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 6th October 2017  
  New discoveries in Shetland today included a Booted Warbler on Bressay, single Dusky Warblers at Gulberwick and Dale of Walls and two Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls at Baltasound, Unst, with others at Skaw, Unst and Ollaberry, Mainland. Elsewhere, a second Long-billed Dowitcher arrived at Tacumshin, County Wexford.

Late news from yesterday concerned a Siberian Rubythroat which was present on Bressay, Shetland from late afternoon.

Lingering rarities included the Cedar Waxwing, Cliff Swallow, Isabelline Wheatear and three Bee-eaters in Scilly, Scarlet Tanager and Red-eyed Vireo in County Cork, American Buff-bellied Pipit, Red-flanked Bluetail, Isabelline Shrike sp., Red-throated Pipit and Rustic Bunting in Shetland, Stilt Sandpiper in Dorset, Wilson's Phalarope and Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Spotted Sandpipers in Dorset and County Cork and Pallid Harrier in Cheshire.

Scarcity highlights included a Bluethroat, a Short-toed Lark, a Richard's Pipit, a Red-backed Shrike, two Red-breasted Flycatchers, two Common Rosefinches, two Rose-coloured Starlings, two Wrynecks, three Little Buntings, four Barred Warblers, 22 Parrot Crossbills, two Purple Herons, a Spotted Crake, a Red-necked Phalarope, 10 Grey Phalaropes, a Buff-breasted Sandpiper, two Pectoral Sandpipers, four American Golden Plovers, three Long-tailed Skuas, seven Pomarine Skuas, two Leach's Petrels, two Little Auks, two Sabine's Gulls, a White-winged Black Tern, a Surf Scoter, a Green-winged Teal, two American Wigeon, two Ring-necked Ducks and a Glossy Ibis.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 5th October 2017  
  On Isles of Scilly the Cedar Waxwing, Cliff Swallow and Isabelline Wheatear all lingered, and an American Golden Plover, Bee-eater, Spotted Crake, Common Rosefinch and Wryneck were also logged.

On Shetland Isles a Booted Warbler, Red-flanked Bluetail and Olive-backed Pipit were discovered, and American Buff-bellied Pipit, Rustic Bunting, two Red-throated Pipit and Isabelline shrike sp all lingered. A Ring-necked Duck, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Little Bunting, American Golden Plover, two Common Rosefinches and at least 11 Parrot Crossbills were spread across the archipelago.

Away from Scilly and Shetland new discoveries comprised Blyth's Pipit (Cornwall), Red-eyed Vireo and Spotted Sandpiper (Co Cork), Lesser Yellowlegs (Dorset and Co Galway), Ferruginous Duck (Lothian) and White-rumped Sandpiper (Western Isles), whilst Scarlet Tanager (Co Cork), Red-eyed Vireo (Co Kerry), Scops Owl (Co Durham), Wilson's Phalarope and Long-billed Dowitcher (Kent) and Stilt and Spotted Sandpipers (Dorset) all lingered.

The best of the rest included Rose-coloured Starlings (Norfolk and East Yorkshire), Ring-necked Duck (Western Isles) White-winged Black Tern (Northumberland), Purple Heron (Lancashire), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Cornwall), American Golden Plover (Co Wexford), Red-backed Shrikes (Orkney and East Yorkshire) and Barred Warblers (Co Cork and Fife).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 4th October 2017  
  The lingering American landbirds on Isles of Scilly was the highlight of the day; both the Cedar Waxwing and Cliff Swallow remained St Agnes and St Mary's respectively. Elsewhere the Scarlet Tanager was still in Co Cork, whilst an American Buff-bellied Pipit was discovered on Mainland Shetland and a Red-eyed Vireo was in Co Kerry.

New discoveries also included Blyth's Reed Warbler on Orkney and Rustic Bunting on Shetland. Shetland also hosted another Rustic Bunting, two Red-throated Pipits, up to 13 Parrot Crossbills, American Golden Plover, Great Grey Shrike, Red-breasted Flycatcher and four Little Buntings, and Isles of Scilly produced the Isabelline Wheatear, three Bee-eaters, Spotted Crake, Rose-coloured Starling, American Golden Plover and Wryneck. The Spotted and Stilt Sandpipers (Dorset), Wilson's Phalarope and Long-billed Dowitcher (Kent), Long-billed Dowitcher (Lincolnshire) and Red-breasted Goose (Orkney) also lingered.

