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.


Friday 4th March 2016

	A group of six Northern Long-tailed Tits was reported from Bockhill Farm, Kent. The Black Scoter was reported from Bamburgh, Northumberland, whilst other lingering rarities included the American Herring Gull on Barra, Western Isles, two Penduline Tits at Titchfield Haven NNR, Hampshire, Long-billed Dowitcher at Rutland Water, Leicestershire, Lesser Scaup at Cosmeston Lakes Country Park, Glamorgan and Ferruginous Duck at Pugneys Country Park, Yorkshire.
- Will Soar, RBA


Thursday 3rd March 2016

	Rarity sightings included Glaucous-winged Gull (Co Cork), American Herring Gulls (Cornwall and Western Isles), Ferruginous Ducks (Surrey and West Yorkshire), Long-billed Dowitchers (Leicestershire and Hampshire), Hudsonian Whimbrel (Cornwall), King Eider (Fife), Richardson's Cackling Goose (Argyll), Lesser Scaup (Glamorgan), Penduline Tits (Gloucestershire) and Bonaparte's Gull (Devon). The best of the rest included Hoopoe (West Midlands/Staffordshire), Pallas's Warbler (Dorset), Yellow-browed Warblers (Cornwall), a report of a Wryneck (Kent) and Richard's Pipits (East Yorkshire).
- Stuart Piner, RBA


Wednesday 2nd March 2016

	Lingering rarities included Long-billed Dowitchers (Northumberland and Leicestershire), King Eider (Co Sligo), two Penduline Tits (Gloucestershire) and possible American Herring Gull (Western Isles). The best of the rest included Richard's Pipits (Co Durham), Pallas's Warbler (Dorset), Yellow-browed Warbler (Cornwall), Glossy Ibis (Essex) and Cattle Egrets (Somerset and Suffolk).
- Stuart Piner, RBA


Tuesday 1st March 2016

	Rarities today comprised the Glaucous-winged Gull still in County Cork, two Penduline Tits together in Gloucestershire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Leicestershire, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, and Lesser Scaups in both Cornwall and Glamorgan. Scarcities included Pallas's Warbler (Dorset), Rose-coloured Starling (Cornwall), Hoopoe (West Midlands), Rough-legged Buzzard (Shetland Isles), Ring-necked Duck (Dumfries and Galloway), Cattle Egret (Suffolk), Yellow-browed Warbler (Devon and Pembrokeshire), American Wigeon (Aberdeenshire and Lancashire), Surf Scoter (Lothian and North Yorkshire), four Richard's Pipits and six Lapland Buntings.
- Chris Batty, RBA


Monday 29th February 2016

	Lingering rarities seen today included the Glaucous-winged Gull and Black Duck in County Cork, Pacific Diver, White-billed Diver and Lesser Scaup in Cornwall, single Long-billed Dowitchers in Leicestershire and Hampshire, Dusky Warbler in Somerset, Penduline Tits in Gloucestershire (two) and Cleveland, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, another Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan and Ferruginous Duck in Yorkshire. Scarcity totals included a Pallas's Warbler, two Yellow-browed Warblers, three Shorelarks, five Richard's Pipits, six Lapland Buntings, 10 Great Grey Shrikes, two Glossy Ibises, a Ring-necked Duck, three Surf Scoters, four Green-winged Teals, five American Wigeons, nine Glaucous Gulls and nine Iceland Gulls.
- Will Soar, RBA


Sunday 28th February 2016

	Rarities today comprised the Glaucous-winged Gull still in County Cork, Forster's Tern in County Galway, Northern Harrier on the Orkney Isles, Hudsonian Whimbrel, Pacific Diver, White-billed Diver and Lesser Scaup all still in Cornwall, Penduline Tits in Cleveland (2), Gloucestershire (2) and Norfolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in Leicestershire, Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan, Richardson's Cackling Goose in Argyll, and a White-billed Diver in Highland, briefly at Uig, Isle of Skye. Scarcities included Pallas's Warbler (Dorset), Hoopoe (West Midlands), Rough-legged Buzzard (Essex), Cattle Egret (Somerset), White Stork (Norfolk), two each of both Surf Scoter and Shorelark, three of Ring-billed Gull and Yellow-browed Warbler, four of Richard's Pipit and Ring-necked Duck, five of American Wigeon and Glossy Ibis, and up to 22 Lapland Buntings were reported.
- Chris Batty, RBA


Saturday 27th February 2016

	In Norfolk a Penduline Tit was photographed at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB early morning, but wasn't seen for the rest of the day. Lingering rarities seen today included the Hooded Merganser in Wiltshire, Glaucous-winged Gull and Black Duck in County Cork, Northern Harrier in Orkney, American Herring Gull and White-billed Diver in Cornwall, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, single Long-billed Dowitchers in Leicestershire and Northumberland, two Penduline Tits in both Cleveland and Gloucestershire, Richardson's Cackling Goose in Argyll and Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan.
- Will Soar, RBA


Friday 26th February 2016

	Lingering rarities seen today included the Hooded Merganser in Wiltshire, Glaucous-winged Gull in County Cork, Northern Harrier in Orkney, Long-billed Dowitcher in Leicestershire, Penduline Tits in Gloucestershire (two) and Hampshire, Richardson's Cackling Goose in Argyll, King Eider in Fife, Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan and Ferruginous Duck in County Durham. Scarcity highlights included a Pallas's Warbler, two Yellow-browed Warblers, a Richard's Pipit, a Shorelark, a Rough-legged Buzzard, a Surf Scoter, two Ring-necked Ducks, two American Wigeon, four Green-winged Teals, a Ring-billed Gull, four Kumlien's Gulls and nine Great Grey Shrikes.
- Will Soar, RBA


Thursday 25th February 2016

	Today's rarity highlights included Hooded Merganser (Wiltshire), White-billed Diver and Pacific Diver (Cornwall), Long-billed Dowitchers (Northumberland, Hampshire and Leicestershire), Gyr (Western Isles), Penduline Tits (Hampshire and Gloucestershire), Lesser Scaup (Glamorgan) and King Eider (Fife). The best of rest included Pallas's Warbler (Dorset), Rose-coloured Starling (Cornwall), Hoopoe (West Midlands/Staffordshire), two Surf Scoters, two American Wigeons, three Ring-necked Ducks, three Richard's Pipits, four Yellow-browed Warblers and four Shorelarks.
- Stuart Piner, RBA


Wednesday 24th February 2016

	Rare wildfowl comprised Hooded Merganser (Wiltshire), Black Duck (Co Cork), King Eider (Co Sligo), Richardson's Cackling Goose (Co Sligo), Lesser Scaup (Cornwall and Glamorgan) and Ferruginous Duck (Norfolk). Long-billed Dowitchers in Leicestershire, Hampshire and Northumberland, Pacific Diver in Cornwall and two Penduline Tits in Gloucestershire also lingered. The best of the rest included Hoopoe (West Midlands/Staffordshire), three Yellow-browed Warblers and three Richard's Pipits.
- Stuart Piner, RBA