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| Friday 7th October 2016 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in County Kerry at Carrahane Strand, whilst in Highland a
Black-browed Albatross flew past Sheigra, on the Orkney Isles a Red-flanked Bluetail
was new on North Ronaldsay, in Clyde a Hooded Merganser arrived at Lochwinnoch, in County Cork a
Booted Warbler joined the Rose-breasted Grosbeak at Firkeel, and in Devon a
Caspian Tern accompanied the Dalmatian Pelican at Fremington. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present included the
Semipalmated Plover in County Mayo, Booted Warbler in Conwy, Radde's Warbler in Fife,
Western Purple Swamphen in Lincolnshire, both Hudsonian Whimbrel and Baird's Sandpiper in Cornwall, Baird's Sandpiper in Northumberland,
Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Wexford, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire,
Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, and Black Duck in Highland. On the Shetland Isles neither the Orphean Warbler species nor the Siberian Thrush could be found, but a White's Thrush and a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll were on Unst, Brown Shrike and Blyth's Reed Warbler on Mainland, the Swainson's Thrush on Fetlar, both Pechora Pipit and Red-flanked Bluetail on Fair Isle, along with around island totals of 16 Little Buntings, seven Bluethroats, four Red-breasted Flycatchers, three each of both Olive-backed Pipit and Barred Warbler, and single Marsh Warbler, Ortolan Bunting, Short-toed Lark and Red-backed Shrike. On the Scilly Isles the Sora remained, with Arctic Warbler, Red-throated Pipit and Olive-backed Pipit all seen briefly, and a supporting cast of Spotted Crake, two each of both Red-breasted Flycatcher and Cattle Egret, and three each of Little Bunting and Wryneck. The English east coast yielded Siberian Stonechats in Lincolnshire and Suffolk (both thought likely to be Stejneger's Stonechats), Dusky Warbler and Radde's Warbler (2) in Norfolk, and in East Yorkshire Red-flanked Bluetail, Rustic Bunting, Olive-backed Pipit, Arctic Warbler and Dusky Warbler were all seen. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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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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| Thursday 6th October 2016 | ||
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| An incredible day for mega rarities was headlined by the discovery of both an
orphean warbler species (probably a Western Orphean Warbler) and a Siberian Thrush on Shetland. Elsewhere
on the archipelago a Brown Shrike, Swainson's Thrush,
two Blyth's Reed Warblers, two Red-flanked Bluetails
and Olive-backed Pipit were also recorded. On Orkney a Brown Shrike arrived on Sanday, a Semipalmated Plover was identified in Co Galway and in Norfolk a Black-browed Albatross was tracked along the coast between Cley and Happisburgh. New discoveries also included Siberian Stonechats in Suffolk and Lincolnshire (the former appears to a Stejneger's Stonechat), Dusky and Arctic Warblers in East Yorkshire, Radde's Warblers in Suffolk, Fife and Norfolk), Caspian Tern in Cornwall, Blyth's Reed Warbler in Dorset and Rustic Bunting in East Yorkshire. On Isles of Scilly the Sora and a Caspian Tern (the first for Scilly) were logged. Lingering rarities included Eastern Crowned Warbler and Greenish Warbler (East Yorkshire), Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Co Cork), Baird's Sandpiper and Hudsonian Whimbrel (Cornwall), Black Duck (Highland), Western Purple Swamphen and Long-billed Dowitcher (Lincolnshire), Dalmatian Pelican and Blyth's Reed Warbler (Devon), Booted Warbler (Conwy), Red-flanked Bluetail (Fife) and Radde's Warbler (Norfolk). |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 5th October 2016 | ||
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| The English east coast stole the show today where some of those watching the
continuing Eastern Crowned Warbler in Yorkshire at Bempton Cliffs witnessed a
Black-browed Albatross pass the coast between Filey Brigg and Flamborough Head, whilst in Northumberland a
White's Thrush showed well for most of the day on Holy Island, Northumberland. Associated arrivals included
single Red-flanked Bluetails in both East Yorkshire and Fife, Radde's Warblers in Norfolk and North Yorkshire, Blyth's Reed Warbler
