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 10th October 2019  
  The highlight of the day was on the Isles of Scilly where a Swainson's Thrush was seen briefly on St Mary's with Blue Rock Thrush, Red-eyed Vireo, Short-toed Lark, Red-backed Shrike and Spotted Crake all present on that island, an Arctic Warbler new on St Agnes, and both Short-toed Lark and Red-breasted Flycatcher on Tresco. On the Shetland Isles the Isabelline Wheatear remained on Out Skerries as did both the Eastern Stonechat species and Pallas's Warbler on Unst, with a Short-toed Lark and Bluethroat on Mainland, and Great Grey Shrike, Waxwing and two American Golden Plovers around the islands.

In Ireland the Common Nighthawk remained in County Antrim, as did single Red-eyed Vireos in both County Clare and County Waterford, Lesser Yellowlegs in County Cork and County Waterford, and Lesser Scaup in County Mayo. 

In Britain a White-throated Sparrow at Port of Southampton, Hampshire had arrived on board a cruise ship from Canada whilst other discoveries included a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and two White-rumped Sandpipers on the Western Isles and a Lesser Scaup in Leicestershire at Rutland Water. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present today were a Red-eyed Vireo in Cornwall, American Black Tern in Dorset, Subalpine Warbler species on the Western Isles, Greenish Warbler in Northumberland, Kentish Plover in Merseyside, and Long-billed Dowitchers in both Devon and West Yorkshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 9th October 2019  
  Ireland again brought the headline birds today with the Common Nighthawk still present in County Antrim, Baltimore Oriole and two Baird's Sandpipers in County Mayo, Red-eyed Vireo, Lesser Yellowlegs, White-rumped Sandpiper and a probable Swainson's Thrush in County Cork, Red-eyed Vireo and Lesser Yellowlegs still in County Waterford, Red-eyed Vireo still in County Clare, White-rumped Sandpiper and American Golden Plover in County Kerry, and a Buff-breasted Sandpiper in County Galway.

On the Isles of Scilly an American Buff-bellied Pipit was found on St Martin's with presumably the same bird later located on St Mary's where the elusive Blue Rock Thrush, a Red-eyed Vireo, Red-backed Shrike, Dotterel and Spotted Crake were all logged, a Short-toed Lark remained on Tresco with three Wrynecks around the islands. On the Shetland Isles a Lanceolated Warbler was discovered on Whalsay, the Isabelline Wheatear remained on Out Skerries, a Black-winged Stilt was new to Fair Isle, with both Eastern Stonechat species and Pallas's Warbler present on Unst, American Golden Plover on Yell whilst around island totals including Little Bunting, Bluethroat, Great Grey Shrike, two Short-toed Larks and two Waxwings.

Rarities elsewhere comprised both the Snowy Owl and Subalpine Warbler species still on the Western Isles, American Black Tern still in Dorset, Blyth's Reed Warbler still in Lothian, Dusky Warbler in Norfolk and Kentish Plover in Merseyside.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 8th October 2019  
  Breaking news from County Kerry today of a Least Bittern found yesterday at Farranfore although moribund and it soon died it is the first Irish record of this species. Elsewhere in Ireland in County Antrim the Common Nighthawk showed well all day at Galgorm (were it has reportedly been present for two weeks) as did the nearby King Eider, in County Wicklow a Chimney Swift flew over near Wicklow, the Baltimore Oriole remained in County Mayo on Achill Island, and in County Cork discoveries included Red-eyed Vireo at Firkeel and Semipalmated Sandpiper at The Gearagh.

On the Isles of Scilly a Red-eyed Vireo was discovered on St Mary's where the Blue-winged Teal was was relocated and Blue Rock Thrush remained along with Dotterel, Red-backed Shrike and Wryneck, with a Short-toed Lark on Tresco and Red-backed Shrike on Bryher. On the Shetland Isles on Out Skerries the Isabelline Wheatear continued, on Unst an Eastern Stonechat species, Pallas's Warbler and two Coues's Arctic Redpolls were logged, on Mainland there was an Eastern Stonechat species, Olive-backed Pipit and Short-toed Lark, on Bressay a Coues's Arctic Redpoll with around island totals of American Golden Plover, Bluethroat, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Pectoral Sandpiper, Great Grey Shrike, two Little Buntings and three Waxwings.

Rarities elsewhere comprised a Red-eyed Vireo still in Cornwall, Snowy Owl and Subalpine Warbler species on the Western Isles, American Black Tern still in Dorset, Blyth's Reed Warbler new in Lothian at Barns Ness, Greenish Warbler in Northumberland, Dusky Warbler in Norfolk, Kentish Plover in Merseyside, Blue-winged Teal in Clyde, and Black-winged Stilt in Berkshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 7th October 2019  
  The highlight today was the confirmation of a Common Nighthawk at Galgorm, County Antrim. Present for three days, it has been watched feeding along the River Maine in the evenings, and identified as a Nightjar.

Other new discoveries today included an Olive-backed Pipit on Holy Island, Northumberland, a Red-throated Pipit on St Mary's, Scilly, single Dusky Warblers at Warham Greens, Norfolk and Grimston, Yorkshire (for its second day) and a Blue-winged Teal on St Agnes, Scilly.

