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| Wednesday 30th October 2019 | ||
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The Steller's Eider was seen today but proved evasive. There was no sign on Westray early morning but was relocated over 15 miles away off Shapinsay mid-morning. The next sighting was back on Westray late afternoon but there it was quickly flushed off by boating activity. The best of today's finds included Desert Wheatear at South Swale NR in Kent, Isabelline Wheatear at Kilnsea in East Yorkshire, Little Bittern at Titchwell RSPB in Norfolk, King Eider at Aberlady Bay in Lothian, Eastern Stonechat sp at Heacham in Norfolk and White-rumped Sandpiper at Belfast Lough RSPB in Co.Antrim. Still present were the Black Scoter in Northumberland, Lesser Scaup in Co.Mayo, Long-billed Dowitcher in Argyll, and in Western Isles the flock of seven Two-barred Crossbills, Lesser Yellowlegs and White-rumped Sandpiper. The mooted Lesser Kestrel was still in East Yorkshire. Other notable news included Woodchat Shrike (Kent), Bluethroat (East Yorkshire), three Pallas's Warblers, Red-breasted Flycatcher (Lincolnshire), Short-toed Lark (Co.Donegal), Red-backed Shrike (Lincolnshire), seven Great Grey Shrikes, Rose-coloured Starling (Northumberland), American Golden Plover (Shetland), Pectoral Sandpiper (Western Isles), two Hoopoes, Wryneck (Dorset), five Shorelarks, two Richard's Pipits, three Rough-legged Buzzards, Black Brant (Dorset), two Green-winged Teal, two Ring-necked Ducks, five Leach's Petrels, two Grey Phalaropes and Glossy Ibis (Glamorgan). Little Auks and Pomarine Skuas continued to move off the east coast, though in smaller numbers than yesterday. |
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| - David Campbell, 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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| Tuesday 29th October 2019 | ||
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A juvenile Steller's Eider on Loch of Swartmill on Westray in Orkney trumped all other finds, at least till just before midnight when a roadside Tengmalm's Owl was found near Forsinard by a birder en-route to Orkney! Other finds today include Richardson's Cackling Goose on Islay in Argyll, Radde's Warbler in Suffolk, Eastern Stonechat sp at Easington in East Yorkshire and Lesser Yellowlegs at Wrafton in Devon. White-billed Divers flew past Papa Westray in Orkney (five) and Whitburn in Co.Durham. The flock of Two-barred Crossbills on North Uist increased to seven birds. News emerged that a drake Canvasback had met its end with an offshore wind turbine north of Westgate-on-Sea in Kent on 19th October, the same day that a Booted or Sykes's Warbler was trapped and ringed on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire. Continuing rarities were limited to the Short-billed Dowitcher in Co.Louth, Long-billed Dowitcher in Northumberland and White-rumped Sandpipers in Co.Kerry and Western Isles. Scarcities included four Pallas's Warblers, two Red-breasted Flycatchers, Short-toed Lark (Co.Donegal), four Shorelarks, two Richard's Pipits, Rose-coloured Starling (Greater Manchester), four Great Grey Shrikes, Red-backed Shrike (Lincolnshire), two Wrynecks, Hoopoe (Lincolnshire), Red-necked Phalarope (West Yorkshire), Glossy Ibis (Gwent), two Black Brants, Surf Scoter (Lothian), two Ring-necked Ducks, American Wigeon (Lancashire), Green-winged Teal (Orkney), two Ring-billed Gulls (Co.Louth and Co.Cork), Iceland Gull (East Yorkshire), Good seawatching conditions on the east coast produced - among other fare - hundreds of Little Auks, good numbers of Pomarine Skuas, Sabine's Gull (Co.Durham), three Leach's Petrels and three of the day's five Grey Phalaropes. |
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| - David Campbell, RBA | ||
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| Monday 28th October 2019 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the discovery of five Two-barred Crossbills together on the Western Isles on North Uist, with a
Rustic Bunting new in Cornwall at Nanjizal and Porthgwarra, four White-billed Divers passing Papa Westray, Orkney Isles, the
White-winged Scoter still in Lothian, Short-billed Dowitcher still in County Louth,
single Long-billed Dowitchers in both Argyll and Northumberland, and White-rumped Sandpipers still in Lancashire, Leicestershire and
the Western Isles. On the Isles of Scilly the Blue Rock Thrush remained on St Mary's with a Serin there too, on Tresco Isabelline Wheatear and Rustic Bunting, and on St Agnes Little Bunting, Red-breasted Flycatcher and Richard's Pipit. On the Shetland Isles a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll was on Mainland at Lerwick with an Eastern Stonechat at Sandwick, whilst on Unst a Coues's Arctic Redpoll was identified. Notable scarcities included Rose-coloured Starlings in both Berkshire and Northumberland, Short-toed Lark in County Donegal, Ring-necked Ducks in Argyll and Dorset, Red-necked Phalarope in West Yorkshire and a Kumlien's Gull in Cheshire. The Hooded Merganser remained in Leicestershire at Rutland Water was shown to be a metal-ringed escape. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 27th October 2019 | ||
