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 27th February 2019  
  Rarities today comprised the Tengmalm's Owl and Pied-billed Grebe both still on the Shetland Isles, Forster's Tern seen again in County Galway, Coues's Arctic Redpoll still in Norfolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset and White-billed Diver on the Western Isles.

Spring migrants were led by two Red-rumped Swallows together on the Isles of Scilly and supported by a House Martin, two each of Little Ringed Plover and Swallow, four Wheatears and nine Sand Martins.

Scarcities included Pallas's Warbler and Temminck's Stint (Cornwall), Rose-coloured Starling (Conwy), Richard's Pipit (County Wexford), Ring-billed Gull (County Louth), Snow Goose (County Wexford), two each of American Wigeon and Glossy Ibis, four of Ring-necked Duck and Rough-legged Buzzard, five Yellow-browed Warblers and a total of 20 Shorelarks.
Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 26th February 2019  
  Rarities today included the Tengmalm's Owl and Pied-billed Grebe both still on the Shetland Isles, Penduline Tit in Dorset, Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Norfolk, Spotted Sandpiper in County Waterford, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire and Lesser Yellowlegs in both Cornwall and Dorset.

Spring migrants comprised a Red-rumped Swallow new on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, a Black Kite reported near Alderhsot, Hampshire, House Martin (Wirral), Wheatear (Dorset), White Wagtail (County Durham), four Swallows and 14 Sand Martins.

Scarcities included Pallas's Warbler (Cornwall), Common Rosefinch (Shetland Isles), Richard's Pipit (County Wexford), Temminck's Stint (Cornwall), Ring-billed Gull (Warwickshire), Rough-legged Buzzard (Isles of Scilly), Surf Scoter (Lothian), Snow Goose (County Wexford), two each of both American Wigeon and Glossy Ibis, five Great Grey Shrikes, six Yellow-browed Warblers and a total of eight Ring-necked Ducks.
Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 25th February 2019  
  Rarities today comprised the Tengmalm's Owl still on the Shetland Isles but now at Tresta whilst the Pied-billed Grebe remains at Loch of Spiggie, the Blyth's Reed Warbler still in Greater Manchester, Penduline Tit in Dorset, Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Norfolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Spotted Sandpiper in County Wexford and Lesser Yelowlegs in both Cornwall and Dorset.

Scarcities included Common Rosefinch (Shetland Isles), Hoopoe (County Cork), Surf Scoter (Lothian), Temminck's Stint and Ring-billed Gull (cornwall), two American Wigeons, three Lapland Buntings, four each of Rough-legged Buzzard, Ring-necked Duck and Yellow-browed Warbler, five Shorelarks, seven Great Grey Shrikes and a total of 20 Glossy Ibises.
Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 24th February 2019  
  Rarities today comprised the Blyth's Reed Warbler still in Greater Manchester, Penduline Tits in both Dorset and London, Spotted Sandpiper in County Wexford, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in both Cornwall and Dorset, two Coues's Arctic Redpolls together in Norfolk, two White-billed Divers together on the Orkney Islands, Richardson's Cackling Goose in Argyll, and on the Shetland Isles the Pied-billed Grebe remained but the Tengmalm's Owl could not be located.

Scarcities included Little Bunting (Norfolk), Common Rosefinch (Shetland Isles), Temminck's Stint (Cornwall), Ring-billed Gull (County Dublin), Snow Goose (County Wexford), two Lapland Buntings, three Rough-legged Buzzards, four Great Grey Shrikes, six Yellow-browed Warblers, 10 Shorelarks, 11 Ring-necked Ducks and a total of 21 Glossy Ibises
Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 23rd February 2019  
  The Tengmalm's Owl reappeared once again, watched in its roost at Bixter, Shetland.

Other lingering rarities included the Pied-billed Grebe in Shetland, Blyth's Reed Warbler in Greater Manchester, Penduline Tits in Dorset and London, Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Norfolk, Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Black Scoter in County Kerry, and Ferruginous Duck in Hampshire.

Scarcity highlights included a Little Bunting, a Common Rosefinch, a Rose-coloured Starling, two Richard's Pipits, two Lapland Buntings, six Yellow-browed Warblers, six Great Grey Shrikes, 31 Shorelarks, a Temminck's Stint, three Tundra Bean Geese, three Green-winged Teals, two Surf Scoters, 11 Ring-necked Ducks, three Kumlien's Gulls, three Ring-billed Gulls, four Rough-legged Buzzards and eight Glossy Ibises.
Will Soar, RBA
Friday 22nd February 2019  
  The main news of the day was negative news with no sign all day of the Tengmalm's Owl on the Shetland Isles at Bixter.