in Fife, Greenish Warbler and Siberian Stonechat in East Yorkshire. On the Shetland Isles a White's Thrush joined the Swainson's Thrush on Fetlar, both the Great Snipe and Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll remained on Unst, as did the Pechora Pipit on Fair Isle, with totals from around the archipelago of Rose-coloured Starling, Great Grey Shrike, two each of both Barred Warbler and Richard's Pipit, three Common Rosefinches, four Bluethroats, and six each of both Little Bunting and Red-breasted Flycatcher. On the Scilly Isles a new Red-eyed Vireo was located on St Martin's, both the Sora and the Blyth's Pipit remained, along with Melodious Warbler, American Golden Plover, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Little Bunting, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Red-backed Shrike, two Cattle Egrets, and four Wrynecks. Otherwise, rarities comprised a brief Subalpine Warbler species in Dorset at Portland, the Rose-breasted Grosbeak still in County Cork, both Western Purple Swamphen and Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Dalmatian Pelican and Blyth's Reed Warbler in Devon, Hudsonian Whimbrel and Baird's Sandpiper in Cornwall, Booted Warbler still in Conwy, Baird's Sandpiper in Northumberland, Bonaparte's Gull in County Durham, and both Semipalmated Sandpiper and Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in County Kerry. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 4th October 2016 | ||
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| Another epic day for rare birds was headlined by the discovery of an
Eastern Crowned Warbler at Bempton Cliffs RSPB (East Yorkshire);
originally suspected to be an Arctic Warbler, the identification puzzle was
finally solved this evening. Today's record constitutes the fourth for Britain,
following birds in Durham (2009), Hertfordshire (2011), and Cleveland (2014). Nearby the Flamborough Head area hosted Siberian Stonechat and Radde's Warbler, whilst a Greenish Warbler (Norfolk), Red-flanked Bluetail (Northumberland), Blyth's Reed Warbler (Devon) and Semipalmated Sandpiper (Co Kerry) were also discovered today. The Shetland Isles produced Black-throated Thrush and Swainson's Thrush, Pechora Pipit, Olive-backed Pipit, Lanceolated Warbler, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and two Blyth's Reed Warblers, whilst Isles of Scilly hosted Sora, Blyth's Pipit and Subalpine Warbler. The best of the rest in terms of lingering rarities comprised Booted Warbler (Conwy), Dalmatian Pelican (Devon), Baird's Sandpiper and Hudsonian Whimbrel (Cornwall), Lesser Yellowlegs (Dorset), Black Duck (Highland) and Western Purple Swamphen (Lincolnshire). |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Monday 3rd October 2016 | ||
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| The Shetland Isles were again awash with rarities - highlights included
Swainson's Thrush on Fetlar, White's Thrush, Olive-backed Pipit
and Blyth's Reed
Warbler on Mainland, Black-throated Thrush
on Out Skerries, Great Snipe and Paddyfield Warbler
on Unst and Pechora Pipit and Lanceolated Warbler
on Fair Isle. Elsewhere new discoveries included Booted Warbler (Conwy), Blyth's Reed Warbler (Lothian), and Semipalmated Sandpiper (Co Kerry), whilst lingering rarities comprised Sora (Isles of Scilly), Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Co Cork), Semipalmated Plover (Co Mayo), Dalmatian Pelican (Devon), Long-billed Dowitcher (Lincolnshire), Baird's Sandpipers (Northumberland, Cornwall and Co Dublin), Western Purple Swamphen (Lincolnshire), Black Duck (Highland), Lesser Yellowlegs (Dorset) and Hudsonian Whimbrel (Cornwall). |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 2nd October 2016 | ||
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| The highlight of an exciting day was the relocation of the Eastern Kingbird
on the Western Isles, at Bornish, South Uist, where it remained until early afternoon before again departing. Other mega news concerned a
Semipalmated Plover discovered in County Mayo on Achill Island, and a Sora found on Tresco, Isles of Scilly. The Shetland Isles enjoyed an enviable day with, on Fair Isle alone Pechora Pipit, Lanceolated Warbler, Red-throated Pipit, Red-flanked Bluetail, Radde's Warbler, Arctic Warbler, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Short-toed Lark, Little Bunting, two Bluethroats, four Red-breasted Flycatchers and 72 Yellow-browed Warblers. On Mainland a Lanceolated Warbler showed well at North Voe, Blyth's Reed Warblers were at both Levenwick and Quendale, Rose-coloured Starling in Scalloway, Hoopoe at Easter Quarff, and two Red-breasted Flycatchers. On Unst a Great Snipe was found at Norwick, along with a Paddyfield Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher and Barred Warbler. Elsewhere, rarities comprised the Rose-breasted Grosbeak still in County Cork, single Red-eyed Vireos on both the Isle of Man and the Isles of Scilly, Pallid Harrier in Kent, single Baird's Sandppipers in Cornwall, County Dublin and Northumberland, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Semipalmated Sandpiper and White-rumped Sandpiper together in County Wexford, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset and Essex, Ferruginous Duck in London, the Western Purple Swamphen still in Lincolnshire, the Dalmatian Pelican still in Devon, and the Hudsonian Whimbrel still in Cornwall. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 1st October 2016 | ||
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| New discoveries included Red-eyed Vireo on Isle of Man,
Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire and Semipalmated
Sandpiper and Blyth's Reed Warblers in Co Wexford and
Gwynedd.
