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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Tuesday 24th October 2017  
  The highlight of the day was a flyby Pallid Swift in North Yorkshire at Hunmanby Gap whilst a Red-throated Pipit flew over Berkeley Shore in Gloucestershire. In County Kerry the Black Scoter returned to Rossbeigh for the fourth consecutive winter whilst nearby White-rumped Sandpipers were new at both Carrahane Strand and Black Rock Strand.

On the Shetland Isles seven Arctic Redpolls were logged whilst the Steppe Grey Shrike remained on Whalsay and an Eastern Stonechat species was on Mainland at Sandwick. Around the islands were Surf Scoter, Barred Warbler and two each of Shorelark and Great Grey Shrike all recorded.

Further lingering rarities comprised the Rock Thrush still in Gwent, Olive-backed Pipit in Pembrokeshire, Eastern Stonechat species on the Orkney Isles, Stilt Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs and Lesser Scaup in Dorset, Lesser Yellowlegs in County Clare and Richardson's Cackling Goose in Northumberland.

Significant others included Red-breasted Flycatcher (Merseyside), Barred Warbler (Aberdeenshire), Little Bunting (Isles of Scilly), Short-toed Lark, Rose-coloured Starling and Wryneck (all Cornwall), American Wigeon (Argyll and Northumberland), American Golden Plover (County Kerry and Western Isles), Pectoral Sandpiper (County Kerry and South Yorkshire).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 23rd October 2017  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Blackpoll Warbler on the Western Isles at Lochmaddy, North Uist - the twenty seventh Nearctic landbird to be found this autumn between Britain and Ireland. Discoveries elsewhere included a Black-throated Thrush and two Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls on Fair Isle, Shetland Isles, an Olive-backed Pipit off the Isle of Man on the Calf of Man, a Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Cork at Clonakilty, a Lesser Scaup in Dorset at Longham Lakes and a White-billed Diver passing Papa Westray, Orkney Isles.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Rock Thrush in Gwent, Grey-cheeked Thrush and Rustic Bunting in County Cork, Steppe Grey Shrike on the Shetland Isles, Stilt Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper and Lesser Yellowlegs all in Dorset, Olive-backed Pipits in both East Yorkshire and Pembrokeshire, Dusky Warbler on the Isles of Scilly, Long-billed Dowitchers in Kent and Merseyside (2), Lesser Yellowlegs in County Clare, White-rumped Sandpipers in County Donegal and East Yorkshire, Richardson's Cackling Goose in Northumberland and White-billed Diver in Norfolk.

The best of the rest comprised Pallas's Warbler (Shetland Isles), Short-toed Lark (Cornwall), Purple Heron (Lancashire), Pectoral Sandpiper (South Yorkshire), Barred Warbler (Aberdeenshire and County Durham), Little Bunting (Northumberland and the Isles of Scilly (2)) and American Wigeon (Leicestershire and Worcestershire).

Significant late news concerned the reidentification of the Orphean Warbler species present on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly on 12th-17th October - and reported again on 20th October - as the first Eastern Orphean Warbler for Britain.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 22nd October 2017  
  In Yorkshire, a Cliff Swallow flew south past Spurn mid morning, the second record for the area following a lingering bird in October 1995.

Other new discoveries today included a Hume's Warbler on Foula, Shetland, two Dusky Warblers on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, an Olive-backed Pipit at St Brides, Pembrokeshire, a Pallid Swift at Flamborough, Yorkshire and a Lesser Yellowlegs at Clarecastle, County Clare.

Lingerers included the Rock Thrush in Gwent, two Grey-cheeked Thrushes and a Rustic Bunting in County Cork, Steppe Grey Shrike and Eastern Stonechat sp in Shetland, Olive-backed Pipit in Yorkshire, Bee-eater in Northumberland, Stilt Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs and Spotted Sandpiper in Dorset, Wilson's Phalarope and Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Richardson's Cackling Geese in Northumberland and Argyll and Ferruginous Duck in Forth.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 21st October 2017  
  New discoveries today included an Olive-backed Pipit at Spurn, Yorkshire, a Tawny Pipit at Mousehole, Cornwall, a Red-footed Falcon at Kessingland, Suffolk, a Lesser Scaup at Tittesworth, Staffordshire, a White-billed Diver at Winterton, Norfolk and a White-rumped Sandpiper at Lough Swilly, County Donegal.

Lingering rarities still present today included Rock Thrush in Gwent, Grey-cheeked Thrush and Rustic Bunting in County Cork, Steppe Grey Shrike and White-winged Scoter in Shetland, Bee-eater in Northumberland, Stilt Sandpiper and Spotted Sandpiper in Dorset, Wilson's Phalarope in Kent, single Long-billed Dowitchers in Merseyside and Kent, single White-rumped Sandpipers in Yorkshire and County Wexford, Richardson's Cackling Goose in Argyll, Red-breasted Goose in Aberdeenshire and Ferruginous Duck in Forth.

Scarcity highlights included a Rose-coloured Starling, a Short-toed Lark, a Shorelark, a Wryneck, a Common Rosefinch, two Little Buntings, two Great Grey Shrikes, three Pallas's Warblers, a Rough-legged Buzzard, a Green-winged Teal, two Ring-necked Ducks, three American Wigeon, three Snow Geese, two Glossy Ibises, a Great Shearwater, four Sabine's Gulls, three American Golden Plovers, a Red-necked Phalarope, 17 Grey Phalaropes, 56 Leach's Petrels, six Long-tailed Skuas and 20 Pomarine Skuas.
-  Will Soar, RBA
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