The best of the rest included Melodious Warbler (Pembrokeshire), Purple Heron (Lancashire), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Cornwall), Red-backed Shrike and Rose-coloured Starling (East Yorkshire), Marsh Warbler (Lincolnshire), Common Rosefinch (Western Isles) and White-winged Black Tern (Northumberland).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 3rd October 2017  
  A red-letter day for Nearctic landbirds was headlined by the arrival of a Cedar Waxwing on the Isles of Scilly on St Agnes. Nearby the Cliff Swallow transferred from Tresco to St Mary's where the Isabelline Wheatear remained with elsewhere around the islands Pectoral Sandpiper, Lapland Bunting, two Wrynecks and three Bee-eaters.

Meanwhile in Ireland a Red-eyed Vireo discovered at Mizen Head, County Cork was surpassed by a Scarlet Tanager found at the same place late in the afternoon.

On the Shetland Isles more Parrot Crossbills arrived with 19 individuals present in four flocks including eight on Mainland at Sand. The Red-throated Pipit lingered on Unst as did the two Isabelline Shrike species on Foula with around archipelago totals of American Golden Plover, Bluethroat, Great Grey Shrike, Lapland Bunting, two Olive-backed Pipits, four Red-breasted Flycatchers and six Little Buntings.

Rarities elsewhere comprised the Scops Owl showing again in County Durham at Ryhope with a brief Arctic Warbler at nearby Whitburn, a Wilson's Phalarope joined the Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent at Oare, the Roller remained in Highland as did both Stilt Sandpiper and Spotted Sandpiper in Dorset.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 2nd October 2017  
  The Isles of Scilly saw the highlight of the day with a Cliff Swallow discovered on Tresco in the afternoon. On St Mary's the Isabelline Wheatear remained with around the islands totals of three Bee-eaters, two Wrynecks, American Golden Plover, Pectoral Sandpiper and Lapland Bunting.

On the Shetland Isles five Parrot Crossbills arrived on Unst and a Greenish Warbler was found on Fetlar, with around the archipelago Red-throated Pipit, Rustic Bunting, Olive-backed Pipit, Short-toed Lark, Common Rosefinch, Great Grey Shrike, Lapland Bunting, two each of both Bluethroat and Barred Warbler, six Red-breasted Flycatchers and 10 Little Buntings all noted.

In Kent a Citrine Wagtail was new at Swalecliffe whilst lingering rarities confirmed as still present elsewhere comprised Stilt Sandpiper and Spotted Sandpiper both in Dorset, Pallid Harrier in Cheshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in County Cork, and Long-billed Dowitchers in Kent, Lincolnshire and County Wexford.

Scarcities included White-winged Black Tern and the confiding Long-tailed Skua in Northumberland, American Golden Plover, Purple Heron and three Buff-breasted Sandpipers in Cornwall, Rose-coloured Starling, Red-breasted Flycatcher and Red-backed Shrike in East Yorkshire, Hoopoe in Pembrokeshire, Red-breasted Flycatcher in Essex, Purple Heron in Lancashire and Spotted Crake in London.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 1st October 2017  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler on the Shetland Isles at Burn of Collafirth, Mainland where it later showed well. Elsewhere around the archipelago a Greenish Warbler was on Mainland at Esha Ness, at least two Isabelline Shrike sp and a Booted Warbler remained on Foula, the Red-throated Pipit lingered on Unst, Marsh Warbler on Fair Isle, Short-toed Lark, Common Rosefinch, Red-backed Shrike and Great Grey Shrike all on Mainland, and totals of two Bluethroat, four each of both Rustic Bunting and Red-breasted Flycatcher, six Lapland and seven Little Buntings.

On the Isles of Scilly the Isabelline Wheatear was relocated on St Mary's where American Golden Plover and Pectoral Sandpiper remain, whilst on St Agnes Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Red-eyed Vireo and Wryneck lingered and on Tresco three Bee-eaters and a Wryneck were seen.

Rarities elsewhere comprised the Roller still in Highland, Stilt Sandpiper and Spotted Sandpiper in Dorset, Pallid Harrier in Cheshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Cork, single Long-billed Dowitchers in Kent, Lincolnshire and County Wexford, and in Kent an Alpine Swift flew over Kingsdown.

The best of the rest included American Golden Plover and three Buff-breasted Sandpipers in Cornwall, Spotted Crake in London, single Red-breasted Flycatchers in both East Yorkshire and Essex, and the confiding Long-tailed Skua still in Northumberland.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 30th September 2017  
  The first British Upland Sandpiper since 2011 was discovered on Fetlar, Shetland, at Houbie. Other new discoveries on the archipelago included a second Isabelline Shrike on Foula, Eastern Black Redstart at Walls, Mainland, single Rustic Buntings at Melby, Cunningsburgh and Walls, all Mainland, single Olive-backed Pipits at Bousta, Quendale and Walls, all Mainland and two on Fair Isle, and a Red-throated Pipit at Skaw, Unst.