Lingering rarities comprised Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Co Cork), Forster's Tern (Co Louth), Dalmatian Pelican (Devon), Black Duck (Highland), Pallid Harrier (Kent), Western Purple Swamphen (Lincolnshire), Ferruginous Duck (London) and Franklin's Gull (Northumberland). The Shetland Isles hosted a Blyth's Reed Warbler, Rose-coloured Starling, three Bluethroats, Surf Scoter and Hoopoe, whilst Isles of Scilly produced Bluethroat, American Golden Plover, Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Melodious Warbler. Rare shorebirds included Hudsonian Whimbrel (Cornwall), Baird's Sandpipers (Co Dublin and Northumberland), Lesser Yellowlegs (Dorset and Exeter) and Semipalmated Sandpipers (Co Wexford [3] and Argyll [2]). |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Friday 30th September 2016 | ||
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| Unlike the previous two records in Ireland, Britain's first Eastern
Kingbird hung around for more than one day, just, still being present on
Barra from early morning until 2.50pm when it flew off high to the north east!
At Anstruther in Fife, the Brunnich's Guillemot came to an untimely end, being found dead early this morning. Shetland played host to several new rarities, with a Brown Shrike at Aith on Mainland (with another still present on the Out Skerries), a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll at Norwick on Unst along with a new Blyth's Reed Warbler, with another Blyth's Reed Warbler being found at Sandgarth on Mainland. A new Red-eyed Vireo was found at Mizen Head in County Cork with one bird still remaining on St. Agnes in the Scillies. A Baird's Sandpiper was found at Boulmer in Northumberland and two new Semipalmated Sandpipers were together at Vaul Bay in Tiree. Lingering rarities included the re-appearance of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak at Garinish in County Cork and also of the Lesser Grey Shrike in Devon. A Booted/Sykes's Warbler remained on Mainland Shetland, as did the Dalmation Pelican (now in Devon), Western Purple Swamphen in Lincolnshire, Pallid Harrier on Sheppey in Kent, Semipalmated Sandpipers in County Kerry and County Wexford (2), Baird's Sandpiper in County Dublin, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, Greenish Warbler on Mainland Shetland, Blyth's Reed Warbler on Unst in Shetland and Western Bonelli's Warbler on Scilly. |
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| - Pete Hayman, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 29th September 2016 | ||
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| Britain's first Eastern Kingbird was discovered on Barra
(Western Isles) this afternoon. There have been two Irish records (both
in Co
Galway, on 5th October 2012 and 24th September 2013), but both have only
been
available on the day of disovery.
American landbirds also featured in Ireland, where a Rose-breasted Grosbeak was at Garinish (Co Cork) and a Red-eyed Vireo was on Inishbofin (Co Galway). Elsewhere rarity highlights included Brunnich's Guillemot (Fife), Lesser Grey Shrike (Devon), Dalmatian Pelican (Cornwall), Greenish Warbler (Dorset), Ferruginous Duck (London), Western Purple Swamphen (Lincolnshire) and Pallid Harrier (Kent), whilst Shetland hosted Brown Shrike, Greenish Warbler, Blyth's Reed Warbler and Paddyfield Warbler. Rare shorebirds comprised White-rumped Sandpiper (Co Kerry), two Baird's Sandpipers, three Lesser Yellowlegs and six Semipalmated Sandpipers. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 28th September 2016 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was a Yellow-billed Cuckoo discovered on the Western Isles, on Lewis at South Dell. Elsewhere, major rarities included the
Brunnich's Guillemot still in Fife, two Red-eyed Vireos together on the Isles of Scilly,
the Western Purple Swamphen still in Lincolnshire, and the Dalmatian Pelican
remained in Cornwall. On the Shetland Isles the Brown Shrike remained on Out Skerries, with, nearby, Paddyfield Warbler (Fair Isle), Arctic Warbler (Mainland at Frakkafield), Dusky Warbler (Unst), Short-toed Lark, Rose-coloured Starling, Icterine Warbler, Red-backed Shrike and Corncrake, two each of Blyth's Reed Warbler, Bluethroat and Hoopoe, three Common Rosefinches, four Barred Warblers, five Red-breasted Flycatchers, and six Little Buntings. Notable waders comprised the Hudsonian Whimbrel still in Cornwall, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Kerry, two each of Baird's Sandpiper, American Golden Plover and Dotterel, five Lesser Yellowlegs, and six Pectoral Sandpipers. The best of the rest were Purple Heron (Oxfordshire), Serin (Cornwall), Hoopoe (Norfolk), Spotted Crake (Cheshire), two Melodious Warblers, and a further four Rose-coloured Starlings. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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