Elsewhere, rarities today comprised a Red-rumped Swallow new in Pembrokeshire at Bosherton and lingering were the Pied-billed Grebe on Shetland, Penduline Tit in London, Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Norfolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire and Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset.

Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starling (Conwy), Common Rosefinch (Shetland Isles), Ring-billed Gull (Cornwall), Rough-legged Buzzard (Kent), American Wigeon (Worcestershire), White-tailed Eagle (North Yorkshire), two each of Yellow-browed Warbler and Snow Goose, three Lapland Buntings, five of both Glossy Ibis and Great Grey Shrike, six Shorelarks and a total of 11 Ring-necked Ducks.
Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 21st February 2019  
 

On Shetland, the Tengmalm's Owl afforded reasonable views at its Mainland roost near Bixter for much of the day; however, the best views were given as it active at dusk.

Other ongoing rarities were Pied-billed Grebe in Shetland, Penduline Tit in Greater London, Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Norfolk, Red-rumped Swallow in Glamorgan, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset and Richardson's Cackling Goose in Argyl.

Scarcities included the Temminck's Stint, a Rose-coloured Starling, two Pallas's Warblers, four Yellow-browed Warblers, five Great Grey Shrikes, eight Shorelarks, two Rough-legged Buzzards, four Glossy Ibises, an American Wigeon, three Green-winged Teal, 13 Ring-necked Ducks (eight of which were on Lough Morne, Co.Monaghan), a Surf Scoter, three Black Brant, a Todd's Canada Goose, Taiga Bean Goose, five Tundra Bean Geese, two Ring-billed Gulls, a Kumlien's Gull, 13 Iceland Gulls and 10 Glaucous Gulls.
David Campbell, RBA
Wednesday 20th February 2019  
  Today's highlights included a new Bonaparte's Gull in Co Cork, a returning Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll and lingered Spotted Sandpiper (Co Waterford), Lesser Yellowlegs (Dorset), Red-rumped Swallow (Glamorgan), Long-billed Dowitcher (Lincolnshire), Penduline Tit (London) and Coues's Arctic Redpoll (Norfolk). Sadly the Tengmalm's Owl did not return to its daytime roost near Bixter on Mainland Shetland.

The best of the rest included Little Bunting (Norfolk), Pallas's Warblers (Cornwall and Co Durham), Rose-coloured Starling (Conwy), Ring-billed Gull (Hampshire), Yellow-browed Warblers (two in Gloucestershire), Todd's Canada Goose (Argyll), three Rough-legged Buzzards, Glossy Ibises, Surf Scoters, Green-winged Teals and Ring-necked Ducks, five Shorelarks and seven Great Grey Shrikes.
Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 19th February 2019  
 

The mega alert sounded with the incredible news of a Tengmalm's Owl found at its daytime roost at Bixter, Mainland, Shetland. It remained in full view for the rest of the day, before departing its roost at dusk.

The Red-rumped Swallow remained in Glamorgan, Coues's Arctic Redpoll lingered in Norfolk and Penduline Tits were still in Dorset and Greater London. Old favourites included Blyth's Reed Warbler in Greater Manchester, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire and Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset.

The best of the rest included four Shorelarks, five Great Grey Shrikes, a Pallas's Warbler, two Yellow-browed Warblers, a Rose-coloured Starling, a Richard's Pipit, three Rough-legged Buzzards, three Ring-billed Gulls, a Kumlien's Gull, 10 Iceland Gulls, 12 Glaucous Gulls, eight Glossy Ibises, a Black Brant, Taiga Bean Goose, five Tundra Bean Geese, four Green-winged Teal, six Ring-necked Ducks and a Surf Scoter.
David Campbell, RBA
Monday 18th February 2019  
  A Penduline Tit was discovered at Crossness LNR, London today, whilst lingering rarities included the Blyth's Reed Warbler in Greater Manchester, Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Norfolk, Penduline Tit in Dorset, Red-rumped Swallow in Glamorgan, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Spotted Sandpiper in County Waterford, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, White-billed Diver in Western Isles, Black Duck in Highland and Richardson's Cackling Goose in Argyll.

Scarcity highlights included a Rose-coloured Starling, a Lapland Bunting, two Pallas's Warblers, two Yellow-browed Warblers, two Great Grey Shrikes, 13 Shorelarks, a Temminck's Stint, two Snow Geese, two Taiga Bean Geese, two Tundra Bean Geese, a Black Brant, an American Wigeon, two Surf Scoters, five Ring-necked Ducks, four Green-winged Teal, three Rough-legged Buzzards, two Kumlien's Gulls and 16 Glossy Ibises.
Will Soar, RBA