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| Tuesday 21st May 2019 | ||
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The pick of the day's finds were Squacco Heron at Tacumshin in Co.Wexford, Rustic Bunting and Red-rumped Swallow on Fair Isle, Tawny Pipit near Margate in Kent and a pair of Black-winged Stilts at Pulborough Brooks RSPB in West Sussex, while Bee-eaters were seen over Kent and Norfolk, and Black Kites flew over Kent and Co.Wexford. Two Thrush Nightingales were confirmed in Shetland. A Black Stork near Fenhurst in West Sussex was probably the bird seen in the county on Saturday. In Kent, the Whiskered Tern stayed just into a second day at Dungeness RSPB before clearing off. Other ongoing rarities included Baikal Teal in Cambridgeshire, Stilt Sandpiper in Lancashire, Eastern Subalpine Warbler in Orkney, Great Reed Warbler in West Yorkshire, Iberian Chiffchaff in Lancashire, Red-footed Falcons in Co.Wexford and Scilly, and Savi's Warbler in Suffolk. The supporting cast involved three Purple Herons, Icterine Warbler (Shetland), Melodious Warbler (Isle of Man), six Bluethroats, Little Bunting (Shetland), two Serins, 11 Golden Orioles, White-winged Black Tern (Co.Wexford), eight Temminck's Stints, three Red-backed Shrikes, Montagu's Harrier (Norfolk), Hoopoe (Dorset), Wryneck, seven Common Rosefinches, Ring-necked Duck, Taiga Bean Goose, two Glossy Ibises, two Pomarine Skuas, four Roseate Terns and four migrant Dotterel. The Pied Crow remained in Kent. |
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| - David Campbell, RBA | ||
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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 20th May 2019 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was a Whiskered Tern in Kent at Dungeness -
where a Bee-eater also flew over - whilst other discoveries included a Subalpine Warbler
off the Isle of Man on Calf of Man, a mobile Black Kite in Essex, a
Red-rumped Swallow in East Yorkshire and a Bee-eater briefly in Dorset. Around the Shetland Isles
Thrush Nightingale, Rustic Bunting, Red-rumped Swallow and two
Eastern Subalpine Warblers were all logged. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the American White-winged Scoter in Lothian, Baikal Teal in Cambridgeshire, Stilt Sandpiper in Merseyside, Gull-billed Tern in Argyll, Broad-billed Sandpiper in Lincolnshire, Great Reed Warblers in both London and West Yorkshire, Red-footed Falcons in County Wexford and the Isles of Scilly, Iberian Chiffchaffs in Aberdeenshire and Lancashire, and territorial Savi's Warbler in Suffolk. Scarcities included Serin (Kent), Red-necked Phalarope (Lincolnshire), Montagu's Harrier (East Yorkshire), Marsh Warbler, Grey-headed Wagtail and 13 Common Rosefinches (all on the Shetland Isles), two each of Purple Heron, Long-tailed Skua, Glossy Ibis and migrant Honey Buzzard, three Ring-necked Ducks, four Red-backed Shrikes, four migrant Dotterel, five White-winged Black Terns, six each of Icterine Warbler, Golden Oriole and Temminck's Stint, and a total of 28 Bluethroats. Significant late news concerned a male Collared Flycatcher present on Stronsay, Orkney Isles on 18th May; bringing the total this spring to five birds. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 19th May 2019 | ||
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| The highlights of the day were a Western Orphean Warbler in Gwynedd
trapped and ringed on Bardsey Island, a Lesser Grey Shrike discovered in
Kent at Northward Hill, and in Cornwall both Black-headed Wagtail and Dusky Warbler
found on The Lizard. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Baikal Teal in Cambridgeshire, Stilt Sandpiper in Merseyside, Eastern Subalpine Warblers on both the Orkney Isles and Shetland Isles, Black Duck and Blue-winged Teal in Highland, Great Reed Warblers in London and West Yorkshire, Iberian Chiffchaffs in Highland and Lancashire, Red-footed Falcon and Red-rumped Swallow on the Isles of Scilly, two territorial Savi's Warblers in Suffolk, Lesser Yellowlegs on the Shetland Isles and Ferruginous Duck in West Yorkshire. An easterly airflow brought off-course Scandinavian bound migrants to the British east coast and islands with a male Collared Flycatcher on the Shetland Isles on Out Skerries the standout bird, a Broad-billed Sandpiper arrived in Lincolnshire at Frampton Marsh, a brief Greenish Warbler in Norfolk at Blakeney Point, Rustic Buntings on both Orkney and Shetland, two Icterine Warblers, three Grey-headed Wagtails, six Red-backed Shrikes, 10 Temminck's Stints, 13 Common Rosefinches (all on the Shetland Isles) and a total of 53 Bluethroats that included 12 in Aberdeenshire, 14 on the Isle of May, Fife, and 17 around the Shetland Isles. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 18th May 2019 | ||
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| A classic mid-May day with plenty of rarities discovered including a Collared Flycatcher and Rustic Bunting on Papa Westray, Orkney, another Rustic Bunting at Levenwick, Shetland, a Great Reed Warbler at Crossness, London, a Broad-billed Sandpiper on Holy Island, Northumberland, a Lesser Yellowlegs on Fair Isle, Shetland, a Whiskered Tern at Tacumshin, County Wexford, a Black Stork at Knepp, West Sussex, an Iberian Chiffchaff at Pilling, Lancashire, five Bee-eaters at Winterton, Norfolk and at least two on The Lizard, Cornwall, a Lesser Scaup at St Abbs, Borders, an Alpine Swift at Templepatrick, County Antrim and another at Felixstowe, Suffolk, single Red-footed Falcons on St Martin's then St Mary's, Scilly and on Lundy, Devon and a Black Kite over High Eske NR, Yorkshire.
Lingering rarities included the Baikal Teal in Cambridgeshire, Scops Owl in County Kilkenny, Stilt Sandpiper in Merseyside, single Eastern Subalpine Warblers on both Noss and Out Skerries, Shetland and on North Ronaldsay, Orkney, two Savi's Warblers in Suffolk, Great Reed Warbler in Yorkshire, Iberian Chiffchaff in Aberdeenshire and Black Duck and Blue-winged Teal in Highland. Scarcities were headlined by up to 44 Bluethroats from Yorkshire to Shetland. Also an Ortolan Bunting, a Serin, a Wryneck, a Red-backed Shrike, a Great Grey Shrike, two Woodchat Shrikes, two Icterine Warblers, two Common Rosefinches, three Golden Orioles, a White Stork, two Glossy Ibises, three Purple Herons, two Red-necked Phalaropes, 17 Dotterel, 24 Temminck's Stints, a White-winged Black Tern, two Honey Buzzards, two Ring-necked Ducks and 11 Pomarine Skuas. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Friday 17th May 2019 | ||
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| New discoveries today included a Stilt Sandpiper at Lunt Meadows, Lancashire (the second county record following one in 1967), a Broad-billed Sandpiper on Inishbofin, County Galway (the first county record), a Kentish Plover at Breydon Water, Norfolk, a Spotted Sandpiper at Langton Herring, Dorset, a Gull-billed Tern on Tiree, Argyll, an Iberian Chiffchaff at Balnakeil, Highland (the first county record), single Eastern Subalpine Warblers on Noss and Out Skerries (both Shetland) and on North Ronaldsay, Orkney, a Red-footed Falcon on St Martin's and a Red-rumped Swallow on St Mary's, Scilly and a Black Kite near Salisbury, Wiltshire.
Lingering rarities present today included the Scops Owl in County Kilkenny, Iberian Chiffchaff in Aberdeenshire, Great Reed Warbler in Yorkshire, two Savi's Warblers in Suffolk, Black Duck and King Eider in Highland, American White-winged Scoter in Lothian and Ferruginous Duck in Yorkshire. Scarcity highlights included a Red-breasted Flycatcher, a Wryneck, a Red-backed Shrike, two Woodchat Shrikes, two Serins, two Golden Orioles, two Common Rosefinches, seven Bluethroats, two Red-necked Phalaropes, 14 Temminck's Stints, 15 Dotterel, a Glossy Ibis, two Purple Herons, a White-winged Black Tern, a Honey Buzzard, two Montagu's Harriers, a Roseate Tern, a Glaucous Gull, a Taiga Bean Goose, two Ring-necked Ducks, two Surf Scoters, a Long-tailed Skua and approximately 64 Pomarine Skuas. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 16th May 2019 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was a singing Scops Owl present overnight in County Kilkenny at Millinavat. Other discoveries included a
Subalpine Warbler species on the Shetland Isles on West Burra, a Red-rumped Swallow on the Isles of Scilly on Tresco, and a Bee-eater at Portland Bill, Dorset. Other rarities recorded were the Great Reed Warbler still in West Yorkshire, Iberian Chiffchaff still in Aberdeenshire, Red-footed Falcon again in South Yorkshire, and three Savi's Warblers in Suffolk. Scarcities included Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Shetland Isles), Ortolan Bunting (Pembrokeshire), Woodchat Shrike (Cornwall), Serin (Kent), Purple Heron (Western Isles), Red-necked Phalarope (Lincolnshire), American Wigeon (County Clare), Honey Buzzard (Nottinghamshire) and two each of White-winged Black Tern, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Golden Oriole, Ring-billed Gull, Wryneck and Grey-headed Wagtail, seven migrant Dotterel and a total of 10 Temminck's Stints. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 15th May 2019 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the discovery of Bee-eaters in both County Down at Ballyquintin Point and in Dorset at Durlston (7) and Studland. Rarities elsewhere comprised a Kentish Plover new in Devon at South Milton Sands, the American White-winged Scoter still in Lothian, both Great Reed Warbler and Ferruginous Duck together in West Yorkshire, Iberian Chiffchaff in Aberdeenshire, Black Duck in Highland, Bonaparte's Gull reported still in Hampshire and two territorial Savi's Warblers in Suffolk. Scarcities included Serin (Kent), Golden Oriole and Wryneck (Isles of Scilly), Purple Heron (Kent), American Wigeon (County Clare), Montagu's Harrier (Norfolk), Red-necked Phalarope (Lincolnshire), Shorelark (Shetland Isles), two each of Woodchat Shrike and Glossy Ibis, three Hoopoes, nine Temminck's Stints and a total of 14 migrant Dotterel. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 14th May 2019 | ||
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| New rarities discovered today comprised an Eastern Stonechat species in Suffolk at Southwold, a Citrine Wagtail on Fair Isle, Shetland Isles, a
Snowy Owl at Mid Tooin, Orkney Isles, a pair of Black-winged Stilts in Buckinghamshire and College Lake and a
Black Kite briefly in Worcestershire at Bewdley. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the American White-winged Scoter in Lothian, both Great Spotted Cuckoo and Little Bittern in Norfolk, Black Duck and Blue-winged Teal in Highland, Great Reed Warbler and Ferruginous Duck in West Yorkshire, Iberian Chiffchaff, King Eider and White-billed Diver in Aberdeenshire, a territorial Savi's Warbler in Suffolk and a White-billed Diver on the Orkney Isles. Scarcities included Melodious Warbler (Essex), Woodchat Shrike (Pembrokeshire), Hoopoe (Isles of Scilly), Wryneck (Shetland Isles), Red-necked Phalarope (Lincolnshire), Ring-necked Duck (Dorset), Surf Scoter (Lothian), two each of both Montagu's Harrier and Glossy Ibis, five Temminck's Stints, and a total of 18 migrant Dotterel. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Monday 13th May 2019 | ||
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| Rarities today comprised the American White-winged Scoter still in Lothian,
Great Spotted Cuckoo and Little Bittern both still in Norfolk, Iberian Chiffchaff
in Aberdeenshire, Dresser's Eider in County Dublin, two territorial
Savi's Warblers in Suffolk, and in West Yorkshire Great Reed Warbler,
Iberian Chiffchaff and Ferruginous Duck. In Cornwall a Black Kite flew over Skewjack and in North Yorkshire a
Bee-eater overflew Burniston. Scarcities included Serin, Hoopoe and Wryneck (all Norfolk), Honey Buzzard (Cambridgeshire), Rough-legged Buzzard (Orkney Isles), Ring-necked Duck (Dorset), Shorelark (Cleveland), Glossy Ibis (Cornwall), two each of Woodchat Shrike, Golden Oriole and Grey-headed Wagtail, four Surf Scoters, five Temminck's Stints and 25 migrant Dotterel. Significant late news concerned a Pallid Harrier that flew over Burniston, North Yorkshire yesterday. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 12th May 2019 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the discovery of another Collared Flycatcher
on the Orkney Isles on North Ronaldsay, an Iberian Chiffchaff new in Aberdeenshire at Mill of Tarty, in Norfolk a
Little Bittern at Thetford, a Great Reed Warbler at Titchwell and a
Black Kite at Burnham Deepdale, and in South Yorkshire two Red-footed Falcons
together at Thorne Moors and Ferruginous Duck at Edderthorpe Flash. Lingering rarities included the American Bittern on the Western Isles, Great Spotted Cuckoo in Norfolk, both Great Reed Warbler and Iberian Chiffchaff in West Yorkshire, Blue-winged Teal in Highland, Lesser Yellowlegs on the Isles of Scilly, Bonaparte's Gull in Hampshire and two Savi's Warblers in Suffolk. Scarcities included Serin (Cornwall), Hoopoe (Aberdeenshire), Shorelark (Northumberland), Grey-headed Wagtail (Northumberland), Purple Heron (Isle of Wight), Ring-necked Duck (Dorset), Honey Buzzard (Kent), two each of Short-toed Lark, Woodchat Shrike, Night Heron and Montagu's Harriers, three of both Golden Oriole and Surf Scoter, four Wrynecks, five Temminck's Stints and 37 migrant Dotterel. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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