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 20th October 2017  
  A Yellow-billed Cuckoo was found on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly today, but appeared unwell and was presumably moribund. Other new discoveries included a new Grey-cheeked Thrush in County Cork at Rosscarbery, a Radde's Warbler on Skomer, Pembrokeshire, a Dusky Warbler at Bamburgh, Northumberland, a White-rumped Sandpiper at Kilnsea, Yorkshire and two Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls at Melby, Shetland.

Lingering rarities included the Rock Thrush in Gwent, the other Grey-cheeked Thrush and a Rustic Bunting in County Cork, Steppe Grey Shrike in Shetland, White-winged Scoter in Shetland, Bee-eater in Northumberland, Wilson's Phalarope and Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent, two Long-billed Dowitchers in Merseyside, Stilt Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs and Spotted Sandpiper in Dorset, Pacific Golden Plover in County Wexford, two Red-breasted Geese in Aberdeenshire and Ferruginous Duck in Forth.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 19th October 2017  
  The highlight of the day was confirmation of a White-winged Scoter on the Shetland Isles on Unst at Loch of Belmont where it had first been seen - but not identified - on Monday and having visited the adjacent island of Yell in the interim. Meanwhile in County Cork a Grey-cheeked Thrush new-in at Galley Head represented the twelfth species of Nearctic landbird to be discovered between Britain and Ireland so far this autumn, with 23 individual birds located since the first on the 21st August.

Rarities from the east comprised a Red-flanked Bluetail in Highland at Wick, Steppe Grey Shrike and Eastern Stonechat on the Shetland Isles, Rustic Bunting in County Cork, single Radde's Warblers in Kent, Norfolk and Suffolk, Dusky Warblers in Cleveland, Shetland and Suffolk, Olive-backed Pipits in both East Yorkshire and Shetland, and the Two-barred Greenish Warbler still Dorset at St Aldhelm's Head albeit elusively.

Other lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Rock Thrush in Gwent, Bee-eater in Northumberland, Stilt Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper and Lesser Yellowlegs all in Dorset, Wilson's Phalarope and Long-billed Dowitcher together in Kent, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lancashire, Ferruginous Duck in Forth and Richardson's Cackling Goose in Northumberland.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 18th October 2017  
  New discoveries included Pacific Golden Plover and White-rumped Sandpiper (Co Wexford), Coues's Arctic Redpolls (Aberdeenshire and Shetland), Radde's Warblers (East Yorkshire and Dorset), Bee-eater (Northumberland), Fea's Petrel (Orkney), Dusky Warbler (Cleveland), Red-flanked Bluetail (Shetland) and a second Long-billed Dowitcher joined the bird in Lancashire.

In addition to the aforementioned birds the Shetland Isles hosted a possible White-winged Scoter, Steppe Grey Shrike, Eastern Stonechat and Blyth's Reed Warbler. Elsewhere lingering rarities included Two-barred Greenish Warbler (Dorset), Rock Thrush (Gwent), Richardson's Cackling Geese (Argyll and Northumberland), Dusky Warbler (Orkney), Long-billed Dowitchers (Co Wexford, Kent and Lincolnshire), Wilson's Phalarope (Kent), Ferruginous Duck (Forth), Arctic Warbler (East Yorkshire), Stilt Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs and Spotted Sandpiper (Dorset), Rustic Bunting (Co Cork) and two Red-breasted Geese (Aberdeenshire).

The best of the rest included Pallas's Warbler (Borders), Purple Heron (Lancashire), Short-toed Lark (Cornwall), Bluethroat (Orkney), two Rose-coloured Starling, three Richard's Pipits, four Barred Warblers, four Little Buntings and five Red-breasted Flycatchers.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 17th October 2017  
  The highlight of the day was a Two-barred Greenish Warbler identified in Dorset at St Aldhelm's Head where it had first been seen briefly on Sunday but suspected to be an Arctic Warbler at that time. New rarities elsewhere included two Red-breasted Geese together in Aberdeenshire at Loch of Skene and a Blyth's Reed Warbler in Cornwall at Nanjizal.

