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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Friday 4th November 2016  
  An exciting day with two mega rarities discovered on the English mainland in the late afternoon: an Eyebrowed Thrush in Northumberland at Bolam Lake, and a Cliff Swallow in Suffolk at Minsmere. Other new rarities comprised a Pallid Harrier identified at Buckton, East Yorkshire, a Dusky Warbler in Devon at Broadsands, and the Forster's Tern returned to Nimmo's Pier, County Galway.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Isabelline Wheatear in Norfolk, two Eastern Black Redstarts in Cleveland, Western Purple Swamphen in Lincolnshire, Dalmatian Pelican and Hudsonian Whimbrel in Cornwall, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset and Somerset, Ferruginous Duck in Hertfordshire, and Richardson's Cackling Goose in County Sligo.

Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starling (Norfolk), Red-breasted Flycatcher (Dorset), Little Bunting (Western Isles), American Golden Plover (Cornwall) and Surf Scoter (Lothian and Shetland Isles). Waxwing aggregations included 120 in Norfolk, 105 in Lothian, 30 in the Borders, 24 on the Western Isles, 24 in Cleveland, 15 in Kent and 13 in Forth.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 3rd November 2016  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a second Eastern Black Redstart in Cleveland, at Hartlepool Headland, with the lingering bird still present at Skinningrove. Other eastern rarities comprised the Isabelline Wheatear still in Norfolk, Dusky Warblers in both Cornwall and the Shetland Isles, and Pallas's Warblers in Glamorgan and Gywnedd.

Other rarities noted were the Red-eyed Vireo still on the Isles of Scilly, Western Purple Swamphen and Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Dalmatian Pelican and Hudsonian Whimbrel in Cornwall, a King Eider in Moray, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Lesser Yellowlegs in both Dorset and Somerset, Ferruginous Duck in Hertfordshire and Black-bellied Dipper in Suffolk. 

Scarcities included Red-breasted Flycatcher (County Cork), American Golden Plover (Cornwall) and Serin (Dorset and Essex). Waxwings continue to arrive with birds recorded in 20 counties, and aggregations including 18 in Cleveland, 19 in Northumberland, 28 in North Yorkshire and 223 over-flying Hunstanton, Norfolk.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 2nd November 2016  
  New discoveries today included a probable Turkestan Shrike at Sennen, Cornwall and a Baird's Sandpiper at Dornoch Point, Highland.

Lingering rarities seen today included the Isabelline Wheatear in Norfolk, Red-eyed Vireo in the Isles of Scilly, Eastern Black Redstart in Cleveland, Dusky Warbler in Shetland, single Lesser Yellowlegs' in Dorset and Somerset, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Richardson's Cackling Goose in County Sligo and Ferruginous Duck in Hertfordshire.

Scarcity highlights were a Red-breasted Flycatcher, a Little Bunting, a Sabine's Gull, an Iceland Gull, a Pectoral Sandpiper, a Snow Goose, two Barred Warblers, two Green-winged Teals, two Rough-legged Buzzards, three American Wigeon, four Richard's Pipits, four Glaucous Gulls, five Ring-necked Ducks and six Great Grey Shrikes.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 1st November 2016  
  New discoveries included a Red-eyed Vireo on Scilly and Red-footed Falcon in Dumfries & Galloway, whilst a White-billed Diver flew past Cley and a probable Scopoli's Shearwater flew past Cley and Sheringham, Norfolk. The Squacco Heron was reportedly relocated in Pembrokeshire.

Lingering rarities included Eastern Black Redstart (Cleveland), Isabelline Wheatear (Norfolk), Isabelline Shrike and Radde's Warbler (Co Cork), American Buff-bellied Pipit (Co Sligo), Dusky Warbler (Cornwall), Long-billed Dowitcher (Co Wexford), Bonaparte's Gull (Devon) and Lesser Yellowlegs (Dorset).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 31st October 2016  
  Highlight of the day was the discovery of a Brown Shrike at Spurn, East Yorkshire, the fifth record of the autumn, but the first away from the Northern Isles.

Elsewhere new discoveries comprised Blyth's Pipit (Isles of Scilly), Dusky Warblers (Devon and Isle of Wight) and Isabelline Shrike (Co Cork), whilst American Buff-bellied Pipit (Co Sligo), Eastern Black Redstart (Cleveland), Radde's Warbler (Co Cork), Long-billed Dowitcher (Kent, Co Wexford and Lincolnshire), Lesser Yellowlegs (Somerset and Dorset), Dalmatian Pelican, Franklin's Gull and Hudsonian Whimbrel (Cornwall), Western Purple Swamphen (Lincolnshire), Isabelline Wheatear (Norfolk), Olive-backed Pipit (Scilly) and Coues's Arctic Redpoll (Shetland) all lingered.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 30th October 2016  
  New discoveries today included a Pine Bunting and Dusky Warbler at Baltasound, Unst, Shetland, an American Buff-bellied Pipit at Dunmoran Strand, County Sligo, a Pied Wheatear at Donmouth, Aberdeenshire, an Isabelline Shrike on Portland, Dorset, a Red-flanked Bluetail at St Abb's Head, Borders, a Siberian Stonechat at Quendale, Shetland, a Rustic Bunting on Tresco, Isles of Scilly, another Dusky Warbler at Land's End, Cornwall and single Fea's or Zino's Petrels past North Ronaldsay, Orkney and Unst, Shetland.

Lingering rarity highlights included the Siberian Accentor in Northumberland, single Isabelline Wheatears in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, Pied Wheatear and Eastern Black Redstart in Cleveland, Hudsonian Whimbrel, Franklin's Gull and Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall, Northern Harrier in Orkney, Western Purple Swamphen in Lincolnshire, Daurian Shrike in County Durham, probable Stejneger's Stonechat and Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Shetland, single Hume's Yellow-browed Warblers in Glamorgan and Yorkshire, single Dusky Warblers in London, Norfolk, Dorset and Cornwall, Radde's Warbler in County Cork, two Olive-backed Pipits in the Isles of Scilly, single Long-billed Dowitchers in Lincolnshire and County Wexford, single Lesser Yellowlegs' in Somerset and Dorset and Black-bellied Dipper in Suffolk.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 29th October 2016  
  A Siberian Accentor was at Newbiggin, Northumberland today, but was unfortunately in an area with no general access.

Other new discoveries today included an Isabelline Wheatear at Wardy Hill, Cambridgeshire, a Pied Wheatear at Redcar, Cleveland, single Dusky Warblers at Rainham, London and Dursey Island, County Cork, a Radde's Warbler on Cape Clear, County Cork, a Tawny Pipit at Loop Head, County Clare, a Red-throated Pipit over Portland, Dorset, a second Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Lerwick, Shetland and the Bonaparte's Gull returned to Dawlish Warren, Devon.

Lingering rarities included the White-throated Sparrow in the Western Isles, Franklin's Gull, Hudsonian Whimbrel, Dalmatian Pelican and Dusky Warbler in Cornwall, Isabelline Wheatear, Desert Wheatear and three Dusky Warblers in Norfolk, Daurian Shrike in County Durham, Black Scoter in County Kerry, Northern Harrier in Orkney, Eastern Black Redstart in Cleveland, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Yorkshire, two Olive-backed Pipits and at least three Dusky Warblers in the Isles of Scilly, Dusky Warbler and Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent, Dusky Warbler and Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, Long-billed Dowitcher in County Wexford, Long-billed Dowitcher and Western Purple Swamphen in Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Somerset and Black-bellied Dipper in Suffolk.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 28th October 2016  
  New Isabelline Shrikes were discovered on Walney Island, Cumbria and at South Shields, County Durham (the latter later being confirmed as a Daurian Shrike), a Dusky Warbler was at Prawle, Devon, an Olive-backed Pipit was on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly and an Eastern Black Redstart was identified at Donna Nook, Lincolnshire, having been present for three days.

Other lingering rarities included the Siberian Accentor in Orkney, Isabelline Wheatear, Desert Wheatear and three Dusky Warblers in Norfolk, Eastern Black Redstart in Cleveland, Siberian Stonechat and Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Shetland, Isabelline Shrike in Essex, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Yorkshire, Dusky Warbler and two Olive-backed Pipits in the Isles of Scilly, Dusky Warbler and Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent, Long-billed Dowitcher and Western Purple Swamphen in Lincolnshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in County Wexford, single Lesser Yellowlegs' in Somerset and Dorset, Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall and Black-bellied Dipper in Suffolk.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 27th October 2016  
  New discoveries comprised an Isabelline Shrike in Essex and Eastern Black Redstart in Cleveland, whilst Isles of Scilly hosted a possible Asian House Martin, the first for Britain if the identification is confirmed.

Elsewhere Siberian Accentors lingered on Shetland and Orkney, Isles of Scilly produced at least three Olive-backed Pipits, whilst Dalmatian Pelican, Franklin’s Gull and Hudsonian Whimbrel (Cornwall), Lesser Yellowlegs (Dorset and Somerset), Ferruginous Duck (Hertfordshire), Hume’s Yellow-browed Warbler (East Yorkshire), Dusky Warblers (Norfolk [2], Kent and Scilly), Long-billed Dowitcher (Kent), Western Purple Swamphen (Lincolnshire), Isabelline and Desert Wheatears [2] (Norfolk), Squacco Heron (Pembrokeshire) and Coues’s Arctic Redpoll (Shetland) were also recorded.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 26th October 2016  
  Once again, Siberian Accentor was the headline bird, with the eleventh individual of this remarkable influx located on Fetlar, Shetland Isles, with other remaining both on nearby Unst and on the Orkney Isles. Other mega rarities included Pine Buntings in both Dorset at Portland, and on Fair Isle, an Isabelline Wheatear still in Norfolk, and a probable Dusky Thrush seen briefly on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly. Other eastern rarities today included a Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in East Yorkshire at Flamborough Head, three Desert Wheatears in Norfolk, three Siberian Stonechats, four Olive-backed Pipits on the Isles of Scilly on St Mary's, and a total of eight Dusky Warblers.

Other rarities comprised a Squacco Heron in Pembrokeshire at Llangwm, a Franklin's Gull in Cornwall at Hayle Estuary, both Western Purple Swamphen and Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Dalmatian Pelican and Hudsonian Whimbrel in Cornwall, Coues's Arctic Redpoll on the Shetland Isles, Ferruginous Duck in Hertfordshire, Black-bellied Dipper in Suffolk, and Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset and Somerset.

Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starling (Ayrshire), Bluethroat (Orkney Isles), Serin (Pembrokeshire), Red-breasted Flycatcher (Western Isles), Hoopoe (Conwy), two Barred Warblers, four Richard's Pipits, five Pallas's Warblers, eight Little Buntings and 54 Shorelarks.
-  Chris Batty, RBA