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 5th September 2019  
  Rarities today comprised a Brown Booby still in Cornwall on The Lizard, the unidentified Eastern Black-eared or Pied Wheatear in Lancashire, Western Bonelli's Warbler in Gwynedd, Forster's Tern in County Louth, Snowy Owl on the Western Isles, Semipalmated Sandpipers in both Gwent and County Wexford, White-rumped Sandpipers in East Yorkshire and the Western Isles, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire and Black-winged Stilt in Nottinghamshire.

Scarcities included Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Hoopoe (Cornwall), Woodchat Shrike and Icterine Warbler (County Cork), Dotterel (East Yorkshire), Glossy Ibis (Gwent), two Common Rosefinches, six each of both Wryneck and Pectoral Sandpiper, seven Sabine's Gulls, and eight of both Long-tailed Skua and Lapland Bunting.
Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 4th September 2019  
  Rarities today were headlined by the continuing Brown Booby in Cornwall on The Lizard whilst the unidentified Eastern Black-eared or Pied Wheatear remained in Lancashire, as did the Western Bonelli's Warbler in Gwynedd, Greenish Warbler in Cleveland, Baird's and Semipalmated Sandpipers in County Wexford, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Gwent, Two-barred Crossbill and Citrine Wagtail on the Shetland Isles, White-rumped Sandpiper in East Yorkshire, Black-winged Stilt in Nottinghamshire and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent.

Seawatching produced single Wilson's Petrels passing both Cornwall and County Clare and totals of 21 Long-tailed Skuas and 43 Sabine's Gulls.

Scarcities included Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Hoopoe (Cornwall), Woodchat Shrike (County Cork), Rose-coloured Starling (Western Isles), Barred Warbler (Shetland Isles), Pectoral Sandpiper (Argyll), Dotterel (East Yorkshire), Glossy Ibis (Gwent), four Lapland Buntings and a total of seven Wrynecks.
Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 3rd September 2019  
  The highlight of the day was the Brown Booby in Cornwall at Kynance Cove that showed throughout the day. 

Breaking rarities comprised the Semipalmated Sandpiper confirmed in Gwent at Goldcliff, a Baird's Sandpiper in Argyll on Tiree, and on the Shetland Isles another Two-barred Crossbill on Fair Isle and a Citrine Wagtail on Unst.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the unidentified Black-eared or Pied Wheatear in Lancashire, Black-headed Bunting in Devon, Western Bonelli's Warbler in Gwynedd, Greenish Warbler in Cleveland, White-rumped Sandpiper in East Yorkshire, Black-winged Stilt in Nottinghamshire and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent.

Scarcities included Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Melodious Warbler, Red-backed Shrike and Hoopoe (all Cornwall), Pectoral Sandpiper (Western Isles), Dotterel (East Yorkshire), Corncrake (Dorset), Long-tailed Skua (Wirral), Sabine's Gull (County Wexford), two each of both Barred Warbler and Common Rosefinch, four Lapland Buntings and seven Wrynecks.
Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 2nd September 2019  
  Incredible news from Cornwall where a Brown Booby located off The Lizard on a rock at Kynance Cove from mid morning proved to be a different individual to that present in St Ives Bay and Pendeen Watch between 26th-31st August, with both of these following the bird photographed passing Swalecliffe, Kent on 19th August.

Rarities discovered elsewhere were a Whiskered Tern in Devon at Slapton Ley, a Greenish Warbler in Cleveland at Brotton, a Two-barred Crossbill on the Shetland Isles on Unst, and a Kentish Plover in Hampshire on Hayling Island.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised the unidentified Eastern Black-eared or Pied Wheatear in Lancashire, Western Bonelli's Warbler in Gwynedd, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Sligo, Baird's Sandpiper in County Wexford, White-rumped Sandpiper in East Yorkshire and Black-winged Stilt in Nottinghamshire.