On the Isles of Scilly a Radde's Warbler showed well on St Mary's and the Western Orphean Warbler remained on St Agnes with around the archipelago American Golden Plover, Little Bunting, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Spotted Crake and Lapland Bunting all logged.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present elsewhere were the Rock Thrush in Gwent, Black-headed Bunting and Red-throated Pipit together on the Shetland Isles, Arctic Warbler in East Yorkshire, Rustic Bunting in County Cork, Dusky Warbler, Wilson's Phalarope and Long-billed Dowitcher all in Kent, Forster's Tern in County Louth, Spotted Sandpiper and Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, Ferruginous Duck in Forth, and single Richardson's Cackling Geese in both Argyll and Northumberland.

Popular scarcities included Short-toed Lark, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Hoopoe (Cornwall), Rose-coloured Starling (East Yorkshire and West Sussex), Little Bunting (Northumberland), Red-breasted Flycatcher (Dorset), American Golden Plover (Pembrokeshire), American Wigeon (Argyll and Worcestershire).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 16th October 2017  
  New rarities today included a Gyr reported in Highland at Reiss, a Pallid Harrier in Kent at Worth Marsh, a Radde's Warbler in Lothian at Barns Ness and a Dusky Warbler on the Farne Islands, Northumberland.

On the Shetland Isles an Eastern Stonechat species arrived on Fair Isle to join the lingering Black-headed Bunting, Red-throated Pipit and Bluethroat there, the Steppe Grey Shrike remained on Whalsay, Olive-backed Pipit and Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll were on Unst with another Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on Foula, whilst Mainland hosted Red-flanked Bluetail, White-billed Diver and Marsh Warbler.

On the Isles of Scilly the Isabelline Wheatear showed again on St Mary's with Pallas's Warbler new on St Agnes, and Little Bunting, Red-breasted Flycatcher, American Golden Plover, Lapland Bunting and three Leach's Petrels noted around the islands.

Lingering rarities elsewhere comprised the Rock Thrush still in Gwent, Isabelline Shrike species on Anglesey, Arctic Warbler in East Yorkshire, Wilson's Phalarope and Long-billed Dowitcher together in Kent, Spotted Sandpiper and Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, and Richardson's Cackling Goose in Northumberland.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 15th October 2017  
  Today's new discoveries included a Short-toed Treecreeper in Kent, an isabelline shrike species on Anglesey, Rustic Bunting in Co Cork, Radde's Warbler in Dorset, Dusky Warbler in Kent, two Bee-eaters in Northumberland and Richardson's Canada Goose in Argyll.

On Isles of Scilly the Western Orphean Warbler and Isabelline Wheatear both lingered, along with a Spotted Crake, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Little Bunting and American Golden Plover. The Shetland Isles hosted Steppe Grey Shrike, Black-headed Bunting, Red-throated Pipit, Thrush Nightingale, four Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls, two Coues's Arctic Redpolls, Surf Scoter, Corncrake, Bluethroat, Barred Warbler, Richard's Pipit and Common Rosefinch.

Elsewhere lingering rarities included Rock Thrush (Gwent), Richardson's Cackling Goose (Northumberland), Long-billed Dowitchers (Lancashire, Co Wexford and Kent), Wilson's Phalarope (Kent), Arctic Warbler (East Yorkshire), Lesser Yellowlegs and Stilt and Spotted Sandpipers (Dorset), Semipalmated Plover and Blackpoll Warbler (Co Mayo), Forster's Tern (Co Louth) and Semipalmated Sandpiper (Co Cork).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 14th October 2017  
  A Swainson's Thrush was discovered on Cape Clear Island, County Cork, and the Western Orphean Warbler's identity was confirmed on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly.

Other new discoveries today included a Steppe Grey Shrike on Whalsay, Shetland, a Rustic Bunting at Portland Bill, Dorset, single Radde's Warblers at Dungeness, Kent and Minsmere, Suffolk, a Red-throated Pipit at Point of Ayre, Isle of Man, a White-billed Diver south along the east Norfolk and Suffolk coast and a Richardson's Cackling Goose at Lissadell, County Sligo. The adult male Northern Harrier has returned to Orkney, seen in the roost at Cottascarth, Rendall on Friday evening.

Lingering rarities included the Rock Thrush in Gwent, Isabelline Wheatear in the Isles of Scilly, Thrush Nightingale and Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Shetland, Arctic Warbler in Yorkshire, Red-throated Pipit in County Cork, Forster's Tern in County Louth, Stilt Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs and Spotted Sandpiper in Dorset, Wilson's Phalarope and Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent, other Long-billed Dowitchers in Lancashire, Lincolnshire and County Wexford (two), Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, King Eider in County Donegal and Richardson's Cackling Goose in Northumberland.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 13th October 2017  
  The highlight of the day was the confirmation of the Orphean Warbler species on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, which appears most likely to be a Western Orphean Warbler. A Blyth's Reed Warbler was found at Bant's Carn, St Mary's, with the Isabelline Wheatear, Spotted Crake and American Golden Plover also remaining.

New discoveries elsewhere included an Olive-backed Pipit on Lundy, Devon, a Blyth's Reed Warbler at Ocraquoy, Shetland, a Long-billed Dowitcher at Martin Mere WWT, Lancashire, a Semipalmated Sandpiper at Clonakilty, County Cork, a King Eider at Murvagh, County Donegal and a White-billed Diver at Embo, Highland.

Lingering rarities included the Rock Thrush in Gwent, Blackpoll Warbler in County Mayo, Black-headed Bunting, Red-flanked Bluetail, Thrush Nightingale, Red-throated Pipit and Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Shetland, Arctic Warbler in Yorkshire, Red-throated Pipit and Spotted Sandpiper in County Cork, Wilson's Phalarope and Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent, Lesser Yellowlegs and Spotted Sandpiper in Dorset, Richardson's Cackling Goose in Northumberland and Ferruginous Duck in Forth.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 12th October 2017  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Rock Thrush in inland Gwent, just west north west of the Blorenge, the site which hosted a Mamora's Warbler in 2010.

The Shetland Isles hosted a Thrush Nightingale, Red-flanked Bluetail, isabelline shrike species, two Olive-backed Pipits, four Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls, two Couse's Arctic Redpolls, Black-headed Bunting, Red-throated Pipit, Bluethroat, Ring-necked Duck, Parrot Crossbill, Richard's Pipit, two Little Buntings and three Common Rosefinches.

On Isles of Scilly the Isabelline Wheatear, Spotted Crake, Rose-coloured Starling, American Golden Plover, a Red-breasted Flycatcher and Short-toed Lark were all recorded, whilst a probable orphean warbler species was reported on St Agnes and the probable Wilson's Snipe remained on St Mary's.

Elsewhere today's new discoveries included a Red-eyed Vireo in Cornwall, whilst a Dusky Warbler was reported in East Yorkshire, a White-billed Diver flew past the Northumberland coast and a Ferruginous Duck was relocated in Forth. Lingering rarities included Richardson's Cackling Goose (Northumberland), Wilson's Phalarope (Kent), Arctic Warbler (East Yorkshire), Stilt Sandpiper (Dorset), Spotted Sandpipers (Dorset and Co Cork), Long-billed Dowitchers (Kent and Co Wexford [2]), Lesser Yellowlegs (Dorset and Co Wexford) and Pallid Harrier (Cheshire).

The best of the rest included American Golden Plover (Pembrokeshire), Barred Warbler (Co Durham), Common Rosefinch (Co Cork), Shorelark (Northumberland), two each of Red-backed Shrike, Wryneck and Dotterel and three Rose-coloured Starlings.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 11th October 2017  
  Today's new discoveries included Black-headed Bunting on Fair Isle and Blyth's Reed Warbler on Unst (Shetland). Shetland also hosted the White-crowned Sparrow, three Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls, four Coues's Arctic Redpolls, Thrush Nightingale, Red-flanked Bluetail and Blyth's Reed Warbler.

On Isles of Scilly the Isabelline Wheatear lingered on St Mary's, where a probable Wilson's Snipe was also on show, and in Ireland a Red-eyed Vireo (Co Galway) and Red-throated Pipit and Spotted Sandpiper (Co Cork) were logged. Elsewhere lingering rarities comprised Richardson's Cackling Goose (Northumberland), Wilson's Phalarope (Kent), Olive-backed Pipit and Arctic Warbler (East Yorkshire) and Spotted Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper and Lesser Yellowlegs (Dorset).

Scarcity highlights included Marsh Warbler (Shetland), Hoopoe (Cornwall), Barred Warbler (Northumberland), Spotted Crake and American Golden Plover (Isles of Scilly), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Orkney), two each of Bluethroat, Parrot Crossbill, Red-backed Shrikes, Rose-coloured Starling, Lesser Snow Goose and three Red-necked Phalaropes.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA