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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Thursday 18th April 2019  
 

The adult drake American White-winged Scoter resurfaced off Musselburgh Lagoons, Lothian. In Suffolk, a male Western Subalpine Warbler was seen at Westleton Heath. Alpine Swifts appeared at Sandy Point, Hampshire, and at Ivinghoe Beacon, Buckinghamshire.

Continuing rarities were represented by the Iberian Chiffchaffs in Essex and Conwy, Great Spotted Cuckoo on the Isle of Wight, Bonaparte's Gull in Oxfordshire, Black-winged Stilt in Argyll, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, Lesser Scaup in Somerset, King Eider in Highland, and two White-billed Divers in Moray.

Scarcities included Ortolan Bunting (Cornwall), Night Heron (Scilly), Grey-headed Wagtail (Lothian), Bluethroat (Orkney), two Serins (both at Portland, Dorset), seven Hoopoes, a Wryneck (Norfolk), two Spotted Crakes (South Yorkshire and Cleveland), Pallas's Warbler (Cornwall), two Great Grey Shrikes, 27 Shorelarks (Norfolk), five Glossy Ibises, two White Stork, two Surf Scoters (Lothian), five Green-winged Teal, an American Wigeon, seven Ring-necked Ducks, a Black Brant, two Tundra Bean Geese and an Iceland Gull.
David Campbell, RBA
Wednesday 17th April 2019  
  New discoveries today included singing Iberian Chiffchaffs at Seaforth, Merseyside and The Naze, Essex, a Red-rumped Swallow at Far Ings NR, Lincolnshire, Black Stork at Arundel WWT, Sussex, two Black-winged Stilts at Rye Harbour NR, Sussex, and a White-billed Diver at Malin Head, County Donegal, but there was no sign of the Eastern Yellow Wagtail seen yesterday on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly.

Lingering rarities included Iberian Chiffchaff in Conwy, Great Spotted Cuckoo on the Isle of Wight, Savi's Warbler in Suffolk, Bonaparte's Gull in Oxfordshire, Black-winged Stilt in Argyll, single Lesser Yellowlegs' in Dorset and Cornwall, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, three White-billed Divers in Aberdeenshire and another in Moray, Blue-winged Teal, Black Duck and King Eider in Highland and Lesser Scaup in Somerset.
Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 16th April 2019  
 

Singing Iberian Chiffchaffs were found near Betws-y-Coed, Conwy, and Sandwich, Kent. A Black-winged Stilt on Tiree was the first for Argyll. Another two stopped off at Ouse Washes RSPB, Cambridgeshire. In Suffolk, a Kentish Plover was discovered at Havergate Island. Meanwhile, the Snowy Owl reappeared on Holyhead Mountain, Anglesey and Black Kites visited West Bergholt, Essex, and Sammy's Point, East Yorkshire.

Long-stayers comprised the Savi's Warbler in Suffolk, Bonaparte's Gull in Oxfordshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset; Blue-winged TealKing Eider and Black Duck in Highland; Lesser Scaup in Somerset, as well as the pair of Ferruginous Ducks in Nottinghamshire and the singleton in Northumberland. Seven White-billed Divers were logged off the Moray coast.

The best of the rest included Hoopoe (Scilly), Wryneck (Cornwall), Serin (Kent), two Spotted Crakes (South Yorkshire and Cleveland), Night Heron (Scilly), White Stork (London), three Glossy Ibises, three Great Grey Shrikes, 15 Shorelarks (Norfolk), two Surf Scoters (Lothian), six Ring-necked Ducks, two American Wigeon, two Green-winged Teal, Black Brant (East Yorkshire), three Tundra Bean Geese, four Pomarine Skuas (Highland), four Iceland Gulls and a Glaucous Gull.
David Campbell, RBA
Monday 15th April 2019  
  New discoveries today included a Gyr at Fanad Head, County Donegal, a Black Kite over Colchester, Essex and a Red-rumped Swallow at Lamby Lake, Glamorgan.

Lingering rarities included the Great Spotted Cuckoo on the Isle of Wight, Blue-winged Teal, Black Duck and King Eider in Highland, two Ferruginous Ducks in Nottinghamshire and one in Northumberland, Bonaparte's Gull in Oxfordshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Spotted Sandpiper in County Wexford, Red-rumped Swallow in Kent and White-billed Diver in Moray.

Scarcity highlights included two Hoopoes, four Great Grey Shrikes, a Purple Heron, a White Stork, a Glossy Ibis, a Spotted Crake, a Pomarine Skua, a Black Brant, three Tundra Bean Geese, an American Wigeon, three Green-winged Teals, four Ring-necked Ducks, two Glaucous Gulls and four Iceland Gulls.
Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 14th April 2019  
  The Tengmalm's Owl was still in Shetland today, but had moved 43 miles to the north-northeast to Valyie at Norwick on Unst, where it remained until dusk.

New discoveries today included a Kentish Plover at Cuckmere Haven, Susex, a Red-rumped Swallow at Stodmarsh, Kent and two White-billed Divers off Lossiemouth, Moray.