Scarcities included Woodchat Shrike (County Cork), Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Red-breasted Flycatcher (Cornwall), Icterine Warbler, Common Rosefinch and American Golden Plover (Shetland Isles), Montagu's Harrier (East Yorkshire), Lapland Bunting (Isles of Scilly), Ring-necked Duck (Cleveland), Glossy Ibis (Gwent), two each of Red-backed Shrike, Hoopoe, Pectoral Sandpiper and Dotterel, three Ortolan Buntings, four of both Wryneck and Long-tailed Skua, and a total of 14 Sabine's Gulls.
Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 1st September 2019  
 

A female Pied or Eastern Black-eared Wheatear was found at Fluke Hall in Lancashire. An Aquatic Warbler was trapped at Titchfield Haven NNR in Hampshire, a Bee-eater flew over Leysdown-on-Sea in Kent and a Lesser Scaup turned up at Carrowmore Lake in Co.Mayo. The roaming juvenile Black-winged Stilt moved to Idle Valley in Nottinghamshire.

Ongoing rarities comprised the Western Bonelli's Warblers in Gwynedd and Cornwall, Black Duck in Highland, Blue-winged Teal in Clyde, Bonaparte's Gull in Co.Clare, Baird's Sandpiper in Co.Wexford and White-rumped Sandpiper in East Yorkshire.

Among the best of the rest were White-winged Black Tern (Dorset), a Woodchat Shrike (Co.Cork), two Rose-coloured Starlings (Anglesey and Northumberland), three Red-backed Shrikes, two Icterine Warblers, a Barred Warbler, nine Wrynecks, two Lapland Buntings, American Golden Plover (Shetland), Dotterel (East Yorkshire), Surf Scoter (Lothian), 63 Leach's Petrels, 25 Grey Phalaropes, Montagu's Harrier (East Yorkshire), 18 Sabine's Gulls, 10 Long-tailed Skuas, 30 Pomarine Skuas, three Pectoral Sandpipers and three migrant Honey Buzzards.
David Campbell, RBA
Saturday 31st August 2019  
  In Cornwall, the Brown Booby reappeared off Gwithian mid morning, and lingered in St Ives Bay for an hour or so, before being relocated on rocks off St Ives Island late morning where it showed very well for another hour. It was later seen heading west past Pendeen Watch, nine miles to the south-west.

New discoveries today included a Western Bonelli's Warbler at Uchmynydd, Gwynedd, a Semipalmated Sandpiper at Tacumshin, County Wexford, a Ferruginous Duck near Orford, Suffolk and the roaming Black-winged Stilt appeared in Northumberland, where it toured coastal sites between Hadston and Cresswell.

Other lingering rarities still present included the Black-headed Bunting in Devon, Western Bonelli's Warbler in Cornwall, Snowy Owl in Western Isles, Baird's Sandpiper in County Wexford, White-rumped Sandpiper in Yorkshire, Blue-winged Teal in Clyde and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent.
Will Soar, RBA
Friday 30th August 2019  
  New discoveries today included an Aquatic Warbler trapped and ringed at Llangorse Lake, Powys, a Bee-eater on Whalsay, Shetland, a Fea's /Desertas Petrel off Annagh Head, County Mayo and a Black Kite over Hayle, Cornwall.

Lingering rarities still present today included the Black-headed Bunting in Devon, Western Bonelli's Warbler in Cornwall, Snowy Owl in Western Isles, Blue-winged Teal in Clyde, White-rumped Sandpiper in Yorkshire and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent.

Scarcity highlights included a Red-backed Shrike, a Rose-coloured Starling, a Common Rosefinch, a Lapland Bunting, a Marsh Warbler, two Barred Warblers, seven Wrynecks, a Pectoral Sandpiper, a Dotterel, a Glossy Ibis, three Surf Scoters, five Honey Buzzards, three Cory's Shearwaters, four Great Shearwaters and four Pomarine Skuas.
Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 29th August 2019  
  In Cornwall the Brown Booby reappeared off Gwithian early morning, where it was present on and off for a short while.

New discoveries today included a Black-winged Stilt at Chirnside, Borders, a Citrine Wagtail at Balta Isle and two Two-barred Crossbills at Quendale, both Shetland, a Snowy Owl on Eday, Orkney and single White-rumped Sandpipers at Kilnsea, Yorkshire and Saltholme, Cleveland.

Lingering rarities included the Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Blue-winged Teal in Clyde and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent, whilst two Wilson's Petrels were seen from the Scilly pelagic.

Scarcity highlights included an Ortoland Bunting, a Lapland Bunting, a Melodious Warbler, an Icterine Warbler, a Rose-coloured Starling, three Common Rosefinches, 12 Wrynecks, a Spotted Crake, a Surf Scoter, a Ring-necked Duck, a Temminck's Stint, a Pectoral Sandpiper, two Honey Buzzards, two Sabine's Gulls, two Leach's Petrels, two Grey Phalaropes, a Cory's Shearwater, a Long-tailed Skua, 12 Pomarine Skuas and an Iceland Gull.
Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 28th August 2019  
 

The Brown Booby was reported again at distance off in Carbis Bay off St.Ives early in the morning but, save for a possible sighting mid-afternoon, the rest of the day drew a blank.

New rarities included a Tawny Pipit at Pendeen in Cornwall and a Black-winged Stilt which spent the day in North Yorkshire at East Lea, Filey.

Still with us were the Western Bonelli's Warbler in Cornwall, Greenish Warbler in Shetland, Baird's Sandpiper in Co.Wexford, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire and Blue-winged Teal in Clyde.

Scarcities included 15 Wrynecks, two Icterine Warblers (both Shetland), five Barred Warblers (all Shetland), a Melodious Warbler (Cornwall), Rose-coloured Starling (Northumberland), two Montagu's Harriers, three Dotterel, Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Lincolnshire), Ring-necked Duck (Denbighshire), Surf Scoter (Lothian), Long-tailed Skua (Co.Clare), Pomarine Skua (Gwynedd) and three migrant Honey Buzzards.
David Campbell, RBA
Tuesday 27th August 2019  
 

In the evening, a Cliff Swallow was encountered flying around the pier at Milovaig on the Isle of Skye in Highland. The Brown Booby spent a short while fishing off St.Ives Island in Cornwall this morning, where it was photographed and confirmed. It was reported again mid-afternoon, but the vast majority of hopeful observers failed to connect. Mainland Shetland hosted the first Pallid Harrier of the autumn, along with a Citrine Wagtail. A Tawny Pipit flew over Rhossili in Glamorgan. Ringing in west Cornwall produced the county's fifth Blyth's Reed Warbler, which was released at Polgigga duck pond. A Greenish Warbler was found on Fair Isle, and the evening's Scilly pelagic produced their third Fea's or Desertas Petrel in as many weeks.

The day's continuing rarities were the Western Bonelli's Warbler in Cornwall, Citrine Wagtail on Fair Isle, Greenish Warblers in Orkney and Shetland, Blue-winged Teal in Clyde, Bonaparte's Gull in Co.Clare and Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire.

The supporting cast included Grey-headed Wagtail (Sussex), Red-backed Shrike (Scilly), 23 Wrynecks, two Icterine Warblers (East Yorkshire and Devon), two Barred Warblers (Shetland), two Rose-coloured Starlings (Northumberland and Co.Durham), two Marsh Warblers, Lapland Bunting (Western Isles), Ortolan Bunting (Kent and Dorset ['nocmig' records]), Montagu's Harrier (East Yorkshire), Spotted Crake (Cornwall), Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Temminck's Stint (Lincolnshire), Pectoral Sandpiper (Lothian), two Sabine's Gulls (Co.Durham and Co.Kerry), Dotterel (Lincolnshire), Ring-necked Duck (Herefordshire), two Surf Scoters (Lothian and Conwy), Cory's Shearwater (Norfolk), two Great Shearwaters (Cornwall), two Pomarine Skuas (Co.Kerry and Co.Clare), Iceland Gull (Western Isles), and three migrant Honey Buzzards.
David Campbell, RBA