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Today's finds were a Swainson's Thrush in Lerwick on Mainland Shetland, Hooded Merganser at Rutland Water, Blyth's Reed Warbler at Porth Eilian in Anglesey, Rustic Bunting on Tresco in Scilly and White-billed Diver past North Ronaldsay in Orkney. An Eastern Yellow Wagtail over Budle Bay in Northumberland yesterday was confirmed from a sound recording. Still present were the Short-billed Dowitcher in Co.Louth, American Black Tern in Dorset, Isabelline Wheatear in Scilly, Eastern Stonechat sp in Norfolk, Red-rumped Swallow in Norfolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in Northumberland and eight White-rumped Sandpipers (including five in Co.Derry). Pallas's Warbler (Co.Down), Northern Long-tailed Tit (Norfolk), Richard's Pipit (Norfolk), two Wrynecks (Dorset and Sussex), two Short-toed Larks (Co.Donegal and Scilly), three Rose-coloured Starlings, Serin (Devon), Red-backed Shrike (Scilly), two Great Grey Shrikes, three Red-breasted Flycatchers, three Barred Warblers, Hoopoe (Co.Cork), Red-necked Phalarope (West Yorkshire), two Spotted Crakes (Scilly), three American Golden Plovers, Rough-legged Buzzard (Norfolk), Glossy Ibis (Devon), three Surf Scoters, two American Wigeon, two Ring-necked Ducks, three Green-winged Teal, 17 Taiga Bean Geese, Tundra Bean Goose, three Snow Geese, Black Brant (Dorset), 12 Shorelarks, 12 Little Auks, 28 Waxwings and four Grey Phalaropes. |
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| - David Campbell, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 26th October 2019 | ||
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A Two-barred Greenish Warbler was found on Dursey Island in Co.Cork, while other discoveries included American Black Tern at Seaburn in Co.Durham, Richardson's Cackling Goose on Islay in Argyll and Long-billed Dowitcher in Northumberland. Continuing rarities included Eastern Stonechat sp in Shetland, Lesser Scaup in Somerset, American Black Tern in Dorset. The regular Black Scoter returned to waters off Cheswick Sands in Northumerland. At least 17 White-rumped Sandpipers were logged, including lingering groups of seven in Co.Derry and six in Western Isles. Among the scarcities were Short-toed Lark (Co.Donegal), four Red-breasted Flycatchers, Little Bunting (Yorkshire), Red-backed Shrike (Shetland), Great Grey Shrike (Forth), Rose-coloured Starling (Northumberland), Red-necked Phalarope (Yorkshire), Ring-billed Gull (Co.Mayo), six American Golden Plovers, three American Wigeon, three Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter (Lothian), two Snow Geese, Black Brant, 12 Taiga Bean Geese, Long-tailed Skua (Hampshire), two Sabine's Gulls, four Little Auks, three Leach's Petrels, six Grey Phalaropes, Cory's Shearwater (Cornwall), 40 Waxwings, two Iceland Gulls and a Glaucous Gull. |
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| - David Campbell, RBA | ||
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| Friday 25th October 2019 | ||
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| New discoveries comprised a White-rumped Sandpiper in Co
Kerry and Lesser Scaup in Somerset, but the reappearance of the
White-winged Scoter off Musselburgh (Lothian) was today's
headline news - having last been logged there on 20th May. Lingering rarities included Blue Rock Thrush, Isabelline Wheatear and Red-throated Pipit on Isles of Scilly, Black Scoter in Northumberland, Snowy Owl, Lesser Yellowlegs and at least two White-rumped Sandpipers on Western Isles and American Black Tern in Dorset. Scarcity highlights comprised Short-toed Lark (Co Donegal), Spotted Crake (Isles of Scilly), Red-breasted Flycatcher (Western Isles), Red-necked Phalarope (West Yorkshire), Rose-coloured Starling (Northumberland), Serin (Kent), Grey Phalarope (East Sussex), Little Bunting and Green-winged Teal (East Yorkshire), Surf Scoter (Lothian), Todd's Canada Goose (Argyll), two each of Pallas's Warbler, American Wigeon, Snow Goose, Ring-necked Duck, Great Grey Shrike and Iceland Gull, four Shorelarks, six Lapland Buntings and at least 39 Waxwings. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 24th October 2019 | ||
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| An Upland Sandpiper was present at Windmill Farm, Cornwall briefly this afternoon. Other new discoveries included a Radde's Warbler in a mistnet at Greenham Common, Berkshire, a Lesser Yellowlegs at Ardivachar, Western Isles and a Richardson's Cackling Goose at Mersehead RSPB, Dumfries and Galloway.