Lingering rarities included the Bonaparte's Gull in Oxfordshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Great Spotted Cuckoo in Isle of Wight, Red-rumped Swallow in Cornwall, four White-billed Divers in Moray, Black Duck in Highland, two Ferruginous Ducks in Nottinghamshire and one in Northumberland and single Lesser Scaups in Somerset and Orkney.
Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 13th April 2019  
 

A Red-rumped Swallow was a fresh arrival at Marazion RSPB, Cornwall. Still with us were the Tengmalm's Owl in Shetland, Great Spotted Cuckoo on the Isle of Wight, Bonaparte's Gull in Oxfordshire, the two Black-winged Stilts in Essex, Spotted Sandpiper in Co.Wexford, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, the resident Pied-billed Grebes in Shetland and Argyll, and two White-billed Divers in Moray. The two Ferruginous Ducks in Nottinghamshire remained, as did the Northumberland bird.

Scarcities were represented by Little Bunting (Oxfordshire), Spotted Crake (South Yorkshire), Rough-legged Buzzard (Suffolk), Temminck's Stint (Cornwall), Hoopoe (Norfolk), Wryneck (Isle of Wight), Serin (Somerset) Yellow-browed Warbler (Cornwall), four Great Grey Shrikes, five Shorelarks, a Taiga Bean Goose (Shetland), two Tundra Bean Geese, an American Wigeon, four Green-winged Teal, eight Ring-necked Ducks, two Surf Scoters (Lothian), a White Stork, seven Glossy Ibises, White-tailed Eagle (Worcestershire), four Iceland Gulls and five Glaucous Gulls.

Notable migrants included singles of Wood Warbler (Cheshire), Whinchat (Gloucestershire) and Swift (North Yorkshire).
David Campbell, RBA
Friday 12th April 2019  
  New discoveries today included a Red-flanked Bluetail at Burrafirth, Unst, Shetland, a Bonaparte's Gull at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, two Black-winged Stilts at Vange Marsh RSPB, Essex, a Red-rumped Swallow at Portland, Dorset, a Black Kite at Walberswick, Suffolk and a Ferruginous Duck at West Allotment, Northumberland.

Lingering rarities included the Tengmalm's Owl and Pied-billed Grebe in Shetland, Great Spotted Cuckoo in the Isle of Wight, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, three White-billed Divers in Moray and one in Aberdeenshire and two Ferruginous Ducks in Nottinghamshire.

Scarcity highlights included a Serin, a Pallas's Warbler, a Lapland Bunting, two Hoopoes, four Great Grey Shrikes, a Spotted Crake, a Surf Scoter and a Rough-legged Buzzard.
Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 11th April 2019  
 

The Tengmalm's Owl continued to show at Tresta on Mainland Shetland. Meanwhile, a drake Lesser Scaup was on Sanday, Orkney, for its second day and a smattering of White-billed Divers in Scotland included six in Aberdeenshire and four in Moray.

Extending their stays were the Pied-billed Grebe in Shetland, Great Spotted Cuckoo on the Isle of Wight, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Blue-winged Teal and King Eider in Highland, two Ferruginous Ducks in Nottinghamshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire and Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset

The supporting cast comprised Spotted Crake in South Yorkshire, Hoopoe in Norfolk, five Shorelarks, Serin in Dorset, Pallas's Warbler and Yellow-browed Warbler in Cornwall, Common Rosefinch on Shetland, six Great Grey Shrikes, two Green-winged Teal, six Ring-necked Ducks, two Surf Scoters in Lothian, two Tundra Bean Geese, four Iceland Gulls, two Glaucous Gulls, seven Glossy Ibises, a White Stork in Suffolk and White-tailed Eagle (Norfolk/Suffolk).

Among incoming spring migrants were three Little Terns, a Black Tern, six Arctic Terns, two Turtle Doves, two Nightingales and a Garden Warbler.
David Campbell, RBA
Wednesday 10th April 2019  
  The highlight of the day was the surprise reappearance of the Tengmalm's Owl on the Shetland Isles at Tresta where it had earlier been present from 19th February util 2nd March. Rarities elsewhere comprised the Great Spotted Cuckoo still on the Isle of Wight; Blue-winged Teal, Black Duck and King Eider in Highland; Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, Lesser Scaup in Somerset, two Ferruginous Ducks together in Nottinghamshire at Attenborough, White-billed Diver in County Galway off Inishbofin, and fly-over Black Kites in both Surrey and West Sussex.
A Coues's Arctic Redpoll was in Lincoln for its 17th day.
Scarcities included Little Bunting (Norfolk), Serin (Dorset), Common Rosefinch (Shetland Isles), Hoopoe (Norfolk), Ring-billed Gull (County Kerry), American Wigeon (Leicestershire), Spotted Crake (Surrey), Temminck's Stint (Cornwall), four Glossy Ibis, five Green-winged Teal, Rough-legged Buzzard (Norfolk) and six each of both Ring-necked Duck and Great Grey Shrike.

Incoming spring migrants included Swift (Essex), two each of Garden Warbler and Pied Flycatcher, 20 Ospreys, 21 Arctic Terns, 35 Garganey and a total of 49 Ring Ouzels.
Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 9th April 2019  
  Rarities today comprised the American White-winged Scoter still in Lothian, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire and Lesser Scaup in Somerset whilst on Anglesey the Black Kite showed again at South Stack.

Scaricites included Serin (Dorset), Hoopoe (Norfolk), Rough-legged Buzzard (Isles of Scilly), American Wigeon (Leicestershire), Ring-necked Duck (East Sussex), two each of both Surf Scoter and Glossy Ibis, and a total of five Great Grey Shrikes.

Incoming summer migrants included Blue-headed Wagtail (Cornwall), Swift (West Sussex), two Little Terns, three Black Terns, 13 Ospreys, 32 Garganey and 35 Ring Ouzels.
Chris Batty, RBA