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 30th September 2019  
 

The day's best finds were Red-eyed Vireos at Ballynacarriga and Galley Head in Co.Cork, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on North Ronaldsay in Orkney, Red-footed Falcon at Gibraltar Point in Lincolnshire, Blyth's Reed Warbler at Polgigga in Cornwall, Rustic Buntings at Spurn in East Yorkshire and on St.Mary's in Scilly, and Semipalmated Sandpiper in Co.Kerry.

Still with us were the American Black Tern in Co.Galway, American Buff-bellied Pipit in Gwynedd, Red-eyed Vireo on Rathlin Island in Co.Antrim, Whiskered Tern in Western Isles, Pacific Golden Plover in Northumberland, White-rumped Sandpipers in Nottinghamshire and Forth, Long-billed Dowitchers in Devon and Gloucestershire, Blue-winged Teal in Clyde, Black-winged Stilt in Berkshire, and Baird's Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Bee-eater, two Olive-backed Pipits and Snowy Owl all in Shetland.

The best of the rest included two Short-toed Larks (both Scilly), Hoopoe (Scilly), two Little Buntings (Shetland), Ortolan Bunting (Scilly), Rose-coloured Starling (Cornwall), two Red-backed Shrikes, five Red-breasted Flycatchers, seven Barred Warblers, two Wrynecks, Spotted Crake (Somerset), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Co.Wexford), Red-necked Phalarope (Gwent), five Grey Phalaropes, Dotterel (Cumbria), five American Golden Plovers, five Pectoral Sandpipers, Ring-necked Duck (Essex), Honey Buzzard (Gloucestershire), two Iceland Gulls, Sabine's Gull (Hampshire) and a Long-tailed Skua.
-  David Campbell, RBA
Sunday 29th September 2019  
  New discoveries today included single Red-eyed Vireos on Rathlin Island, County Antrim and Mizen Head, County Cork, an American Buff-bellied Pipit on Bardsey Island, Gwynedd, a Citrine Wagtail on North Ronaldsay, Orkney, an Olive-backed Pipit at Hoswick, Red-throated Pipit on Foula and a Bee-eater at Ollaberry, all Shetland, a Barolo Shearwater off Pendeen, Cornwall, a Gull-billed Tern off Cullernose Point, Northumberland, a Whiskered Tern at Baleshare, Western Isles, a Semipalmated Sandpiper at Derrymore, County Kerry, single White-rumped Sandpipers at Lound, Nottinghamshire and Skinflats, Forth and a Black-winged Stilt over Binley, Warwickshire.

The Daurian Shrike, Rustic Bunting, Eastern Stonechat sp, Semipalmated Sandpiper and Baird's Sandpiper all remained in Shetland, as did the Blue Rock Thrush in Scilly, American Black Tern in County Galway, Snowy Owl in the Western Isles, Pacific Golden Plover in Northumberland, Long-billed Dowitchers in Yorkshire, Devon and Gloucestershire, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Wexford, Black-winged Stilt in Berkshire and Blue-winged Teal in County Wexford.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 28th September 2019  
 

The Northern Isles dominated the new rarity alerts, with Shetland producing a Brown Shrike on Out Skerries and on Mainland an Isabelline Shrike (most likely Turkestan), two Olive-backed Pipits, an Eastern Stonechat sp and a Semipalmated Sandpiper. Orkney had a Rustic Bunting on North Ronaldsay and an Olive-backed Pipit on Sanday. Other new rarities were an Alpine Swift at Hendon in Co.Durham and a Red-throated Pipit at Carrahane in Co.Kerry. There was also news that identification of the recent Eastern Yellow Wagtail in Anglesey has been confirmed from sound recordings.

The day's continuing rarities were the Blue Rock Thrush in Scilly, Great Reed Warbler in Dorset, Citrine Wagtail in Shetland, Blue-winged Teal in Clyde and Co.Wexford, Black-winged Stilt (Berkshire), Baird's Sandpiper in Shetland, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Co.Wexford, and Long-billed Dowitchers in Devon, Gloucestershire and West Yorkshire

Other highlights included two Ortolan Buntings (Scilly and Highland), Melodious Warbler (Shetland), two Barred Warblers, two Bluethroats, seven Red-breasted Flycatchers, Marsh Warbler (Shetland), two Richard's Pipits (Shetland and Orkney), Common Rosefinch (Shetland), four Little Buntings, Rose-coloured Starling (Sussex), Red-backed Shrike (Shetland), two Short-toed Larks (Scilly and Shetland), Hoopoe (Orkney), Grey-headed Wagtail (Orkney), Wryneck (Fair Isle), six American Golden Plovers, two Buff-breasted Sandpipers, four Pectoral Sandpipers, Spotted Crake (Somerset), two Glossy Ibises (Gwent and Co.Wexford), Great Shearwater (Dorset), five Sabine's Gulls, two Leach's Petrels, five Grey Phalaropes, three Long-tailed Skuas and 12 Pomarine Skuas.
-  David Campbell, RBA
Friday 27th September 2019  
  Highlight of the day was the discovery of an Isabelline Wheatear on Mull (Argyll). Elsewhere new rarities comprised Alpine Swifts (Shetland and Co Durham), Semipalmated Sandpiper (Co Wexford), Red-rumped Swallow (East Yorkshire), Red-footed Falcon (Kent) and Blyth's Reed Warbler, Greenish Warbler and Red-throated Pipit (Shetland).

