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 4th December 2017  
  Rarities today comprised the Desert Wheatear still in Norfolk at Eccles-on-Sea, single Coues's Arctic Redpolls in both Norfolk and Suffolk, both the Pacific Divers and the Lesser Scaup still in Cornwall, Stilt Sandpiper in Dorset, Lesser Yellowlegs in East Yorkshire and King Eider in Ceredigion.

Scarcities included Barred Warbler (Hampshire), Richard's Pipit (East Yorkshire), Little Bunting and American Golden Plover (Cornwall), two each of American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck and Grey Phalarope, three Surf Scoters and a total of 52 Parrot Crossbills in three flocks England: 30 in Norfolk, 16 in Berkshire/Surrey and six in Derbyshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 3rd December 2017  
  Rarities today comprised the Desert Wheatear still in Norfolk at Eccles and joined there by a Coues's Arctic Redpoll, the Coues's Arctic Redpoll still in Suffolk, Eastern Stonechat sp still in Kent, Stilt Sandpiper in Dorset, single Long-billed Dowitchers in both Kent and County Wexford, Lesser Yellowlegs in East Yorkshire, White-rumped Sandpiper in County Wexford, King Eider in County Kerry, Ferruginous Duck in Leicestershire and Lesser Scaups in both Cornwall and County Galway.

Scarcities included at total of 48 Parrot Crossbills in England spread between Berkshire, Derbyshire, Norfolk and Surrey, Rose-coloured Starling (East Yorkshire), Barred Warbler (Hampshire), American Golden Plover (Cornwall), Red-necked Phalarope (Lincolshire), Grey Phalarope (County Durham), Ring-billed Gull (Pembrokeshire), Ring-necked Duck (Cornwall), Glossy Ibis (North Yorkshire), two Richard's Pipits, three Rough-legged Buzzards, four Surf Scoters and seven American Wigeons.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 2nd December 2017  
  The White-crowned Black Wheatear was still present in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire this morning, but was confirmed as having escaped from a nearby aviary and was promptly caught and returned to its owner.

In Nottinghamshire, a female Bufflehead was found in the south of the county but the exact location hasn't been disclosed, and in Norfolk news of a male Desert Wheatear at Eccles-on-Sea was released, having been present for three days.

Other lingering rarities seen today included both adult Pacific Divers in Cornwall, Forster's Tern in County Galway, Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Suffolk, single Lesser Yellowlegs' in Yorkshire and Dorset, Long-billed Dowitcher and White-rumped Sandpiper in County Wexford, Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent, two Richardson's Cackling Geese in Argyll, Ferruginous Duck in Leicestershire and Lesser Scaup in County Galway.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 1st December 2017  
  A White-crowned Black Wheatear was seen in a garden in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire early this afternoon. This could potentially be a second for Britain, following the male present for four or five days in early June 1982 at Kessingland, Suffolk.

Other new discoveries today included a Lesser Yellowlegs at Kilnsea, Yorkshire, a White-rumped Sandpiper at Tacumshin, County Wexford, a Bonaparte's Gull at Lulworth Cove, Dorset and a Ferruginous Duck at Shapwick Heath, Somerset.

Lingering rarities included Pacific Diver and Lesser Scaup in Cornwall, Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Suffolk, Long-billed Dowitchers in Kent (two) and County Wexford, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset and King Eider in Highland.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 30th November 2017  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Snowy Owl on the Isles of Scilly on Bryher. Rarities elsewhere comprised a Pacific Diver still in Cornwall, Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Suffolk, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset and King Eider on the Shetland Isles.

Scarcities included 46 Parrot Crossbills (30 in Norfolk and 16 in Berkshire), Red-breasted Flycatcher (Cornwall), Rose-coloured Starling (Pembrokeshire) and Richard's Pipit (Suffolk).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 29th November 2017  
  Discoveries today included a White-billed Diver passing both Whitburn, County Durham and Seaton Sluice, Northumberland, with another noted off North Ronaldsay, Orkney Isles. Rarities elsewhere comprised the Coues's Arctic Redpoll still in Suffolk, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, two Long-billed Dowitchers together in Kent, Lesser Scaup in Cornwall, Ferruginous Duck in Leicestershire and Richardson's Cackling Goose in Argyll.

