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
Sunday 30th July 2017  
  Once again Wilson's Petrel dominated the news with in County Cork at least 40 logged from a pelagic off Fastnet Cork and a single passing Galley Head, and in Cornwall four off Porthgwarra. Other seabirds included a total of 14 Cory's and 36 Great Shearwaters between County Cork and Cornwall, and a total of 103 Balearic Shearwaters included 50 off Bolt Tail, Devon.

Rarities today comprised a Bonaparte's Gull discovered in Dorset at Brownsea Island, the American White-winged Scoter still in Aberdeenshire, Forster's Tern in County Louth, Marsh Sandpiper, Bonaparte's Gull and 10 Black-winged Stilts all in Kent, King Eider in Ceredigion, White-rumped Sandpiper on the Western Isles and seven Bee-eaters still at their colony in Nottinghamshire.

Scarcities included White-winged Black Tern (Lincolnshire), Rose-coloured Starling (Highland), Red-backed Shrike (North Yorkshire), Surf Scoter (Aberdeenshire), Glossy Ibis (Suffolk), Night Heron (Shropshire), two Pectoral Sandpipers (Lincolnshire and London), and a total of 16 Cattle Egrets.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 29th July 2017  
  Seabirds dominated the headlines again with a total of nine Wilson's Petrels seen from Cornwall, 26 Cory's Shearwaters reported between County Cork and Devon, 109 Great Shearwaters between County Cork and Cornwall, and two Sabine's Gulls passed County Cork.

The four Two-barred Crossbills present today - three on the Shetland Isles and one still in Fife on the Isle of May - brings the influx total to seven individuals since the 21st July. Other rarities comprised a White-rumped Sandpiper new on the Western Isles on North Uist, the Forster's Tern still in County Louth, Marsh Sandpiper, Bonaparte's Gull and 11 Black-winged Stilts in Kent, two Black-winged Stilts still in Norfolk and at least four Bee-eaters still in Nottinghamshire.

Scarcities included White-winged Black Tern (Lincolnshire), Rose-coloured Starling (Highland), Glossy Ibis (Suffolk), Red-backed Shrike (East Yorkshire and North Yorkshire), three Pectoral Sandpipers and eight Cattle Egrets.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 28th July 2017  
  The highlight of the day was notable seawatching in Cornwall culminating in three Wilson's Petrels seen from land: two passing Lizard Point and one off Porthgwarra. Large shearwaters totalled 175 Cory's between County Kerry and Devon and 169 Great Shearwaters between County Cork and Dorset, with the majority of both species being seen from Porthgwarra, Cornwall.

Elsewhere lingering rarities comprised single Marsh Sandpipers in both Kent and Lincolnshire, White-rumped Sandpiper in East Yorkshire, Bonaparte's Gull and the flock of 10 Black-winged Stilts in Kent, and at least five Bee-eaters still in Nottinghamshire.

Scarcities included White-winged Black Tern (Lincolnshire), Rose-coloured Starling (Highland), Red-backed Shrike (North Yorkshire), Red-necked Phalarope (Cambridgeshire), Glossy Ibis (Suffolk), and three Pectoral Sandpipers.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 27th July 2017  
  An incredible 20+ Wilson's Petrels were observed from an Isles of Scilly pelagic this evening. Elsewhere two Wilson's Petrels were logged from a pelagic off Penzance (Cornwall) and another was seen from Valentia Island (Co Kerry).

A third Two-barred Crossbill joined the two already on Unst (Shetland), whilst the lone Two-barred Crossbill remained on Isle of May (Fife). The breeding Bee-eaters (Nottinghamshire), Marsh Sandpiper and Bonaparte's Gull (Kent), Black-winged Stilt families (Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Kent) and Forster's Tern (Co Louth) all lingered.

The best of the rest included American Night Heron (Shropshire), Purple Heron (Isles of Scilly), White-winged Black Tern (Lincolnshire), Rose-coloured Starling (Highland), Temminck's Stint (Essex) and Pectoral Sandpipers (Gloucestershire and Lincolnshire).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 26th July 2017  
  Highlight of the day was the discovery of a Gull-billed Tern at Martin Mere WWT (Lancashire), whilst Two-barred Crossbills in Shetland (2) and Fife, King Eider in Ceredigion, Black-winged Stilt familes in Kent and Cambridgeshire, Forster's Tern in Co Louth, Little Bittern in Somerset, Bonaparte's Gull in Kent and Bee-eaters in Nottinghamshire all lingered.

The best of the rest included American Night Heron (Shropshire), Red-backed Shrike (North Yorkshire), White-winged Black Tern (East Yorkshire) and Pectoral Sandpipers in Gloucestershire and Lincolnshire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 25th July 2017  
  New discoveries today included a Marsh Sandpiper at Freiston Shore RSPB, Lincolnshire, a second Two-barred Crossbill at Baltasound, Unst, Shetland, a Wilson's Petrel off Skellig Michael, County Kerry and a Black Kite at Cuckmere, East Sussex. A Black Stork flew over Woodwalton Fen, Cambridgeshire (presumably the lingering bird which departed Dunsby Fen, Lincolnshire late morning), and late news concerned a Collared Pratincole present on Orford Ness, Suffolk last weekend.

