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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Wednesday 31st October 2018  
  New discoveries included Blyth's Pipit (Isles of Scilly), White-billed Diver (Western Isles) and Dusky Warbler (Essex), whilst lingering rarities comprised Grey-cheeked Thrush, Olive-backed Pipit and Dusky Warbler (Isles of Scilly), Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and Pied Wheatear (Shetland), King Eider, Eastern Stonechat and two Coues's Arctic Redpolls (Norfolk), Black Scoter (Northumberland), American White-winged Scoter (Lothian), Long-billed Dowitcher (Lincolnshire), Lesser Yellowlegs (Dorset and Highland), Baird's Sandpiper (Gwent), American Buff-bellied Pipit (Cornwall), Spotted Sandpiper (Co Durham) and Richardson's Cackling Goose (Argyll).

The best of the rest included Pallas's Warbler (East Yorkshire), two Rose-coloured Starlings and Pectoral Sandpipers, four Red-breasted Flycatchers and Richard's Pipits, six Barred Warblers and eight Rough-legged Buzzards.
Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 30th October 2018  
  The highlight of the day was a Pied Wheatear on the Shetland Isles on Foula where it had first been seen yesterday. Rarities elsewhere included a Dusky Warbler new in East Yorkshire at Spurn, the King Eider seen again in Norfolk at Sheringham, Long-billed Dowitcher still in Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Highland, Lesser Scaup on Anglesey and Coues's Arctic Redpolls in East Yorkshire, Norfolk and the Shetland Isles (2).

On the Isles of Scilly the Grey-cheeked Thrush remained on St Mary's with Dusky Warbler, Wryneck and two Olive-backed Pipits there and on Tresco Surf Scoter and Rose-coloured Starling were logged.

Other scarcities included Little Bunting (County Cork), Temminck's Stint (Cornwall), Pectoral Sandpiper and Surf Scoter (Devon), two each of Pallas's Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Richard's Pipit, Rough-legged Buzzard and Ring-necked Duck, three of both Rose-coloured Starling and American Wigeon, four Barred Warblers and five Lapland Buntings.
Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 29th October 2018  
  The highlight of the day was a brief American Buff-bellied Pipit in Cornwall at Polgigga whilst a Black-winged Stilt was new in Essex at Hamford Water.

On the Isles of Scilly the Grey-cheeked Thrush was relocated on St Mary's where Olive-backed Pipit, Dusky Warbler, Rose-coloured Starling, Serin, Barred Warbler and Common Rosefinch were all on show whilst the Surf Scoter remained off Tean. In Norfolk rarities included a Red-flanked Bluetail discovered at Titchwell, Olive-backed Pipit on Blakeney Point, White-billed Diver off Cley, Eastern Stonechat species still at Salthouse, Dusky Warbler at Weybourne, King Eider passing Horsey, White-tailed Eagle, Rough-legged Buzzard, Barred Warbler, four each of both Lapland Bunting and Waxwing and a total of 20 Shorelarks.

Lingering rarities elsewhere included the Grey Catbird still in Cornwall, Pied-billed Grebe on the Shetland Isles, Baird's Sandpiper in Gwent, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in County Dublin, Dorset and Highland, Lesser Scaup an Anglesey, Richardson's Cackling Goose in Argyll and White-rumped Sandpipers in County Londonderry (2) and County Wexford (2).

The influx of Arctic Redpolls continued with Coues's Arctic Redpolls in East Yorkshire (2), Norfolk (3) and the Shetland Isles and Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on both the Orkney Isles and Shetland Isles.
Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 28th October 2018  
  A superb male Siberian Rubythroat was discovered on Fair Isle, Shetland early a'noon, with a Grey-cheeked Thrush nearby in Rendall, Orkney. Other new discoveries today included a Dusky Warbler at Porthgwarra, Cornwall, two Arctic Redpolls in the Spurn area, Yorkshire, a Blyth's Reed Warbler at Malin More, County Donegal, Pacific Golden Plover on the Bann Estuary, County Londonderry, a Lesser Scaup at Loch Gara, County Sligo and singles of both King Eider and White-billed Diver in both Yorkshire and Norfolk (the former species off Hornsea and Sea Palling, the latter off Hornsea and Cley).

Lingering rarities included the Grey Catbird and Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall, Eastern Stonechat species in Norfolk, Dusky Warbler in Scilly, Spotted Sandpiper in County Durham, Baird's Sandpiper in Gwent, two White-rumped Sandpipers in County Derry and one in County Dublin, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, other Lesser Yellowlegs in Highland and Dorset, White-billed Diver in Aberdeenshire, Black Scoter in Northumberland and Lesser Scaup in Anglesey.
Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 27th October 2018  
  A Black-throated Thrush was at Gun Hill, Norfolk for a few minutes early morning, before it headed inland. Other new discoveries today included a Red-rumped Swallow at Sandwich, Kent and a Lesser Yellowlegs at Rogerstown, County Dublin. White-billed Divers were seen off Aberdeenshire (three: two off Collieston, one off Aberdeen), Fife (Fife Ness) and Yorkshire (Skipsea).

Lingering rarities seen today included the Grey Catbird in Cornwall, Dusky Warbler and Rustic Bunting in Scilly, single Eastern Stonechat species in Shetland and Norfolk, Pied-billed Grebe in Shetland, Black Scoter in Northumberland, Lesser Scaup in Anglesey, Baird's Sandpiper in Gwent, Spotted Sandpiper in County Durham, single Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall, Dorset and Highland and Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire.

