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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Wednesday 2nd October 2019  
  The highlight of the day came from the Isles of Scilly where a Yellow-billed Cuckoo was seen briefly on St Mary's where Blue Rock Thrush and Melodious Warbler remained whilst on Tresco White-winged Black Tern, Short-toed Lark, Ortolan Bunting and Hoopoe were all present, with four Wrynecks and five Lapland Buntings around the islands. On the Shetland Isles both Red-flanked Bluetail and Dusky Warbler were on Unst, with Snowy Owl, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Greenish Warbler and Bee-eater all on Mainland and around island totals of Short-toed Lark, Little Auk, two each of Red-breasted Flycatcher, Barred Warbler, Red-backed Shrike, Glaucous Gull and Lapland Bunting, and three Waxwings.

Discoveries elsewhere included an Isabelline Wheatear in Conwy at Llandudno, a Gull-billed Tern briefly in Dorset at Lodmoor, and in Cornwall a Red-eyed Vireo on The Lizard, a Greenish Warbler in Cot Valley, and both Red-throated Pipit and Blyth's Reed Warbler at Nanjizal.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were Red-eyed Vireos in both County Antrim and County Cork, Booted Warbler and Rustic Bunting together in East Yorkshire, Snowy Owl on the Western Isles, Long-billed Dowitchers in Devon and West Yorkshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Ayrshire and Black-winged Stilt in Berkshire.

Sadly, a second Yellow-billed Cuckoo arrived but was picked up dead in Seaford, East Sussex.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 1st October 2019  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Booted Warbler in East Yorkshire at Spurn whilst in Ayrshire a Lesser Yellowlegs was new at Capringstone Flash. Lingering rarities included Red-eyed Vireos in both County Antrim and County Cork, Pacific Golden Plover and Greenish Warbler together in Northumberland, Snowy Owl on the Western Isles, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on the Orkney Isles, Rustic Bunting in East Yorkshire, American Black Tern in County Galway, Blue-winged Teal in County Wexford, Long-billed Dowitchers in both Devon and West Yorkshire, and Black-winged Stilt in Berkshire.

Elsewhere, on the Isles of Scilly Blue Rock Thrush, Rustic Bunting, Melodious Warbler, Dotterel and Red-backed Shrike were all on St Mary's with Short-toed Lark, Ortolan Bunting, Richard's Pipit and Hoopoe on other islands. On the Shetland Isles a Red-flanked Bluetail arrived on Unst, Snowy Owl, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Bee-eater and two Olive-backed Pipits were all located on Mainland, with around island totals of single American Golden Plover, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Barred Warbler, Red-backed Shrike, Pectoral Sandpiper and Lapland Bunting.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
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