Lingering rarities included the Two-barred Crossbill in Fife, Forster's Tern in County Louth, White-rumped Sandpiper in Yorkshire, Little Bittern in Somerset, three Bee-eaters in Nottinghamshire and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Monday 24th July 2017  
  Two new discoveries probably involved wandering birds, a Black Stork in Lincolnshire and Caspian Tern in Glamorgan and Camarthenshire, whilst a Two-barred Crossbill on Isle of May (Fife) was new in.

Lingering rarities included King Eider (Ceredigion), Forster's Tern (Co Louth), White-rumped Sand (East Yorkshire), Bonaparte's Gull and Marsh Sandpiper (Kent), and families of Bee-eaters in Nottinghamshire and Black-winged Stilts in Cambridgeshire and Kent. Four Wilson's Petrels were logged from an Isles of Scilly pelagic.

The best of the rest included American Night Heron (Shropshire), Short-toed Lark (Lothian) and two Rose-coloured Starlings (Highland and Shetland).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 23rd July 2017  
  New discoveries today included a White-rumped Sandpiper on West Burra, Shetland, a Wilson's Petrel past Cape Cornwall, Cornwall and a Black Kite over Leighton Moss RSPB, Lancashire.

Lingering rarities included the American White-winged Scoter in Aberdeenshire, Forster's Tern in County Louth, Marsh Sandpiper, ten Black-winged Stilts and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent, six Black-winged Stilts in Norfolk and four in Cambridgeshire, White-rumped Sandpiper in Yorkshire, Two-barred Crossbill in Shetland and five Bee-eaters in Nottinghamshire.

The best of the rest were a Short-toed Lark, a Hoopoe, a Rose-coloured Starling, a Purple Heron, a Red-necked Phalarope, a Honey Buzzard, two Pectoral Sandpipers, five Cattle Egrets, two Long-tailed Skuas, a Pomarine Skua, eight Roseate Terns, nine Great Shearwaters and 23 Cory's Shearwaters.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 22nd July 2017  
  Rarity highlights included a new Two-barred Crossbill on Fair Isle (another remained on Unst, Shetland) and Black Kite over Long Melford (Suffolk), whilst American White-winged Scoter (Aberdeenshire), King Eider (Ceredigion), Forster's Tern (Co Louth), White-rumped Sandpiper (East Yorkshire), Marsh Sandpiper, Bonaparte's Gull and five Black-winged Stilts (Kent), six Black-winged Stilts (Norfolk) and at least four Bee-eaters (Nottinghamshire) all lingered.

The best of the rest included Short-toed Lark (Lothian), American Night Heron (Shropshire), Hoopoe (Forth), American Golden Plover (East Yorkshire), Red-necked Phalarope (Lincolnshire) and three Pectoral Sandpipers.

Seawatching was again excellent in Southwest England; two Wilson's Petrels were logged off Porthgwarra (Cornwall), where the day's peak Cory's Shearwater (147) total was also logged. The peak Great Shearwater count (42) came from Lizard Point (Cornwall), whilst tantalising probable and possible records comprised a Bulwer's Petrel and Scopoli's Shearwater off Porthgwarra (to add to yesterday's report of a possible White-bellied Storm Petrel) and Madeiran Petrel off Prawle Point (Devon).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 21st July 2017  
  New discoveries included a Two-barred Crossbill on Unst (Shetland), flyover Black Stork at Wykeham Forest (North Yorkshire), Pacific Golden Plover at North Cave Wetlands (East Yorkshire), White-rumped Sandpiper at Kilnsea Wetlands (East Yorkshire) and Lesser Yellowlegs at Burton Marsh (Cheshire).

Lingering rarities comprised Marsh Sandpiper, Bonaparte's Gull and ten Black-winged Stilts in Kent, family of Bee-eaters in Nottinghamshire, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Co Wexford, Forster's Tern in Co Louth and King Eider in Ceredigion.

Excellent seawatching in Southwest England was the theme of the day; Wilson's Petrels were logged off Porthgwarra and Lizard Point (Cornwall), whilst the passage included Cory's Shearwaters [including 296 Lizard Point, 181 Berry Head (Devon), 82 Start Point (Devon), 26 Portland Bill (Dorset)], Great Shearwater [including 66 Lizard Point, 82 Berry Head, four Portland Bill], three Sabine's Gulls, Long-tailed Skua and nine Pomarine Skuas.

The best of the rest included Rose-coloured Starling (Highland), Hoopoe (Forth), White-winged Black Tern (Shetland) and three Pectoral Sandpipers.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA