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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Tuesday 28th May 2019  
 

A White-headed Duck of unknown origin turned up at Eastville Park in Bristol. The Baikal Teal remained at Hornsea Mere in East Yorkshire and the Squacco Heron was again on Lundy in Devon (having been seen there yesterday evening). Also continuing their stays were the Black Duck in Highland; Iberian Chiffchaffs in Lancashire, Pembrokeshire and Suffolk; Savi's Warblers in Gwent and Co.Wicklow, Great Reed Warblers in Cleveland and West Yorkshire, the two Red-footed Falcons in Co.Wexford, Lesser Yellowlegs in Shetland, the pair of Black-winged Stilts in Somerset

The supporting cast was represented by Purple Heron (Norfolk), four Glossy Ibises, Montagu's Harrier (Suffolk), American Wigeon (Co.Clare) Rose-coloured Starling (East Yorkshire), Spotted Crake (Co.Wicklow), Dotterel (Gwynedd), four Temminck's Stints, Glaucous Gull (Co.Antrim), Roseate Tern (Dorset), Golden Oriole (Suffolk), Great Grey Shrike (Cambridgeshire) and two Serins (Kent and East Yorkshire).
David Campbell, RBA
Monday 27th May 2019  
 

Two Red-footed Falcons graced Cahore Marsh in Co.Wexford late in the day. A Bee-eater tracked the north Norfolk coast and another flew over Cadgwith in Cornwall. In Lincolnshire, a Red-rumped Swallow flew south over Gibraltar Point. In Aberdeenshire, a White-billed Diver flew past Longhaven. An Iberian Chiffchaff was found at Dunwich in Suffolk and a bird at Pantmaenog Forest in Pembrokeshire for its second day was confirmed. A Snowy Owl was found near Doolin in Co.Clare.

The Baikal Teal extended its residence in East Yorkshire, as did the Black Duck and King Eider in Highland, Eastern Subalpine Warbler in Shetland, Gull-billed Tern in Argyll, Red-footed Falcon on Scilly, Tawny Pipit and Lesser Yellowlegs in Shetland, Great Reed Warblers in West Yorkshire and Cleveland, Iberian Chiffchaff in Lancashire, Savi's Warblers in Suffolk and Co.Wicklow, and Black-winged Stilts in Somerset (two together) and Norfolk.

Scarcities included American Golden Plover (Pembrokeshire), Montagu's Harrier and Ring-necked Duck (both Suffolk), two Purple Herons (Norfolk and Western Isles), Icterine Warbler (Shetland), five Temminck's Stints, Red-necked Phalarope (Staffordshire), two Grey-headed Wagtails (Kent and East Yorkshire), Red-backed Shrike (Cleveland), Great Grey Shrike (Cambridgeshire), four Golden Orioles, three Serins, Hoopoe (Norfolk), three Glossy Ibises, five migrant Honey Buzzards, Long-tailed Skua (Co.Durham), Pomarine Skua (Anglesey), two Iceland Gulls and an out-of-range White-tailed Eagle (Shetland).
David Campbell, RBA
Sunday 26th May 2019  
 

The mega alert sounded with the unexpected news of an Upland Sandpiper briefly at Sheringham in Norfolk mid-afternoon, however there was no sign later in the day.

Fair Isle had a Tawny Pipit, and there was late news of another in Co.Galway yesterday. Two Black-winged Stilts at Catcott Lows NR in Somerset were new, as was a Subalpine Warbler in Co.Wexford. A Bee-eater visited Holme Dunes in Norfolk and another flew over Bockhill Farm in Kent. In East Yorkshire, a Red-rumped Swallow spent a short while at Spurn.

The Baikal Teal lingered in East Yorkshire while other stayers included Squacco Heron in Hampshire, Thrush Nightingale in Shetland, Iberian Chiffchaff in Lancashire, Eastern Subalpine Warbler in Shetland, Savi's Warblers in Co.Wicklow and Gwent, Great Reed Warblers in West Yorkshire and Cleveland, Blue-winged Teal in Highland, Red-footed Falcon on Scilly and Lesser Yellowlegs in Shetland.

Scarcities included American Golden Plover (Pembrokeshire), Woodchat Shrike (Anglesey), Night Heron (North Yorkshire), three Purple Herons, three Grey-headed Wagtails (Shetland), 10 Temminck's Stints, four Serins, two Bluethroats and Common Rosefinch (both Shetland), Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, White Stork, Great Grey Shrike (Cambridgeshire), two Grey Phalaropes, two Golden Orioles (Kent and Surrey), five Glossy Ibises and two migrant individuals each of Honey Buzzard and Dotterel. There was a significant push of Long-tailed Skuas off the Western Isles, including 250 past Aird an Runair on North Uist, where seven Pomarine Skuas were thrown in. Further Long-tailed Skuas were seen past Cumbria (two) and Ayrshire, while Pomarine Skuas were also logged in Lancashire (three) and Ayrshire.
David Campbell, RBA
Saturday 25th May 2019  
  New discoveries today included single Savi's Warblers at Uskmouth, Gwent and Buckroney, County Wicklow, single Bee-eaters at Constantine, Cornwall, Cart Gap, Norfolk and Deerness, Orkney, a Red-footed Falcon in County Wexford and a Black Kite in East Sussex.

Lingering rarities included the Baikal Teal in Yorkshire, Black Duck and Blue-winged Teal in Highland, Squacco Heron in Hampshire, single Great Reed Warblers in Yorkshire and Cleveland, Savi's Warbler in Suffolk, single Iberian Chiffchaffs in Aberdeenshire and Lancashire, Western Subalpine Warbler in Isle of Man, Thrush Nightingale in Shetland, Red-footed Falcon in Scilly and Broad-billed Sandpiper in Northumberland.

Scarcity highlights included an Icterine Warbler, a Red-backed Shrike, a Grey-headed Wagtail, two Bluethroats, three Serins, three Common Rosefinches, three Golden Orioles, a White-winged Black Tern, a Purple Heron, two Glossy Ibises, five Honey Buzzards, a Green-winged Teal, a Ring-necked Duck, an American Golden Plover, three Dotterel, six Temminck's Stints and an Iceland Gull.
Will Soar, RBA
Friday 24th May 2019  
  The drake Baikal Teal continued its journey northwards, being discovered at Hornsea Mere, Yorkshire where it remained all day. New discoveries today included a male Pallid Harrier at Helperby, Yorkshire, a Squacco Heron at Titchfield, Hampshire, a Thrush Nightingale on Fair Isle, Shetland, Eastern Subalpine Warblers on Out Skerries, Shetland (two) and at The Naze, Essex, a Red-flanked Bluetail on North Ronaldsay, Orkney and a Red-rumped Swallow at Gibraltar Point NNR, Lincolnshire.

Lingering rarities included single Great Reed Warblers in Yorkshire and Cleveland, Rustic Bunting in Orkney, Iberian Chiffchaff in Aberdeenshire, Broad-billed Sandpiper in Northumberland, Red-footed Falcon in Scilly and Black Duck in Highland.

Scarcity highlights included a Red-backed Shrike, a Grey-headed Wagtail, two Golden Orioles, two Bluethroats, three Serins, three Common Rosefinches, a White-winged Black Tern, a Night Heron, two Purple Herons, three Glossy Ibises, a Long-tailed Skua, five Honey Buzzards, a Dotterel, 13 Temminck's Stints, a Green-winged Teal and a Ring-necked Duck.
Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 23rd May 2019  
 

The Baikal Teal was relocated at Kilnsea Wetlands in East Yorkshire. A Squacco Heron stopped briefly on Lundy in Devon. Also new was a Lesser Yellowlegs on Mainland Shetland at Gards Loch. Other fresh news from Shetland included a Blyth's Reed Warbler on Out Skerries for its 2nd day, a Rustic Bunting on Unst and a Great Reed Warbler on Whalsay. Another Great Reed Warbler was reported in West Yorkshire at Dewsbury. A Western Subalpine Warbler was ringed on Isle of Man at Calf of Man. Kent and Sussex had two Bee-eaters each.

In East Sussex, the Crag Martin was reported again at Beachy Head. Continuing their stays were Broad-billed Sandpiper in Northumberland, Eastern Subalpine Warbler and Rustic Bunting in Shetland, Iberian Chiffchaffs in Aberdeenshire and Lancashire, Gull-billed Tern in Argyll, Great Reed Warblers in Cleveland and West Yorkshire, Thrush Nightingale in Shetland, Lesser Scaup in Borders, Red-footed Falcon on Scilly,

Scarcities included two Marsh Warblers (Shetland and Borders), Night Heron (Yorkshire), 13 Temminck's Stints (including four at Cley NWT in Norfolk), three Golden Orioles, four Serins, four Common Rosefinches, two Red-backed Shrikes, Melodious Warbler (Cornwall), two Purple Herons, three Glossy Ibises, two White Storks, Ring-necked Duck, Montagu's Harrier, Spotted Crake (Yorkshire), five migrant Honey Buzzards, Bluethroat, Roseate Tern, three Long-tailed Skuas and six Pomarine Skuas.
David Campbell, RBA
Wednesday 22nd May 2019  
  The highlight of the day was a Crag Martin seen briefly in East Sussex at Beachy Head whilst other discoveries included a Paddyfield Warbler on the Shetland Isles on Out Skerries, a Great Reed Warbler in Cleveland at Saltholme, Red-footed Falcon in East Yorkshire at Kilnsea, two Black-winged Stilts together in Norfolk at Wells and a flyover Bee-eater in Suffolk.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were two Thrush Nightingales, a Rustic Bunting and an Eastern Subalpine Warbler on the Shetland Isles, Rustic Bunting and Eastern Subalpine Warbler on the Orkney Isles, Forster's Tern in County Galway, Squacco Heron in County Wexford, Black Duck and Blue-winged Teal in Highland, Great Reed Warbler in West Yorkshire, Red-footed Falcon Isles of Scilly, Iberian Chiffchaff in Lancashire and Lesser Scaup in Borders.

Scarcities included Serin (Kent), Night Heron (Nottinghamshire), Ring-necked Duck (Suffolk), Montagu's Harrier (East Yorkshire), Wryneck and Shorelark (Shetland Isles), two each of Purple Heron, Bluethroat, Golden Oriole and migrant Dotterel, three of Red-backed Shrike and Glossy Ibis, five Common Rosefinches and six Temminck's Stints.
Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 21st May 2019  
 

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.
David Campbell, RBA
Monday 20th May 2019  
  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.
Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 19th May 2019  
  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.
Chris Batty, RBA