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| Sunday 28th July 2019 | ||
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| The big talking point today was an exceptional movement of Wood Sandpipers. A total of 451 were reported, mostly from the eastern half of England, with the bulk of the numbers from the coast. At least 110 were seen at Cley, Norfolk throughout the day, eclipsing the previous highest count from the site, and the county, of 60 on August 7th 1952.
New rarities discovered today included a Two-barred Crossbill at Titchwell, Norfolk, another at Virkie, Shetland, a Pacific Golden Plover on Westray, Orkney and a Wilson's Petrel off County Cork. Lingering rarities included the Aquatic Warbler in Fife, Pacific Golden Plover in Northumberland, Long-billed Dowitcher and White-rumped Sandpiper in Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent, Blue-winged Teal in Clyde and Ferruginous Duck in Sussex. |
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| - Will Soar, 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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| Saturday 27th July 2019 | ||
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The autumn's first Aquatic Warbler was found during the evening on the Isle of May in Fife, while a Great Reed Warbler arrived on Unst in Shetland. Ongoing rarities included Pacific Golden Plover in Northumberland, White-rumped Sandpiper in Lincolnshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Kent, Blue-winged Teal in Clyde and Ferruginous Duck in Sussex. Among the best of the rest were Rose-coloured Starling (Shetland), Purple Heron (Norfolk), Glossy Ibis (Gwent), six Balearic Shearwaters, a moving Honey Buzzard (Lothian), Iceland Gull (Shetland) and three Temminck's Stints (two together in Kent, one in Co.Durham). An extraordinary movement of waders, mainly in the east and south-east, saw Wood Sandpipers and Curlew Sandpipers move through in force, with multiple double-figure flocks of both species. An equally remarkable overland movement of Common Scoters over northern England saw hundreds flying over several sites, including counts such as 300 over Brockholes in Lancashire, while 510 flew up the Humber at Sunk Island in East Yorkshire. |
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| - David Campbell, RBA | ||
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| Friday 26th July 2019 | ||
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| County Kerry produced two new rarities today, a Snowy Owl
near Ventry and a Bonaparte's Gull at Blennerville. Lingering rare waders comprised Pacific Golden Plover in Northumberland, Long-billed Dowitcher and White-rumped Sandpiper in Lincolnshire and Lesser Yellowlegs in Kent. Forster's Tern (Co Louth), Bonaparte's Gull (Kent), Black Duck (Highland), Blue-winged Teal (Clyde) and Ferruginous Duck (East Sussex) also lingered. The best of the rest included Purple Heron (Norfolk), White-tailed Eagle (Northumberland), Temminck's Stint (Co Durham) and Honey Buzzard (Kent). |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 25th July 2019 | ||
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| In the Western Isles, a Blue-cheeked Bee-eater was seen briefly near Stornoway, Lewis, before it flew south. Other new discoveries included a Gull-billed Tern past Inverbervie, Aberdeenshire and a Bee-eater at St Abb's Head, Borders.
Lingering rarities included the Forster's Tern in County Louth, Savi's Warbler in Anglesey, Snowy Owl in Western Isles, Pacific Golden Plover in Northumberland, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Kent, Blue-winged Teal in Clyde and Ferruginous Duck in Sussex. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 24th July 2019 | ||
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| Lingering rare waders present today included the Pacific Golden Plover on Holy Island, Northumberland, Long-billed Dowitcher and White-rumped Sandpiper at Frampton Marsh, Lincolnshire and Lesser Yellowlegs at Oare Marshes, Kent, with a Bonaparte's Gull still at the latter site, a Savi's Warbler at Cors Ddyga, Anglesey and a Ferruginous Duck at Pett, East Sussex.
Scarcity highlights included a Red-necked Phalarope, a Cory's Shearwater, a Balearic Shearwater, a Surf Scoter and two Purple Herons. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 23rd July 2019 | ||
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A Black Kite flew over Fordingbridge and Breamore in Hampshire. 11 Two-barred Crossbills in Shetland included six new birds. The wader contingent was still strong, with Collared Pratincole in Co.Donegal, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Norfolk, White-rumped Sandpipers in Lincolnshire and Western Isles, Pacific Golden Plover in Northumberland, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire and Lesser Yellowlegs in Kent. Other continuing rarities were the Bonaparte's Gull in Kent, Savi's Warbler in Anglesey, Forster's Tern in Co.Louth and Ferruginous Duck in Sussex. Today's scarcities included Shorelark (Orkney), Serin (East Yorkshire), 26 Balearic Shearwaters, Pomarine Skua (Western Isles) and two Glaucous Gulls. |
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| - David Campbell, RBA | ||
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| Monday 22nd July 2019 | ||
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New finds today included Collared Pratincole at Blanket Nook in Co.Donegal, Pallid Swift past Flamborough Head in East Yorkshire and White-rumped Sandpiper on Vatersay in Western Isles. Two Wilson's Petrels were the highlight of an evening pelagic in Scilly waters. Pacific Golden Plovers were still in Norfolk and Northumberland, while one of the White-rumped Sandpipers remained in Lincolnshire alongside the Long-billed Dowitcher. Other continuing rarities included Semipalmated Sandpiper in Norfolk, Lesser Yellowlegs and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent, and two Two-barred Crossbills in Shetland. Co.Louth once again hosted the regular Forster's Tern at Soldier's Point. Backup came in the form of Grey-headed Wagtail and Shorelark (both Orkney), Ring-necked Duck (Denbighshire), Glossy Ibis (Devon), nine Cory's Shearwaters, Great Shearwater (Scilly), 131 Balearic Shearwaters, Leach's Petrel (Gwynedd), Long-tailed Skua (Norfolk) and Pomarine Skua (Devon). |
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| - David Campbell, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 21st July 2019 | ||
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The number of Pacific Golden Plovers in the country doubled with a new arrival in the evening on Holy Island in Northumberland; meanwhile, the Norfolk bird continued its stay at Breydon Water. Neither of the day's Two-barred Crossbills were in Shetland, with birds at St.John's Loch in Highland and over Titchwell in Norfolk. Two Wilson's Petrels were seen from a boat in Co.Cork waters off Cape Clear. There was late news of a colour-ringed second-winter Baltic Gull in Suffolk at Orford Ness on Friday. Other rarities reported today were the Semipalmated Sandpiper in Norfolk, White-rumped Sandpiper and Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Savi's Warbler in Anglesley, Lesser Yellowlegs and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent, Black Duck and King Eider in Highland, Blue-winged Teal in Clyde and Ferruginous Duck in Sussex. The day's supporting cast involved Red-backed Shrike (Sussex), Serin (Kent), two Temminck's Stints (Lincolnshire and Essex), Grey-headed Wagtail and Shorelark (both Orkney), three Great Shearwaters (one in Cornwall and two in Co.Cork), 174 Cory's Shearwaters (all Co.Cork), seven Balearic Shearwaters, White Stork (Buckinghamshire), Glossy Ibis (Devon) and five notable Roseate Terns (four in Devon, one in London). |
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| - David Campbell, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 20th July 2019 | ||
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| Frampton Marsh RSPB in Lincolnshire continued its excellent run, with the arrival of two adult White-rumped Sandpipers, with the lingering Long-billed Dowitcher still on site. Elsewhere, a Black Kite flew over Frampton Pools, Gloucestershire.
Lingering rarities included the Semipalmated Sandpiper and Pacific Golden Plover in Norfolk, Lesser Yellowlegs and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent, Savi's Warbler in Anglesey, Blue-winged Teal in Clyde, King Eider in Highland and Ferruginous Duck in Sussex. Scarcity highlights included a Grey-headed Wagtail, two Serins, a Purple Heron, a Honey Buzzard, a Ring-necked Duck, a Surf Scoter, a Cory's Shearwater and three Balearic Shearwaters. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Friday 19th July 2019 | ||
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| New discoveries today included a Semipalmated Sandpiper at Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk, a Long-billed Dowitcher at Frampton Marshes RSPB, Lincolnshire, a Caspian Tern at Pendeen, Cornwall and a Two-barred Crossbill at St John's Pool, Highland.
Lingering rarities included the Pacific Golden Plover in Norfolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in County Antrim, Lesser Yellowlegs and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent, three Two-barred Crossbills in Shetland and Ferruginous Duck in Sussex. Scarcity highlights included a Serin, two Rose-coloured Starlings, a Purple Heron, a Glossy Ibis, a Pectoral Sandpiper, a Surf Scoter, a Sabine's Gull, four Cory's Shearwaters and a Honey Buzzard. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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