Lingering rarities included Blue Rock Thrush (Isles of Scilly), Long-billed Dowitchers (Devon, Gloucestershire and West Yorkshire), Subalpine Warbler and Blyth's Reed Warbler (Western Isles), Red-flanked Bluetail (Shetland), Black-winged Stilt (Berkshire) and probable Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Anglesey).

The best of the rest included Melodious Warbler (Shetland), Red-necked Phalarope (Merseyside), Dotterel (Pembrokeshire), Ortolan Bunting (Isles of Scilly), Bluethroat (Hampshire), Short-toed Lark (Shetland), Corncrake (Shetland), two Snow Geese (Western Isles), Ring-necked Duck (Perth & Kinross) and Rose-coloured Starling (West Sussex), two American Golden Plovers, Spotted Crakes and Red-backed Shrikes, three Barred Warblers, four Buff-breasted Sandpipers and Pectoral Sandpipers, six Wrynecks, nine Little Buntings and 12 Red-breasted Flycatchers.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Thursday 26th September 2019  
  New discoveries today included a Pacific Golden Plover on Holy Island, Northumberland and a Long-billed Dowitcher at Coombe Hill Meadows, Gloucestershire.

Lingering rarities included the Blue Rock Thrush in Scilly, Red-flanked Bluetail and Olive-backed Pipit in Shetland, Subalpine Warbler sp and Blyth's Reed Warbler in Western Isles, Long-billed Dowitchers in Yorkshire and Devon, Black-winged Stilts in Berkshire and Somerset, Lesser Yellowlegs in Scilly and Blue-winged Teal in Clyde.

Scarcity highlights included a Richard's Pipit, a Short-toed Lark, two Barred Warblers, two Red-backed Shrikes, three Rose-coloured Starlings, four Wrynecks, five Little Buntings, seven Red-breasted Flycatchers, 22 Lapland Buntings, a Rough-legged Buzzard, a Spotted Crake, an American Golden Plover, a Dotterel, a Red-necked Phalarope, six Grey Phalaropes, six Pectoral Sandpipers, a Purple Heron, a Glossy Ibis, a Sabine's Gull, two Long-tailed Skuas, ten Pomarine Skuas, two Roseate Terns and two Snow Geese.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 25th September 2019  
  Discoveries today included a Rustic Bunting in County Durham at South Shields, a Long-billed Dowitcher in Devon at Bowling Green Marsh, a Black Kite on Anglesey at Talwrn and in Gwynedd a Red-rumped Swallow flew over both Bardsey and Aberdaron.

On the Isles of Scilly the Blue Rock Thrush remained on St Mary's along with Hoopoe and Honey Buzzard there, the Lesser Yellowlegs was still on Tresco, with three Wrynecks around the islands. On the Shetland Isles the Red-flanked Bluetail remained on Foula, Olive-backed Pipit and American Golden Plover were on Yell, Citrine Wagtail on Mainland at Norby, Melodious Warbler on Out Skerries, Short-toed Lark on Unst, Red-backed Shrike on Fair Isle, and around islands totals included six each of both Little Bunting and Red-breasted Flycatcher.

Elsewhere, Blyth's Reed Warbler and Subalpine Warbler species remained on the Western Isles, Long-billed Dowitcher in West Yorkshire, Blue-winged Teal in County Wexford, White-rumped Sandpiper in Cornwall, Black-winged Stilts in Berkshire and Somerset, American Golden Plover in Lincolnshire, Rose-coloured Starling in West Sussex and Hoopoe in Buckinghamshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 24th September 2019  
  Discoveries today included a Red-flanked Bluetail on North Ronaldsay, Orkney Isles, a Blyth's Reed Warbler on Barra, Western Isles, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Kerry at Beale and on Anglesey an Alpine Swift reported at Plas Newydd.

Around the Shetland Isles Foula recorded Baird's Sandpiper, Red-flanked Bluetail, Rustic Bunting, Olive-backed Pipit and Citrine Wagtail, a Blyth's Reed Warbler was on Mainland at Hillswick, both Short-toed Lark and American Golden Plover were on Unst, and Melodious Warbler on Yell, with around island totals of single Richard's Pipit, Common Rosefinch, Wryneck, two each of both Little Bunting and Red-backed Shrike, three Red-breasted Flycatchers and 19 Lapland Buntings.

