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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Saturday 18th March 2017  
  A Gyr on Lewis (Western Isles) was today's headline discovery, whilst Killdeer (Shetland), Pallid Harrier (Norfolk), Ferruginous Duck (Northumberland), Black Duck (Highland), Blue Rock Thrush (Gloucestershire), Hume's Warbler (Dorset), Bonaparte's Gull (Cornwall), Northern Harrier (Orkney), King Eider (Co Sligo) and Eastern Black Redstart (Cleveland) all lingered.

The best of the rest included Bluethroat (Lincolnshire), Rose-coloured Starling (West Sussex), Hoopoe (Cornwall) and Little Bunting (Bedfordshire).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 17th March 2017  
  Rarity highlights included Arctic Redpoll (Western Isles), Northern Harrier (Orkney), Pallid Harrier (Norfolk), Ferruginous Duck (Northumberland), Blue Rock Thrush (Gloucestershire), Bonaparte's Gull (Cornwall), Long-billed Dowitcher (Co Wexford), King Eider (Co Sligo) and Eastern Black Redstart (Cleveland).

The best of the rest included Rose-coloured Starling (West Sussex), White-tailed Eagle (Norfolk), Little Bunting (Bedfordshire) and Yellow-browed Warbler (Cornwall).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Thursday 16th March 2017  
  Lingering rarities still present today included the American Coot in the Western Isles, Northern Harrier in Orkney, Pallid Harrier in Norfolk, Eastern Black Redstart in Cleveland, Hume's Warbler and Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, Pacific Diver and Ferruginous Duck in Northumberland and single Bonaparte's Gulls in Cornwall and County Kerry.

Scarcity highlights included a Bluethroat, a Hoopoe, a Rose-coloured Starling, three Glossy Ibises, three Green-winged Teals, three Ring-necked Ducks and 12 Great Grey Shrikes.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 15th March 2017  
  A smart drake Ferruginous Duck was found at Gosforth Park NR, Northumberland.

Lingering rarities included the Blue Rock Thrush in Gloucestershire, Eastern Black Redstart in Cleveland, Northern Harrier in Orkney, Pallid Harrier in Norfolk, Pacific Diver in Northumberland and single Bonaparte's Gulls in Cornwall and County Kerry.

Scarcity highlights included a White-tailed Eagle (in Yorkshire), a Bluethroat, a Little Bunting, a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Surf Scoter, a Todd's Canada Goose, two American Wigeon, two Ring-billed Gulls, four Ring-necked Ducks, five Glossy Ibises, five Lapland Buntings and 16 Great Grey Shrikes.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 14th March 2017  
  Rarities today comprised the Blue Rock Thrush still in Gloucestershire, Pacific Diver in Northumberland, Eastern Black Redstart in Cleveland, Bonaparte's Gull in County Kerry, and both Bonaparte's Gull and Lesser Scaup in Cornwall.

Scarcities included Serin (Kent), Bluethroat (Lincolnshire), Lesser Snow Goose (Lancashire), Surf Scoter and Glossy Ibis (both Devon), two Green-winged Teals, three each of American Wigeon, Ring-billed Gull and Yellow-browed Warbler, six Lapland Buntings, seven Ring-necked Ducks, 13 Great Grey Shrikes, 20 Cattle Egrets and 67 Shorelarks.

Incoming spring arrivals included a total of 15 Garganey, seven Swallows, four House Martins, a Quail in Suffolk and a Ring Ouzel in North Yorkshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 13th March 2017  
  Rarities today comprised the Black-throated Thrush still in Lancashire although proving very elusive, the Blue Rock Thrush still in Gloucestershire, Pacific Diver in Northumberland, Pallid Harrier in Norfolk, Eastern Black Redstart in Cleveland, and both Bonaparte's Gull and Lesser Scaup in Cornwall.

Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starling (West Sussex), Surf Scoter (Lothian), Glossy Ibis (Somerset), Kumlien's Gull (County Kerry), two Lapland Buntings, three each of Ring-necked Duck, Green-winged Teal and Yellow-browed Warbler, four American Wigeons, five Ring-billed Gulls, 15 Cattle Egrets, 17 Great Grey Shrikes, and a total of 42 Shorelarks.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 12th March 2017  
  The highlight of the day was a Black-throated Thrush found in Fulwood, Lancashire, the first county record. Meanwhile in Leicestershire the first county record of Bonaparte's Gull was discovered at Swithland Reservoir.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Blue Rock Thrush in Gloucestershire, Pacific Diver in Northumberland, Forster's Tern in County Galway, both Hume's Warbler and Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, Eastern Black Redstart in Cleveland, Long-billed Dowitcher in County Wexford, Bonaparte's Gulls in both Cornwall and County Kerry, and Lesser Scaup in Cornwall.

Scarcities included Bluethroat (Lincolnshire), Rose-coloured Starling (West Sussex), Little Bunting (Bedfordshire), Rough-legged Buzzard (Norfolk), two Yellow-browed Warblers, three Surf Scoters, five American Wigeons, six Glossy Ibises, seven Ring-necked Ducks, eight Ring-billed Gulls and 26 Shorelarks.

Amonst the spring migrants Sand Martin and Wheatear are now widespread, along with a total of 31 Garganey, eight Swallows, seven White Wagtails, five each of Little Ringed Plover and House Martin, Ring Ouzel (Wirral) and Willow Warbler (East Sussex).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 11th March 2017  
  An Alpine Swift was over Dungeness RSPB, Kent briefly mid morning, whilst a Bonaparte's Gull was at Kenmare, County Kerry.

Lingering rarities included the Blue Rock Thrush in Gloucestershire, Pine Bunting in Yorkshire, Eastern Black Redstart in Cleveland, Hume's Warbler and Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, Long-billed Dowitcher in County Wexford, Bonaparte's Gulls in Cornwall and County Cork, Pacific Diver in Northumberland, White-billed Diver in Orkney, Black Duck in Highland, King Eider in County Kerry and Lesser Scaup in Cornwall.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 10th March 2017  
  The biggest news of the day was of a Baillon's Crake in Cornwall. It was seen at Porthchapel Beach, St Levan this morning before flying off west. The first Alpine Swift of the year was over Midleton, County Cork briefly.

Lingering rarities included the Blue Rock Thrush in Gloucestershire, Pine Bunting in Yorkshire, Northern Harrier in Orkney, Pallid Harrier in Norfolk, Eastern Black Redstart in Cleveland, Pacific Diver in Northumberland and Lesser Scaup and Bonaparte's Gull in Cornwall.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 9th March 2017  
  Lingering rarities still present today included the Blue Rock Thrush in Gloucestershire, Eastern Black Redstart in Cleveland, Pine Bunting in Yorkshire, Pacific Diver in Northumberland, Pallid Harrier in Norfolk, single Bonaparte's Gulls in Cornwall, Clyde and County Cork and Lesser Scaup in Cornwall.

Scarcity highlights included a Bluethroat, a Little Bunting, a Richard's Pipit, a Rose-coloured Starling, a Kumlien's Gull, two Glossy Ibises, two American Wigeon, three Yellow-browed Warblers, four Ring-necked Ducks, four Green-winged Teals, five Ring-billed Gulls, five Lapland Buntings and ten Great Grey Shrikes.
-  Will Soar, RBA