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 23rd May 2016

	The Black-billed Cuckoo remained at Bayhead, North Uist all day today. The Lammergeier was also seen again, and proved twitchable for multiple observers for the first time since its arrival. It lingered for a couple of hours near Princetown on Dartmoor, Devon late morning, before eventually flying north. It was then seen several times further west in Cornwall, where it was last seen flying north near Rosenannon at about 7pm. The Dalmatian Pelican was also seen again in Cornwall, this time at Helford this evening. New discoveries today included a female Collared Flycatcher on Fair Isle, Shetland, a Red-footed Falcon near Woodbridge, Suffolk and a Red-rumped Swallow in Folkestone, Kent. Other lingering rarities included the Stilt Sandpiper in Hampshire, Great Spotted Cuckoo in Dorset, Iberian Chiffchaff and Spotted Sandpiper in the Isles of Scilly, Great Reed Warbler in Cambridgeshire, Savi's Warbler in County Wicklow and two Black-winged Stilts and a Red-footed Falcon in Essex.
- Will Soar, RBA


Sunday 22nd May 2016

	Startling news from the Western Isles today where a Black-billed Cuckoo showed well all evening on North Uist at Bayhead: the spring record of this much-wanted species in Britain. In Devon the Lammergeier was reported again, on Dartmoor, over the Bellever Forest before flying east. Other rarities discovered today were a Stilt Sandpiper in Hampshire at Pennington Marshes, Gull-billed Tern in Kent at Dungeness, Red-throated Pipit on Fair Isles, and Savi's Warbler on the Shetland Isles at Sumburgh, with brief encounters including Whiskered Tern in Nottinghamshire, Black Kite in Suffolk, and Bee-eaters in both Norfolk and Suffolk. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall, Great Spotted Cuckoo in Dorset, Pacific Golden Plover in Aberdeenshire, two Whiskered Terns in Cleveland, two Black-winged Stilts in Essex, Great Reed Warbler in Cambridgeshire, Red-footed Falcon on Wiltshire, King Eider in County Sligo, Spotted Sandpiper, Iberian Chiffchaff and Red-rumped Swallow on the Isles of Scilly, Iberian Chiffchaff in London, and Savi's Warblers in Somerset, Suffolk and County Wicklow.
- Chris Batty, RBA


Saturday 21st May 2016

	A Pacific Golden Plover was discovered in Aberdeenshire today, whilst Great Reed Warbler (Cambridgeshire), Gull-billed Tern (Glamorgan), Red-footed Falcons (Wiltshire and Essex), Great Spotted Cuckoo (Dorset), two Whiskered Terns (Cleveland), Iberian Chiffchaff (London), Black-winged Stilts (Essex), Spotted Sandpiper and Red-rumped Swallow (Isles of Scilly) and Savi's Warbler (Suffolk) all lingered. The best of the rest included Cattle Egret (Co Wexford), Hoopoe (Co Wicklow), Dotterel (Norfolk), two Temminck's Stints (Lincolnshire and Staffordshire) and eight Glossy Ibises.
- Stuart Piner, RBA


Friday 20th May 2016

	The Lammergeirer reappeared today, over Cookworthy Moor Plantation (Devon), approximately 20 miles from where it was last reported on Dartmoor on 18th May. Elsewhere rartity sightings included Dalmatian Pelican (Cornwall), Great Spotted Cuckoo (Dorset), Black-winged Stilits (Suffolk and Essex), Red-footed Falcons (Essex and Wiltshire), Great Reed Warbler (Cambridgeshire), Gull-billed Tern (Glamorgan), Iberian Chiffchaff (London) and Black Kite (Kent). The best of the rest included Pectoral Sandpiper (Cumbria), Dotterel (Norfolk), Red-backed Shrike and Bluethroat (Orkney), up to four Hoopoes and five Glossy Ibises.
- Stuart Piner, RBA


Thursday 19th May 2016

	New discoveries today included a singing Savi's Warbler at Five Mile Point, County Wicklow, a Bee-eater over Wimbledon Common, London and a Black Kite over Saltholme RSPB, Cleveland. Lingering rarities included the Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall, Great Spotted Cuckoo in Dorset, Gull-billed Tern in Glamorgan, two Black-winged Stilts and a Red-footed Falcon in Essex, Spotted Sandpiper and Red-rumped Swallow in the Isles of Scilly, Iberian Chiffchaff in London, Great Reed Warbler in Cambridgeshire, two Whiskered Terns in Cleveland and King Eider in Highland. Scarcity highlights included a Hoopoe, a Red-necked Phalarope, a Pectoral Sandpiper, a Long-tailed Skua, a Surf Scoter, two Serins, two Red-backed Shrikes, two Roseate Terns, two Temminck's Stints, two Honey Buzzards, three Bluethroats and three Dotterel.
- Will Soar, RBA


Wednesday 18th May 2016

	New discoveries today included single Gull-billed Terns at Marazion, Cornwall and Loughor Bridge, Glamorgan, a Red-footed Falcon in the Cotswold Water Park, Wiltshire, a Red-rumped Swallow at Stodmarsh, Kent and single White-billed Divers off Balranald, Western Isles and North Ronaldsay, Orkney. Lingering rarities included the Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall, Great Spotted Cuckoo in Dorset, Snowy Owl, Iberian Chiffchaff and Spotted Sandpiper in the Isles of Scilly, another Iberian Chiffchaff in London, Great Reed Warbler in Cambridgeshire, two Whiskered Terns in Cleveland, Lesser Yellowlegs in Shetland and White-billed Diver in the Western Isles. Scarcity highlights included an Icterine Warbler, a Woodchat Shrike, a Bluethroat, a Purple Heron, a Night Heron, a White-winged Black Tern, a Pectoral Sandpiper, two Hoopoes, two Dotterel, three Temminck's Stints, four Red-backed Shrikes, four Glossy Ibises, six Long-tailed Skuas and 11 Pomarine Skuas.
- Will Soar, RBA


Tuesday 17th May 2016

	Despite much searching across Dartmoor, Devon, the Lammergeier was only reported briefly, at North Hessary Tor mid afternoon, and could not be relocated. Rarities elsewhere comprised a Spotted Sandpiper new on the Isles of Scilly, where both Snowy Owl and Red-rumped Swallow remained, a Lesser Yellowlegs discovered on the Shetland Isles on Foula, as well as the lingering Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall, Great Spotted Cuckoo in Dorset, two Whiskered Terns together in Cleveland, Iberian Chiffchaff in London, Red-footed Falcon in Essex, Great Reed Warbler in Cambridgeshire, and Savi's Warbler in Somerset. Scarcities included Serin (Suffolk), Bluethroat (Fife), Purple Heron (Essex), Surf Scoter (Shetland Isles), Pectoral Sandpiper (Norfolk), Long-tailed Skua (Western Isles), Grey-headed Wagtail (Aberdeenshire), two Hoopoes, three Temminck's Stints and six Glossy Ibises.
- Chris Batty, RBA


Monday 16th May 2016

	The Lammergeier was re-found today in Devon on Dartmoor, seen twice by single observers late morning and mid afternoon. The Green Warbler was also seen briefly at Baltasound, Unst, Shetland and the Dalmatian Pelican remained in Cornwall, roosting at Drift Reservoir this evening. New discoveries today included a Sardinian Warbler at Spurn, Yorkshire, a Savi's Warbler at Greylake RSPB, Somerset, a Subalpine Warbler at Loch Kinnabus, Argyll, a Red-rumped Swallow in Lincoln, Lincolnshire and a Spotted Sandpiper in Findhorn Bay, Moray. Lingering rarities included the Great Spotted Cuckoo in Devon, Snowy Owl, Iberian Chiffchaff and Red-rumped Swallow in the Isles of Scilly, Franklin's Gull and Red-footed Falcon in Essex, two Whiskered Terns in Cleveland, Great Reed Warbler in Cambridgeshire, Bee-eater in Norfolk and Black Kite in County Wexford.
- Will Soar, RBA


Sunday 15th May 2016

	Significant late news from Thursday concerned an immature Lammergeier in Gwent. It was videoed on a rock by the Severn Estuary at Sudbrook, before it flew up the channel then headed west. It appears to be the individual present in Belgium on Monday, and is thought to be a wild bird. This would represent the first record for Britain. Back to today, the Green Warbler remained at Baltasound on Unst, Shetland, where it showed well into the evening. New discoveries today included an Eastern Subalpine Warbler on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, and Black Kites over Bockhill, Gillingham and Grove Ferry (all Kent), Ashington (Sussex), North Tuddenham (Norfolk) and South Slob (County Wexford). Lingering rarities seen today included the Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall, Great Spotted Cuckoo in Dorset, Snowy Owl and Iberian Chiffchaff in the Isles of Scilly, Franklin's Gull, Red-footed Falcon and two Black-winged Stilts in Essex, two Whiskered Terns and a Great Reed Warbler in Cleveland, another Great Reed Warbler in Cambridgeshire, Western Subalpine Warbler in Northumberland, Thrush Nightingale in Fife, Bee-eater in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gull in Carmarthenshire and King Eider in Highland.
- Will Soar, RBA


Saturday 14th May 2016

	Britain's second Green Warbler is present for its second day at Baltasound, Unst, Shetland where it was trapped and ringed this afternoon. The only other British record is of a bird in the Isles of Scilly in autumn 1983. Further south, a Fea's or Zino's Petrel flew north past Flamborough Head, Yorkshire. Other new discoveries today included a Thrush Nightingale at Easington, Yorkshire, a Great Reed Warbler at Paxton, Cambridgeshire, a Dusky Warbler on Walney Island, Cumbria, a Red-footed Falcon and two Black-winged Stilts at Vange, Essex, another Red-footed Falcon over Verwood, Dorset, an Eastern Subalpine Warbler on Skokholm, Pembrokeshire, a Subalpine warbler species on Holy Island, Northumberland, single Bee-eaters over Sherborne and Weymouth, both Dorset, single Red-throated Pipits on Fair Isle, Shetland and Bryher, Isles of Scilly and a Black Kite over Durlston and a Red-rumped Swallow over Lodmoor, both Dorset. Lingering rarities included the Great Spotted Cuckoo in Dorset, Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall, Snowy Owl in the Isles of Scilly, Great Reed Warbler and two Whiskered Terns in Cleveland, Thrush Nightingale in Fife, Franklin's Gull in Essex, Broad-billed Sandpiper in Lincolnshire, Black-winged Stilt in Dorset, Bee-eater in Norfolk and White-billed Diver in Aberdeenshire.
- Will Soar, RBA