Scarcities included Parrot Crossbills (40 in Norfolk and 16 on the Berkshire/Surrey border), Richard's Pipit (Suffolk), Snow Goose (Aberdeenshire and Highland), Red-necked Phalarope (Lincolnshire), Rough-legged Buzzard (Kent), Surf Scoter (County Clare), Ring-necked Duck (Cornwall) and American Wigeon (Lancashire and Leicestershire).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 28th November 2017  
  A Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Suffolk was today's best new discovery, whilst the Horned Lark (Surrey), Pied-billed Grebe, King Eider and Arctic Redpoll (Shetland), two Long-billed Dowitchers (Kent), Lesser Yellowlegs (Dorset), Lesser Scaup (Cornwall), Richardson's Cackling Goose (Argyll) and Bonaparte's Gull (Devon) were all logged.

The best of the rest included flocks of Parrot Crossbills in Norfolk (42) and on the Berkshire/Surrey border (16), Richard's Pipit (Suffolk), Red-necked Phalarope (Lincolnshire), American Wigeon (Highland), Glossy Ibis (Cornwall), two Todd's Canada Geese (Argyll) and three Ring-necked Ducks.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 27th November 2017  
  Lingering rarities included Horned Lark (Surrey), Richardson's Cackling Goose (Argyll), Bonaparte's Gull (Ayrshire), Lesser Scaup (Cornwall), Stilt Sandpiper and Lesser Yellowlegs (Dorset) and King Eider (Shetland), whilst a second Long-billed Dowitcher joined the long-staying bird at Oare Marshes KWT (Kent).

The best of the rest included flocks of Parrot Crossbills in Norfolk (at least 32) and on the Berkshire/Surrey border (17), Richard's Pipit (Suffolk), American Wigeon (Worcestershire), Red-necked Phalarope (Lincolnshire), Ring-necked Ducks (Cornwall and Dumfries & Galloway) and Glossy Ibis (Cornwall).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 26th November 2017  
  A Pacific Diver was found in Gerrans Bay off Pendower today, and a drake Lesser Scaup arrived at Dozmary Pool, both Cornwall.

Lingering rarities included the Horned Lark in Surrey, Eastern Stonechat sp in Kent, Pied-billed Grebe in Shetland, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent, Bonaparte's Gull in Ayrshire, King Eider in Ceredigion and Ferruginous Duck in Leicestershire.

Scarcity highlights included two Richard's Pipits, two Great Grey Shrikes, five Lapland Buntings, 12 Shorelarks, 12 Waxwings, 36 Parrot Crossbills, two Rough-legged Buzzards, a Red-necked Phalarope, an American Golden Plover, a Pomarine Skua, three Little Auks, three Ring-necked Ducks, three Surf Scoters, three American Wigeons, four Green-winged Teals, a Snow Goose, a Ring-billed Gull, seven Iceland Gulls and 12 Glaucous Gulls.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 25th November 2017  
  In Surrey, the Horned Lark remained at Staines Reservoir all day, although it proved rather mobile during the morning at least, visiting nearby King George VI Reservoir on occasion. Other lingering rarities included the Stilt Sandpiper and Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, Pacific Diver and Dusky Warbler in Cornwall, Ferruginous Duck in Leicestershire, Lesser Scaup in County Galway and King Eider in Highland.

Scarcity highlights included a Pallas's Warbler, a Great Grey Shrike, two Richard's Pipits, six Lapland Buntings, nine Waxwings, 12 Shorelarks, 16 Parrot Crossbills, a Green-winged Teal, an American Wigeon, two Ring-necked Ducks, two Surf Scoters, a Rough-legged Buzzard, a Glossy Ibis, a Red-necked Phalarope, two Grey Phalaropes, two Leach's Petrels, seven Little Auks, a Sabine's Gull, a Ring-billed Gull, three Glaucous Gulls and ten Iceland Gulls.
-  Will Soar, RBA