Lingering rarities still present today included the Short-billed Dowitcher in County Louth, Red-eyed Vireo in County Cork, Isabelline Wheatear, Blyth's Reed Warbler and Spotted Sandpiper in Scilly, Radde's Warbler in Fife, Eastern Stonechat species in County Durham, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll in Shetland, Forster's Tern in County Galway, American Black Tern in Dorset, Pacific Diver in County Cork, eight White-rumped Sandpipers in Western Isles, five in County Derry and singles in Ayrshire and County Cork and Black Scoter in Northumberland. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 23rd October 2019 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the discovery of an American Buff-bellied Pipit in Cornwall at Sennen, whilst an
Eastern Stonechat was confirmed at Whitburn, County Durham, a Radde's Warbler arrived on the Isle of May, Fife, and in Essex a
Red-throated Pipit flew over The Naze and a Bee-eater was seen briefly at Hawkwell. On the Isles of Scilly a Blyth's Reed Warbler was new on St Mary's along with Spotted Sandpiper, Blue Rock Thrush, Citrine Wagtail and Lapland Bunting, on Tresco the Isabelline Wheatear remained with a Red-breasted Flycatcher and Waxwing, and on St Agnes Red-backed Shrike, Lapland Bunting and Waxwing. Elsewhere, lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Short-billed Dowitcher in County Louth, American Black Tern in Dorset, Black Scoter in Northumberland, Black Duck in Highland, and White-rumped Sandpipers in Ayrshire (2) and County Londonderry (5). Unfortunately the kestrel present yesterday at Fraisthorpe, East Yorkshire and believed to be a Lesser Kestrel remained but was reidentified as an atypical Common Kestrel with pale claws, whilst in London photographs showed that at least two Hooded Mergansers - including one with a deformed upper mandible - have been present recently at King George V Reservoir so both are presumably escaped birds. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 22nd October 2019 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the revelation that a kestrel photographed in East Yorkshire at Fraisthorpe was actually a juvenile
Lesser Kestrel. On the Isles of Scilly an Isabelline Wheatear was new on Tresco with Red-breasted Flycatcher and Waxwing there, a Red-flanked Bluetail arrived on St Agnes with Red-throated Pipit, Red-backed Shrike, Lapland Bunting and Waxwing on that island, and on St Mary's Blue Rock Thrush, Red-throated Pipit, Citrine Wagtail and Spotted Crake were all present. At sea off the Western Rocks were Red-necked Phalarope, eleven Grey Phalaropes and three Sabine's Gulls. Rarities elsewhere comprised the Short-billed Dowitcher still in County Louth, Pacific Diver and Lesser Yellowlegs in County Cork, a Baird's Sandpiper new on Islay, Argyll, a Subalpine Warbler found in Lincolnshire at Gibraltar Point, a Red-flanked Bluetail still in Norfolk, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll still on the Shetland Isles, American Black Tern in Dorset, Hooded Merganser in London and White-rumped Sandpipers in Ayrshire (2), County Cork, County Derry (7) and the Western Isles (9). |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Monday 21st October 2019 | ||
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| New discoveries today included single Red-flanked Bluetails at East Hills, Norfolk and Burn of Sound, Shetland, a Citrine Wagtail at Salakee, Scilly, a White-billed Diver off Flamborough and Burniston, Yorkshire and a Cackling Goose at Loch Indaal, Argyll. New White-rumped Sandpipers included five at Myroe Levels, County Derry (making seven in total on site), two at Annagh Beach and one at Leam Lough, County Mayo and one at Lissagriffin, County Cork.
Lingering rarities included the Blue Rock Thrush and Spotted Sandpiper in Scilly, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll in Shetland, Red-eyed Vireo, Pacific Diver, Lesser Yellowlegs and a White-rumped Sandpiper in County Cork, other White-rumped Sandpipers in Western Isles (11), Ayrshire (two), County Wexford and Aberdeenshire, Short-billed Dowitcher in County Louth, single Long-billed Dowitchers in Argyll and Devon, Hooded Merganser in London, two Richardson's Cackling Geese in Western Isles and American Black Tern in Dorset. Scarcity highlights included a Pallas's Warbler, a Barred Warbler, a Red-breasted Flycatcher, a Common Rosefinch, a Red-backed Shrike, a Great Grey Shrike, two Little Buntings, two Wrynecks, three Rose-coloured Starlings, three Shorelarks, four Richard's Pipits, five Lapland Buntings, 35 Waxwings, two Spotted Crakes, a Pectoral Sandpiper, two American Golden Plovers, five Grey Phalaropes, a Glossy Ibis, a Ring-necked Duck, two Green-winged Teals, two American Wigeon, two Todd's Canada Geese, two Snow Geese, two Glaucous Gulls, a Leach's Petrel, five Sabine's Gulls, ten Long-tailed Skuas, 44 Pomarine Skuas and 181 Little Auks. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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