Other new discoveries included a Red-eyed Vireo on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, single Olive-backed Pipits at Spurn, Yorkshire and on Sanday, Orkney and a Red-throated Pipit on Fair Isle, Shetland.

Lingering rarities included the Rose-breasted Grosbeak in the Isles of Scilly, Scops Owl in County Durham, Roller in Highland, Booted Warbler in Glamorgan, Red-throated Pipit and Radde's Warbler in Suffolk, Semipalmated Plover in County Mayo, Stilt Sandpiper in Dorset, single Spotted Sandpipers in Cornwall and Dorset, single Long-billed Dowitchers in Lincolnshire and Kent, Pallid Harrier in Cheshire and Red-breasted Goose in Orkney.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 29th September 2017  
  A Rose-breasted Grosbeak was found on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, with an Isabelline Wheatear nearby on St Mary's.

Other new discoveries included a Roller at Balnakeil, Highland, an Isabelline Shrike and a Rustic Bunting on Foula, Shetland, a Booted Warbler at Rhossili, Glamorgan, a Rustic Bunting on North Ronaldsay, Orkney, single Radde's Warblers at Bawdsey, Suffolk and Sandwick, Shetland, a Fea's /Desertas /Zino's Petrel at Carnsore Point, County Wexford, a White-rumped Sandpiper at Carrahane, County Kerry and a Red-breasted Goose at Kirkwall, Orkney.

Lingering rarities included the Stilt Sandpiper and Spotted Sandpiper in Dorset, Semipalmated Plover in County Mayo, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Cork, Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall, Lesser Yellowlegs in Angus, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire and single Red-throated Pipits in Suffolk and Shetland.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 28th September 2017  
  Today's most significant news related to a Sykes's Warbler at Skirza (Highland), the first record of mainland Scotland; having first been seen briefly on Tuesday, the bird finally gave itself up this afternoon, although it remained elusive. Elsewhere in Scotland a Paddyfield Warbler arrived at St Abb's Head (Borders) and the Lesser Yellowlegs lingered in Angus.

In Co Durham the Scops Owl was relocated roosting at Ryhope, whilst rarity sightings elsewhere comprised Red-throated Pipit (Suffolk), Bee-eaters (Isles of Scilly), Long-billed Dowitchers (Kent and Lincolnshire), Olive-backed Pipit (Fife), two Arctic Warblers (East Yorkshire), Stilt Sandpiper (Dorset), Spotted Sandpipers (Dorset and Cornwall), Eastern Stonechat (Cornwall) and Semipalmated Sandpiper (Co Cork).

The best of the rest included Richard's Pipit (Suffolk), American Wigeon (Leicestershire), Rose-coloured Starling (East Yorkshire), White-winged Black Tern (Northumberland), Melodious Warbler (Pembrokeshire), Icterine Warbler (Co Wexford), two each of Red-backed Shrike, Spotted Crake, Dotterel and Common Rosefinch, three Great Grey Shrikes, four each of Little Bunting and American Golden Plovers, five Wrynecks and seven Barred Warblers and eight Red-breasted Flycatchers.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 27th September 2017  
  A Scops Owl was discovered at Ryhope (Co Durham) early morning, where it showed well throughout the day, whilst in Cornwall a Solitary Sandpiper was reported at Walmsley Sanctuary, Wadebridge. Elsewhere new discoveries included Pechora and Red-throated Pipits (Shetland), Red-throated Pipit and Radde's Warbler (Suffolk), Olive-backed Pipits (Shetland, Norfolk and Fife), Arctic and Dusky Warblers (East Yorkshire) and Long-billed Dowitcher (Co Mayo). Two Bee-eaters (Isles of Scilly), Long-billed Dowitcher (Kent), Arctic Warbler (Fife), Stilt and Spotted Sandpipers (Dorset) and White-rumped Sandpiper (Co Kerry) all lingered, whilst a possible orphean warbler species was recorded at Hartlepool Headland (Cleveland).

The best of the rest included Short-toed Lark (Shetland), Common Rosefinch (Aberdeenshire), Wryneck (Norfolk), Purple Heron (Cornwall), White-winged Black Tern (Northumberland), Marsh Warbler (Fair Isle) Rose-coloured Starling (East Yorkshire), two each of Spotted Crake, Great Grey Shrike and American Golden Plover, three each of Bluethroat and Buff-breasted Sandpipers, four Barred Warblers, six Red-backed Shrikes, seven Red-breasted Flycatcher and 10 Little Buntings.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA