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.

Choose a starting date
Saturday 8th April 2017  
  New discoveries included a Bonaparte's Gull in Oxfordshire, Alpine Swift in Co Wexford, at least six Black-winged Stilts in Essex and Gyr on Western Isles, whilst White-billed Diver and Northern Harrier (Orkney), Ferruginous Duck in Northumberland, Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll, Long-billed Dowitcher in Co Wexford and Hudsonian Whimbrel in Cornwall all lingered.

The best of the rest included Hoopoe (Cornwall), Purple Heron (Isles of Scilly), Serin (Hampshire), two Yellow-browed Warblers, two Night Herons and two Woodchat Shrikes.
Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 7th April 2017  
  New discoveries today included a male Western Subalpine Warbler at Spurn, East Yorkshire and an adult Bonaparte's Gull at Llangorse Lake, Powys.

Lingering rarities included the Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll, single Iberian Chiffchaffs in Shropshire and Kent, Hudsonian Whimbrel in Cornwall, Long-billed Dowitcher in County Wexford and King Eider in Highland.

Scarcity highlights included a Night Heron, a Woodchat Shrike, five Great Grey Shrikes, a Hoopoe, two Purple Herons, two Serins, three Yellow-browed Warblers, two Ring-billed Gulls, two Green-winged Teals and four Ring-necked Ducks.
Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 6th April 2017  
  A male Blue Rock Thrush was discovered at Beachy Head, East Sussex mid morning, where it remained near the Belle Tout Lighthouse until dusk. Analysis of the photographs show it to be the same individual that wintered in Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, which was last seen on Tuesday.

Other big news today concerned an Allen's Gallinule which was found dead on St Kilda, Western Isles on 26th March.

Other new discoveries today were a Black Kite over Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk and a White-billed Diver off Papa Westray, Orkney.

Lingering rarities included the Iberian Chiffchaffs in Shropshire and Kent, American Coot in the Western Isles, Hudsonian Whimbrel in Cornwall, White-billed Diver in Aberdeenshire and Ferruginous Duck in Northumberland.
Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 5th April 2017  
  Black Kites were seen over Coryton, Essex and Cleadon, County Durham today.

Lingering rarities included the Little Bittern in the Isles of Scilly, single Iberian Chiffchaffs in Shropshire and Kent, American Coot in the Western Isles, Killdeer in Shetland, Hudsonian Whimbrel in Cornwall, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, single White-billed Divers in the Western Isles, Moray and Aberdeenshire, Black Duck and King Eider in Highland and Ferruginous Duck in Northumberland.

Scarcity highlights included two Purple Herons, two Woodchat Shrikes, two Richard's Pipits, two Yellow-browed Warblers and three Serins.
Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 4th April 2017  
  A Little Bittern arrived on St Mary's (Isles of Scilly) and in Shropshire the Iberian Chiffchaff returned to Donnington Wood, where it previously resided from 5th April-2nd May 2016.

Lingering rarities included Pied-billed Grebe (Argyll), Iberian Chiffchaff (Kent), Ferruginous Duck (Northumberland), Killdeer (Shetland), White-billed Diver (Orkney), Lesser Yellowlegs (Dorset) and Long-billed Dowitcher (Co Wexford).

The best of the rest included Purple Heron (Isles of Scilly), Woodchat Shrike (Cornwall) and three Yellow-browed Warblers.
Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 3rd April 2017  
  New discoveries included an Iberian Chiffchaff in Co Cork and a pair of Ferruginous Ducks in London, whilst another Ferruginous Duck relocated from Co Durham to Northumberland.

Lingering rarities included Northern Harrier and White-billed Diver (Orkney), Iberian Chiffchaff (Kent) and Lesser Yellowlegs and Hume's Warbler (Dorset).

The best of the rest included Purple Heron (Isles of Scilly), Richard's Pipit (Kent), Spotted Crake (Cheshire), two Yellow-browed Warblers (Devon and Shropshire) and two Woodchat Shrikes (Cornwall).

Significant late news related to a Slate-coloured Junco in Borders on Friday and Saturday.
Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 2nd April 2017  
  Another Iberian Chiffchaff was discovered today, at the Dump Clump on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly.

Lingering rarities included the Northern Harrier in Orkney, Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll, Iberian Chiffchaff in Kent, Black-winged Stilt in Hampshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in County Wexford, Hume's Warbler in Dorset, Pallid Harrier in Norfolk, single White-billed Divers in Moray and Orkney and Ferruginous Duck in County Durham.

Scarcity highlights included two Woodchat Shrikes, two Yellow-browed Warblers, three Ring-billed Gulls, three Glossy Ibises, a Todd's Canada Goose, two Surf Scoters, five Green-winged Teals and five Ring-necked Ducks.
Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 1st April 2017  
  New rarities today included an Iberian Chiffchaff at Seaton GPs, Kent (present for its second day), an Alpine Swift over Bolt Head and Thurlestone, Devon, a Black-winged Stilt at Titchfield Haven NNR, Hampshire and a White-billed Diver off Port Nis, Western Isles.

Lingering rarities included the Northern Harrier and White-billed Diver in Orkney, Pallid Harrier in Norfolk, Black-winged Stilt in Essex, Long-billed Dowitcher in County Wexford, Hume's Warbler in Dorset, Lesser Scaup in Cornwall, King Eider in Highland and Ferruginous Duck in County Durham.

Scarcity highlights included a Woodchat Shrike, a Bluethroat, a Hoopoe, two Yellow-browed Warblers and two Richard's Pipits.
Will Soar, RBA
Friday 31st March 2017  
  New Red-rumped Swallows were found at Himley Hall in Staffordshire, Spurn in Yorkshire and at Porth Hellick in the Isles of Scilly, where two were present.

Lingering rarities included the Black-winged Stilt on the Isle of Wight, Hudsonian Whimbrel in Cornwall, Pallid Harrier in Norfolk, King Eider in Highland, single White-billed Divers in the Western Isles and Moray and Ferruginous Duck in County Durham.

Scarcity highlights included a Hoopoe, three Yellow-browed Warblers and a Pomarine Skua.
Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 30th March 2017  
  New discoveries included an Alpine Swift in Cleveland/Co Durham, Red-rumped Swallow in Gwent, Iberian Chiffchaff in Isles of Scilly, Black-winged Stilts in Essex (2) and Isle of Wight and King Eider in Highland. Lingering rarities comprised Ferruginous Duck (Northumberland), Lesser Yellowlegs and Hume's Warbler (Dorset), Hudsonian Whimbrel (Cornwall) and seven White-billed Divers (Aberdeenshire [4] and Moray [3]).

The best of the rest included Hoopoes (Cornwall and Pembrokeshire) and Rose-coloured Starling (Norfolk).
Stuart Piner, RBA