The rest of the messages today mostly related to seawatching, with the east coast once again recording excellent numbers of Pomarine Skuas.
Will Soar, RBA
Friday 26th October 2018  
  Today's best new discovery was an American Robin on Lundy (Devon), whilst lingering rarities comprised the Grey Catbird (Cornwall), Eastern Stonechats (Norfolk and Shetland), two Gull-billed Terns (Northumberland), Dusky Warbler and Rustic Bunting (Isles of Scilly), Blue-winged Teal (Shetland), Long-billed Dowitcher (Lincolnshire), Lesser Yellowlegs (Dorset and Highland), Baird's Sandpiper (Gwent), Spotted Sandpiper (Co Durham) and Lesser Scaup (Anglesey). A White-billed Diver flew past Fife Ness (Fife) and two White-rumped Sandpipers were logged at Tacumshin (Co Wexford).

Seawatchers enjoyed an excellent Pomarine Skua passage, particularly off North Sea watchpoints - top counts included 166 past Holme (Norfolk), 156 past Flamborough Head (East Yorkshire), 146 past Spurn (East Yorkshire), 123 past Titchwell RSPB (Norfolk), 94 past Hartlepool Headland (Clevleand), 87 past Grimston (East Yorkshire) and 75 past Long Nab (North Yorkshire).
Stuart Piner, RBA
Thursday 25th October 2018  
  Highlight of the day was the identification of a Taiga Flycatcher at Galley Head, Co Cork - the first for Ireland. The bird has been present for three days, but the its true identity was not established until today.

Elsewhere rarity highlights included the Grey Catbird (Cornwall), Eastern Stonechats (Norfolk and Shetland), Rustic Bunting and two Dusky Warblers (Isles of Scilly), two Gull-billed Terns (Northumberland), Long-billed Dowitcher (Lincolnshire), Lesser Yellowlegs (Highland), Black Scoter (Northumberland), Baird's Sandpiper (Gwent), Spotted Sandpiper (Co Durham), White-rumped Sandpiper (Co Dublin), King Eider (Ceredigion), Lesser Scaup (Anglesey) and a report of a Pallid Harrier (Cambridgeshire).
Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 24th October 2018  
  The highlight of the day was the arrival of a Little Bittern in Suffolk at Minsmere. Other discoveries included a Baird's Sandpiper in Gwent at Goldcliff, an Eastern Stonechat species on the Shetland Isles at Scalloway, Lesser Yellowlegs in Highland on the Isle of Skye at Broadford and a Tawny Pipit briefly at Portland Bill, 

Lingering or returning rarities today included the Grey Catbird still in Cornwall, both Booted Warbler and Black Scoter in County Kerry, Eastern Stonechat species in Norfolk, two Gull-billed Terns together and Black Scoter in Northumberland, Spotted Sandpiper in County Durham, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, White-rumped Sandpiper in County Dublin, Lesser Scaup on Anglesey and Ferruginous Duck in Forth.

On the Isles of Scilly the roll call was Grey-cheeked Thrush (St Agnes), Red-eyed Vireo (Bryher), Rustic Bunting, Serin, two Dusky Warblers and two Richard's Pipits (St Mary's) and Surf Scoter and Cattle Egret (Tresco).

Elsewhere the best of the rest were Rose-coloured Starling (Merseyside), Purple Heron (Isle of Wight), American Golden Plover (Kent), Temminck's Stint (Cornwall), Surf Scoter (Lothian), American Wigeon (Western Isles) and two each of Red-breasted Flycatcher, Red-backed Shrike, Richard's Pipit and Ring-necked Duck.
Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 23rd October 2018  
  Today's new discoveries included a Red-eyed Vireo in Co Cork and Rustic Bunting on Isles of Scilly. Isles of Scilly also continued to host Grey-cheecked Thrush, Red-eyed Vireo, Dusky Warbler, two Richard's Pipits, two Little Bunting, Wryneck, Red-backed Shrike, Rose-coloured Starling, Surf Scoter and Cattle Egret.

Elsewhere lingering rarities comprised Grey Catbird (Cornwall), Eastern Stonechat (Norfolk), two Gull-billed Terns (Northumberland), Long-billed Dowitcher (Lincolnshire), Ferruginous Duck (Forth), Dusky Warbler (Cornwall), Booted Warbler (Co Kerry), Spotted Sandpiper (Co Durham), White-rumped Sandpiper (Co Dublin), Lesser Yellowlegs (Borders), Richardson's Canada Goose (Argyll) and Lesser Scaup (Anglesey). In Norfolk a probable flyover Nutcracker was observed near Cromer.
Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 22nd October 2018  
  New rarities today were all in Ireland where a Red-eyed Vireo was found in County Cork at Lehanemore, a White-rumped Sandpiper in County Dublin at Sandymount Strand and a Booted Warbler present at Bolus Head, County Kerry for its second day.

On the Isles of Scilly the Grey-cheeked Thrush remained on St Agnes with the Red-eyed Vireo still on Bryher, both Red-throated Pipit and Dusky Warbler on St Mary's and around island totals of Serin, Rose-coloured Starling, Red-backed Shrike, Wryneck, Lapland Bunting and two each of Little Bunting, Richard's Pipit and Cattle Egret.

Lingering rarities elsewhere comprised the Grey Catbird still in Cornwall, two Gull-billed Terns together in Northumberland, Eastern Stonechat species in Norfolk, Black Scoter in Northumberland, Blue-winged Teal on the Shetland Isles, Spotted Sandpiper in County Durham, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Lesser Scaup on Anglesey, Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in County Cork and Lesser Yellowlegs in both Cornwall and Dorset.
Chris Batty, RBA