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| Monday 10th October 2016 | ||
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| Shetland was once again the place to be with not only the Siberian
Accentor, which remained and showed well at Scousburgh on Mainland, but
there was also a Black-faced Bunting discovered on Bressay in the
afternoon. This represents the sixth record for Britain and the second for
Shetland. Supporting cast was provided by Red-flanked Bluetail and
Dusky Warbler on Mainland, Swainson's Thrush still on Fetlar,
Blyth's Reed Warbler on Whalsay and Lesser Yellowlegs on Unst, as
well as good numbers of the usual scarce migrants.
On Scilly, new rarities comprised a Red-eyed Vireo and a Western Subalpine Warbler on St.Mary's, with the long-staying Sora still on Tresco. Elsewhere new rarities included King Eider in County Sligo, Lesser Yellowlegs in Essex, Red-flanked Bluetails in Conwy and Lincolnshire, Blyth's Reed Warblers in Suffolk and Fife, Arctic Warbler in Northumberland, Penduline Tit in Kent, Olive-backed Pipit in County Cork and Tawny Pipit in Devon. Lingering rarities included the Rose-breasted Grosbeak in County Cork, Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall, Hooded Merganser in Clyde, Western Purple Swamphen in Lincolnshire, Hudsonian Whimbrel in Cornwall, Long-billed Dowitchers in Kent and Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, Baird's Sandpipers in Northumberland and County Galway, Red-flanked Bluetails in Cleveland and County Down, Radde's Warblers in Norfolk and County Waterford, Dusky Warbler in Norfolk and Olive-backed Pipit in Yorkshire. Yellow-browed Warblers were still the main species amongst continuing large numbers of scarce migrants, especially along the east coast. |
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| - Pete Hayman, 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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| Sunday 9th October 2016 | ||
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| A stunning Siberian Accentor was discovered today in Shetland. This
first for Britain spent mid afternoon onwards in a quarry near Scousburgh,
entertaining the small gathered crowd until it appeared to go to roost at
6.40pm.
A Two-barred Greenish Warbler was found on Papa Westray, Orkney, with other new discoveries including a Black-throated Thrush and Dusky Warbler at Kenidjack and Blyth's Pipit at Porthgwarra, both Cornwall, a Pacific Golden Plover over Rattray Head, Aberdeenshire, single Red-flanked Bluetails at Hartlepool, Cleveland, Amble, Northumberland and Grimston, East Yorkshire, a Siberian Stonechat at Thornham and a second Dusky Warbler at Cromer, both Norfolk, single Subalpine Warblers at Hugh Town, Isles of Scilly and Portland, Dorset, a Radde's Warbler at Brownstown Head, County Waterford, a Blyth's Reed Warbler on Whalsay and a Dusky Warbler on Out Skerries, both Shetland, an Olive-backed Pipit at Spurn, East Yorkshire and a Long-billed Dowitcher at Oare Marshes, Kent. Lingering rarity highlights included the Rose-breasted Grosbeak in County Cork, Semipalmated Plover in County Mayo, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in County Kerry, Hooded Merganser in Clyde, Swainson's Thrush in Shetland, Red-flanked Bluetail in County Down, Sora in the Isles of Scilly, Western Purple Swamphen and probable Stejneger's Stonechat in Lincolnshire, Dalmatian Pelican in Devon, Hudsonian Whimbrel in Cornwall and Forster's Tern in both County Dublin and County Louth. Today was the busiest day in the history of Rare Bird Alert, with over a thousand news reports sent. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 8th October 2016 | ||
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| In Norfolk the immature Black-browed Albatross reappeared in the
north-west of the county, firstly off Hunstanton, then Scolt Head Island then
back at Old Hunstanton late afternoon.
The first Red-flanked Bluetail for Northern Ireland was discovered at St John's Point, County Down, whilst another was trapped at Beachy Head, East Sussex. A Great Snipe and a Dusky Warbler were both found in Shetland, at Houbie, Fetlar and Garth, Mainland respectively, with a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll, Blyth's Reed Warbler and Greenish Warbler a little further south in Orkney (the former on South Ronaldsay, the others on Sanday). Further south still, Olive-backed Pipits were at Dunbar (Lothian), Whitburn (County Durham) and Flamborough and Easington (both East Yorkshire), a Rustic Bunting was at Spurn (East Yorkshire), a Dusky Warbler was at Burnham Overy (Norfolk) and a Red-throated Pipit was on The Lizard (Cornwall). Other new discoveries included a Baird's Sandpiper in County Galway and a Baltic Gull in County Cork. Lingering rarities included the Hooded Merganser in Clyde, Brown Shrike, Swainson's Thrush, Pechora Pipit and Olive-backed Pipit in Shetland, Rose-breasted Grosbeak in County Cork, Sora in the Isles of Scilly, Semipalmated Plover in County Mayo, Hudsonian Whimbrel in Cornwall, Dalmatian Pelican and Caspian Tern in Devon, Forster's Tern in County Dublin, Booted Warbler in Conwy, Arctic Warbler in East Yorkshire, single Dusky Warblers in East Yorkshire and Norfolk, single Radde's Warblers in Norfolk and Fife, Blyth's Reed Warbler in Dorset, Siberian Stonechat, Western Purple Swamphen and Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, single Baird's Sandpipers in Cornwall and Northumberland, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Wexford and Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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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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| 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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