Elsewhere lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Blue Rock Thrush on the Isles of Scilly, Long-billed Dowitcher in West Yorkshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Pembrokeshire, White-rumped Sandpipers in both Cornwall and East Yorkshire, and Black-winged Stilts in Berkshire and Somerset.

Significant late news concerned an Isabelline Wheatear present - but not identified - in Lincolnshire at Gibraltar Point both yesterday and on Sunday.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 23rd September 2019  
  Discoveries today included both Arctic Warbler and an Eastern Stonechat species on the Isle of May, Fife, a Red-flanked Bluetail on the Shetland Isles on Fair Isle, and in the evening an Alpine Swift at Aberystwyth, Ceredigion.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Blue Rock Thrush and Lesser Yellowlegs on the Isles of Scilly, Forster's Tern in County Louth, Citrine Wagtail on the Shetland Isles, Long-billed Dowitchers in Dorset and West Yorkshire, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Wexford, Blue-winged Teals in Clyde and County Wexford, White-rumped Sandpipers in Cornwall and East Yorkshire, and Black-winged Stilts in Berkshire and Somerset.

Scarcities included Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Cornwall), Short-toed Lark (Shetland Isles), Richard's Pipit (County Durham), Ring-billed Gull (County Louth), Red-necked Phalarope (Merseyside), Sabine's Gull (East Yorkshire), Dotterel (Cambridgeshire), Ring-necked Duck (Essex), two each of Rose-coloured Starling, Common Rosefinch and Glossy Ibis, three of Spotted Crake and Long-tailed Skua, four of Barred Warbler and Pectoral Sandpiper, five of Little Bunting and Wryneck, six Red-breasted Flycatchers, seven American Golden Plovers and a total of 35 Lapland Buntings.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 22nd September 2019  
  The highlight of the day was a Blue Rock Thrush discovered on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly. Discoveries elsewhere included an Arctic Warbler in East Yorkshire at Grimston, a White-rumped Sandpiper in Cornwall at Davidstow and unidentified albatross species passing both St Abb's Head, Borders and Winterton, Norfolk.

Other rarities today comprised the Eastern Olivaceous Warbler still in Hampshire, Subalpine Warbler species on the Western Isles, Baird's Sandpiper and Citrine Wagtail together on the Shetland Isles, Lesser Yellowlegs in Pembrokeshire and the Isles of Scilly, White-rumped Sandpiper in East Yorkshire, Black-winged Stilts in both Berkshire and Somerset, and Long-billed Dowitchers in Dorset, West Yorkshire and the Western Isles.

Scarcities included Melodious Warbler and Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Cornwall), Short-toed Lark and American Wigeon (Isles of Scilly), Rose-coloured Starling (Anglesey), Barred Warbler (Orkney Isles), Common Rosefinch (Shetland Isles), Richard's Pipit (East Yorkshire), Red-necked Phalarope (Merseyside), Dotterel (Pembrokeshire) andtwo each of Bluethroat, Spotted Crake and Sabine's Gull, three of Little Bunting, Ortolan Bunting, Pectoral Sandpiper and Long-tailed Skua, seven Red-breasted Flycatchers, eight American Golden Plovers, 11 Wrynecks and a total of 43 Lapland Buntings.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 21st September 2019  
  A brief Short-toed Treecreeper at Langdon Cliffs NT (Kent) was today's best new discovery.

Most of the birdnews related to shorebirds, with new discoveries comprising White-rumped Sandpipers (Co Clare and Western Isles) and Black-winged Stilt (Somerset), and lingering birds including Semipalmated Sandpiper (Co Wexford), Lesser Yellowlegs (Isles of Scilly and Pembrokeshire), Long-billed Dowitchers (Dorset and West Yorkshire), White-rumped Sandpiper (East Yorkshire), Baird's Sandpiper (Shetland), Red-necked Phalarope (Merseyside), Buff-breasted Sandpipers (Cornwall and Shetland), American Golden Plovers (Aberdeenshire, Co Donegal, Kent, Merseyside, Orkney and Western Isles), Dotterels (Cumbria, Fife, Pembrokeshire and Isles of Scilly) and Pectoral Sandpipers (Co Kerry, Cumbria, Lancashire and Suffolk).

Landbird highlights comprised Red-breasted Flycatcher (East Yorkshire), two Rose-coloured Starlings, Common Rosefinches, Richard's Pipits and Bluethroats, three Wrynecks, eleven Yellow-browed Warblers,

The best of the rest included Rough-legged Buzzard (Norfolk), Spotted Crake (Essex) and Ring-necked Duck (Essex).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA