallid Harrier in Norfolk, Gyr in the Western Isles, Dusky Warbler in Somerset, Long-billed Dowitcher in Northumberland, King Eider in Fife and Ferruginous Duck in Hampshire.
- Will Soar, RBA


Thursday 7th January 2016

	Rarity highlights included Glaucous-winged Gull (Co Cork), Mourning Dove (Shetland), Pallid Harrier (Norfolk), Penduline Tit (Kent), Ferruginous Duck (Hampshire), Lesser Scaup (Somerset and Cornwall), Long-billed Dowitcher (Northumberland), Hudsonian Whimbrel (Cornwall) and Pacific Diver (Cornwall). The best of the rest included Pallas's Warbler (Wirral), Yellow-browed Warbler (Hampshire), Richard's Pipit (Kent), Hoopoe (West Midlands/ Staffordshire) and 21 Glossy Ibises.
- Stuart Piner, RBA


Wednesday 6th January 2016

	Rarity highlights included Mourning Dove (Shetland), Glaucous-winged Gull (Co Cork), Pacific Diver, Hudsonian Whimbrel and Lesser Scaup (Cornwall), Greater Yellowlegs (Isle of Wight), Pallid Harrier (Norfolk), Penduline Tits (Hampshire and Kent), Long-billed Dowitcher (Northumberland), Dusky Warbler and Lesser Scaup (Somerset), Cackling Goose (Co Donegal) and Ferruginous Duck (Hampshire). The best of the rest included Rose-coloured Starling (Cornwall), Pallas's Warbler (Wirral), Cattle Egret (Somerset), Hoopoe (West Midlands/ Staffordshire), two Richard's Pipits, three Yellow-browed Warblers, three Surf Scoters, four Waxwings, eight Shorelarks, 23 Glossy Ibises and many reports of Little Auks, mainly along the coastlines of eastern Scotland and Northeast England.
- Stuart Piner, RBA


Tuesday 5th January 2016

	The highlight of the day was the return of the Pacific Diver to Tawin, County Galway; where it was first discovered in January 2009 and has been seen on several occasions since. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Glaucous-winged Gull in County Cork, Mourning Dove on the Shetland Isles, Pacific Diver, Hudsonian Whimbrel and Lesser Scaup in Cornwall, Pallid Harrier in Norfolk, two Penduline Tits in Hampshire, Dusky Warbler and Lesser Scaup in Somerset, Ferruginous Duck in Hampshire and Bonaparte's Gull in Devon. Notable scarcities included Pallas's Warbler (Wirral), Rose-coloured Starling (Cornwall), Hoopoe (West Midlands), Richard's Pipit (East Yorkshire), Snow Goose (Cumbria), Ring-billed Gull (Clyde), American Wigeon (Devon and Northumberland), and a total of 26 Glossy Ibises. Little Auks continued to move in large numbers along the east coast of Scotland, including 600 passing Collieston, Aberdeenshire in a one hour watch.
- Chris Batty, RBA