Lingering rarities included Baltimore Oriole in County Mayo, Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Blue Rock Thrush in Scilly, single Red-eyed Vireos in Cornwall and County Waterford, Greenish Warbler in Northumberland, Eastern Stonechat sp in Yorkshire, American Black Tern in Dorset, Kentish Plover in Merseyside, Black-winged Stilt in Berkshire and King Eider in County Antrim.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 6th October 2019  
  Highlight of the day was the discovery of Britain's fourth Rufous-tailed Robin, in Feal Plantation on Fetlar, Shetland. It showed to just one observer for five minutes early evening, and wasn't seen again by dark. A Baltimore Oriole was discovered on Achill Island, County Mayo (the fourth for Ireland), and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo spent the afternoon at Lower Moors, Scilly. Late news from yesterday concerned the discovery of Ireland's third Black-and-white Warbler on Inishbofin, County Galway, but it wasn't seen today.

Red-eyed Vireos were found in County Clare (two at Kilbaha), Cornwall (Porthgwarra) and County Waterford (Helvick Head). Other new arrivals included single Red-flanked Bluetails in Shetland and Aberdeenshire, Isabelline Wheatear also in Shetland, Subalpine Warbler sp in Norfolk, Eastern Stonechat sp in Yorkshire, single Olive-backed Pipits in Angus and Orkney, Red-throated Pipit in Cornwall, American Black Tern in Dorset,Lesser Yellowlegs at Blennerville in Co.Kerry, King Eider in County Antrim and Ferruginous Duck in Powys.

Lingering rarities seen today included Eastern Stonechat sp, Bee-eater and Semipalmated Sandpiper in Shetland, Red-flanked Bluetails in Cleveland and Fife, Greenish Warbler in Northumberland, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll in Orkney, Kentish Plover in Merseyside, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Wexford and Black-winged Stilt in Berkshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 5th October 2019  
  Today's headline new discoveries comprised a Bonelli's warbler species on Shetland, Red-flanked Bluetail on Orkney, Dusky Warblers in Cleveland and Norfolk, Kentish Plover in Merseyside, Lesser Yellowlegs in Co Waterford and Long-billed Dowitcher in Argyll.

Isles of Scilly continued to host the Blue Rock Thrush, as well as Ortolan Bunting, Red-backed Shrike, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Short-toed Lark, Spotted Crake and Wryneck, whilst the Shetland Isles produced lingering Semipalmated Sandpiper, Eastern Stonechat species, Coues's Arctic Redpoll, Bee-eater, Bluethroat, Barred Warbler, Red-backed Shrike, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Short-toed Lark, Waxwings and Lapland Buntings.

Elsewhere, lingering rarities included Snowy Owl (Western Isles), Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll (Orkney), Pacific Golden Plover and Greenish Warbler (Northumberland), Red-flanked Bluetail (Fife), Long-billed Dowitcher (Devon), Semipalmated Sandpiper (Co Wexford) and Black-winged Stilt (Berkshire).

The best of the rest included Pallas's Warbler (Suffolk), Rose-coloured Starling (Western Isles), Common Rosefinch (Fife), Great Grey Shrike (Northumberland), Little Bunting (Orkney), Hoopoe (Northumberland), Lesser Snow Goose (Perth & Kinross), two Pectoral Sandpipers, Spotted Crakes, Black Brants, Glossy Ibises and Shorelarks, three Barred Warblers, Wrynecks and Ring-necked Ducks, four American Golden Plovers and Richard's Pipits and five Red-breasted Flycatchers.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 4th October 2019  
  New discoveries today included a Red-flanked Bluetail on the Isle of May, Fife, a Coues's Arctic Redpoll at Lamba Ness, Shetland, a Red-throated Pipit at Porthgwarra, Cornwall and a Dusky Warbler on Burray, Orkney.

Lingering rarities included the Red-eyed Vireo in Cornwall, Blue Rock Thrush in Scilly, Eastern Stonechat sp, Dusky Warbler, Bee-eater and Semipalmated Sandpiper in Shetland, Greenish Warbler in Northumberland, Snowy Owl in the Western Isles, American Black Tern in County Galway, Long-billed Dowitchers in Yorkshire  and Devon, Black-winged Stilt in Berkshire and Blue-winged Teal in Clyde.

Scarcity highlights included a Melodious Warbler, six Barred Warblers, a Richard's Pipit, an Ortolan Bunting, a Little Bunting, a Rose-coloured Starling, a Hoopoe, two Short-toed Larks, three Wrynecks, four Red-breasted Flycatchers, four Red-backed Shrikes, nine Waxwings, a Spotted Crake, a Buff-breasted Sandpiper, two Pectoral Sandpipers, two American Golden Plovers, a Great Shearwater, four Long-tailed Skuas and a Ring-necked Duck.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 3rd October 2019  
  The highlight of the day was news of a Black-and-white Warbler on the Isles of Scilly on St Martin's where yesterday it had been photographed and momentarily caught in netting but today it was only glimpsed once. Elsewhere on that archipelago Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Melodious Warbler and Dotterel were all on St Mary's, with Short-toed Lark, Ortolan Bunting, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Corncrake and two Lapland Buntings around the islands. On the Shetland Isles two Olive-backed Pipits, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Greenish Warbler and Bee-eater were all on Mainland, Dusky Warbler and Red-flanked Bluetail were both on Unst (although the latter died), with around island totals of Little Bunting, Short-toed Lark, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Waxwing, two each of Red-backed Shrike and Lapland Bunting, and six Barred Warblers.

Elsewhere, an adult male Red-flanked Bluetail was new in Cleveland at Brotton, whilst lingering rarities confirmed as still present were Red-eyed Vireo in Cornwall, Booted Warbler in East Yorkshire, Pacific Golden Plover and Greenish Warbler together in Northumberland, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on the Orkney Isles, Long-billed Dowitchers in both Devon and West Yorkshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Ayrshire and Black-winged Stilt in Berkshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
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