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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Monday 8th May 2017  
  A male Spectacled Warbler, the ninth for Britain, was found at Portland Bill, Dorset late afternoon, where it showed well until late evening. Wales's second Slate-coloured Junco was seen on Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire, where there was also a male Eastern Subalpine Warbler. A Bee-eater was near St Just, Cornwall, a Red-rumped Swallow was at Grove Ferry NNR, Kent and two White-billed Divers were found off North Ronaldsay, Orkney.

Lingering rarities seen today included the Red-winged Blackbird in Orkney, Eastern Stonechat in Yorkshire, Great Reed Warbler in Suffolk, Pallid Harrier in Lancashire, Little Bittern in Scilly, Broad-billed Sandpiper on the Isle of Man, Marsh Sandpiper in County Dublin, Black-winged Stilts in Gloucestershire, Somerset and Norfolk (two), King Eider in Highland and Bonaparte's Gull in Dorset.

Scarcity highlights included a Melodious Warbler, a Serin, a Lapland Bunting, a Green-winged Teal, a Pomarine Skua, a Roseate Tern, a White-tailed Eagle, two Wrynecks, two Short-toed Larks, two Purple Herons, two Ring-billed Gulls, two Glossy Ibises, three Temminck's Stints and 14 Dotterel.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 7th May 2017  
  New discoveries today included a Great Reed Warbler at Landguard NR, Suffolk, a Western Subalpine Warbler on Tiree, Argyll, single Black-winged Stilts at Pilning, Gloucestershire and Harbridge, Somerset, a Black Kite over Sandwich Bay, Kent and an adult male Red-footed Falcon was trapped and ringed at the Calf of Man.

Lingering rarities still present included the Red-winged Blackbird in Orkney, Pallid Harrier in Lancashire, Marsh Sandpiper in County Dublin, Broad-billed Sandpiper on the Isle of Man, two Black-winged Stilts in Norfolk and one in Scilly, Great Reed Warbler in Leicestershire, Savi's Warbler in Norfolk, Western Bonelli's Warbler in Scilly, Citrine Wagtail in Conwy, Eastern Stonechat in Yorkshire, Little Bittern in Scilly, single Red-footed Falcon in Anglesey and Cambridgeshire, single White-billed Divers in Orkney and Moray and single Bonaparte's Gulls in Oxfordshire, Hampshire and Dorset.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 6th May 2017  
  New discoveries today include Ireland's sixth Marsh Sandpiper (on Swords Estuary in County Dublin), Isle of Man's first Broad-billed Sandpiper (at Derbyhaven) and Leicestershire's third Great Reed Warbler (at Albert Village Lake). Other new rarities included an Eastern Stonechat at Flamborough, Yorkshire, a Citrine Wagtail at Morfa Madryn, Conwy, a Bonaparte's Gull at Portbury Wharf, Somerset, single Red-footed Falcons in Anglesey, Lothian and Hampshire, an Alpine Swift and a Black Kite in Kent and a Red-rumped Swallow in Dorset.

Lingering rarities included the Red-winged Blackbird in Orkney, Pallid Harrier in Lancashire, Little Bittern in Scilly, Black-winged Stilts in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk (five), single Savi's Warblers in Norfolk and Suffolk, Western Bonelli's Warbler and Gull-billed Tern in County Cork, single Bonaparte's Gulls in Dorset and Hampshire, Red-footed Falcon in Cambridgeshire, Black Duck in Highland and White-billed Divers in Moray and Orkney (two).
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 5th May 2017  
  In Cornwall, a Red-throated Pipit and an Alpine Swift were over Pendeen and a Black Kite was at Polgigga. A female Red-footed Falcon was found at Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB, Cambridgeshire, a Western Bonelli's Warbler was at Three Castles Head and a Hudsonian Whimbrel was at Clonakilty, both County Cork and two Black-winged Stilts were at Potter Heigham Marshes, Norfolk.

Lingering rarities included the Red-winged Blackbird and White-billed Diver in Orkney, Pallid Harrier in Lancashire, Western Bonelli's Warbler in the Isles of Scilly, Savi's Warbler in Suffolk, single Bonaparte's Gulls in Oxfordshire, Hampshire and Dorset, Black-winged Stilts in the Isles of Scilly (two), Norfolk (two) and Cambridgeshire, King Eider in Highland and White-billed Divers in Moray and Shetland (two).

Scarcity highlights included a Red-breasted Flycatcher, a Hoopoe, a Great Grey Shrike a Kentish Plover, a Pectoral Sandpiper, a Green-winged Teal, a Lapland Bunting, two Golden Orioles, two Ring-billed Gulls, three Night Herons, four Wrynecks, four Temminck's Stints, ten Dotterel and up to 35 Pomarine Skuas.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 4th May 2017  
  On Orkney the Red-winged Blackbird continued its stay on North Ronaldsay, whilst rarity highlights elsewhere comprised Red-footed Falcon (Dorset), Great Reed Warbler (Staffordshire), Gull-billed Tern (Co Cork), Bonaparte's Gulls (Hampshire and Dorset), White-billed Divers (Orkney and Western Isles), Pallid Harrier (Lancashire), Black-winged Stilts (Norfolk), Western Bonelli's Warbler and Little Bittern (Isles of Scilly) and Savi's Warbler (Norfolk).

The best of the rest included Pectoral Sandpiper (Western Isles), Little Bunting (Shetland), White-tailed Eagle (Norfolk), Richard's Pipit (Isles of Scilly), at least three Wrynecks and four Night Herons.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 3rd May 2017  
  New discoveries included Western Bonelli's Warbler (Isles of Scilly), Red-rumped Swallow (Hampshire), Red-footed Falcon (South Yorkshire), Bonaparte's Gull (Dorset), Subalpine Warbler and White-billed Diver (Shetland), Bee-eater (Suffolk) and a Whiskered Tern was reported in Nottinghamshire.

Lingering rarities included the Red-winged Blackbird (Orkney), Pallid Harrier (Lancashire), Eastern Subalpine Warbler (Shetland), Little Bittern (Isles of Scilly), Savi's Warbler (Norfolk), Bonaparte's Gull (Dorset), Pied-billed Grebe (Argyll) three Black-winged Stilts and five White-billed Divers.

The best of the rest included Pallas's Warbler (Northumberland), Richard's Pipit (Cornwall), Red-backed Shrike (Shetland), Short-toed Lark (Dorset), White-tailed Eagle (Norfolk), two Serins, Temminck's Stints and Golden Orioles, three Night Herons, four Wrynecks and five Hoopoes.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 2nd May 2017  
  The Red-winged Blackbird continued its stay on North Ronaldsay (Orkney).

New discoveries included Eastern Subalpine Warbler (Shetland), Dusky Warblers (Dorset and Shetland), Broad-billed Sandpiper (East Yorkshire) and Pallid Harrier (Norfolk), whilst the Pallid Harrier (Lancashire), Eastern Subalpine Warbler (Dorset), Pied-billed Grebe (Argyll), Broad-billed Sandpiper (Anglesey), Gull-billed Tern (Co Cork), Lesser Scaup (Cornwall), Bonaparte's Gulls (Dorset, Essex and Oxfordshire), Black Duck (Highland), Black-winged Stilts (Norfolk and Isles of Scilly), Savi's Warblers (Norfolk and Suffolk), Subalpine Warbler sp (Shetland) and Little Bittern (Isles of Scilly) all lingered.

The best of the rest included Pallas's Warbler (Northumberland), Little Bunting (Shetland), Short-toed Lark (Isles of Scilly), two Richard's Pipits, two Serin, three Purple Herons, three Wrynecks, three Night Herons, four Golden Orioles and five Hoopoes.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 1st May 2017  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Red-winged Blackbird on North Ronaldsay, Orkney Isles, whilst the territorial Pallid Harrier remained in Lancashire, as did the Eastern Subalpine Warbler in Dorset, Gull-billed Tern in County Cork, Squacco Heron in County Kerry, Little Bittern on the Isles of Scilly, Bonaparte's Gulls in Dorset, Hampshire and Oxfordshire, Savi's Warblers in both Norfolk and Suffolk, Black-winged Stilts in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk (3), King Eider in Aberdeenshire and White-billed Diver on the Orkney Isles.

Newly discovered rarities were in the main brief encounters with a Broad-billed Sandpiper on Anglesey at Llanfachraeth, a Subalpine Wabler on the Shetland Isles on Unst, a Red-rumped Swallow in Essex, a Black Kite in Kent and Red-footed Falcons in both East Sussex and Norfolk (2).

Scarcities included Kentish Plover (Buckinghamshire/Hertfordshire), American Golden Plover (Dumfries and Galloway), Purple Heron (Kent), Ring-billed Gull (County Kerry), Great Grey Shrike (Dorset), two each of Wryneck, Ring-necked Duck, Glossy Ibis and Green-winged Teal, three Lapland Buntings, four of both Night Heron and Temminck's Stint, five Hoopoes, 16 Dotterel, 22 Shorelarks and a total of 42 Cattle Egrets.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 30th April 2017  
  A very busy day, with a heavy inland passage of terns and waders along with good numbers of Pomarine Skuas along the south coast producing over 900 bird news messages.

Headlining was the lingering Red-winged Blackbird on North Ronaldsay, Orkney, which obliged all day.

New discoveries today included three Black-winged Stilts at Boyton, Suffolk, a female Two-barred Crossbill at Haddon Hill, Somerset (joining the lingering male), a Subalpine Warbler species at Geosetter, Shetland and single Black Kites on St Mary's, Scilly and over Folkestone and Seabrook, Kent.

Lingering rarities included the Pallid Harrier in Lancashire, Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll, Squacco Heron in County Kerry, Little Bittern in Scilly, Eastern Subalpine Warbler in Dorset, single Savi's Warblers in both Norfolk and Suffolk, Gull-billed Tern in County Cork, single Bonaparte's Gulls in Dorset, Hampshire and Oxfordshire, two Black-winged Stilts in both Norfolk and Scilly, Long-billed Dowitcher in County Down, two White-billed Divers in Orkney and one in Aberdeenshire, King Eider in Highland and Ferruginous Duck in County Durham.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 29th April 2017  
  The first Red-winged Blackbird for Britain was discovered on North Ronaldsay, Orkney mid afternoon, where it remained into this evening.

Other new discoveries today included a Pallid Harrier at Grimston and a Savi's Warbler at Spurn, both Yorkshire, five Black-winged Stilts at March Farmers, Cambridgeshire, and two Black-winged Stilts at Welney WWT and a Black Kite at Hickling, both Norfolk.

Lingering rarities included the male Pallid Harrier in Lancashire, Eastern Subalpine Warbler in Dorset, single Savi's Warblers in Norfolk and Suffolk, Two-barred Crossbill in Somerset, Little Bittern in the Isles of Scilly, Gull-billed Tern in County Cork, Bonaparte's Gulls in Essex, Oxfordshire, Hampshire and Dorset, Black Duck and King Eider in Highland, Long-billed Dowitcher in County Down and single White-billed Divers in Aberdeenshire and Moray.
-  Will Soar, RBA