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.

Choose a starting date
Friday 13th March 2020  
  Rarities today comprised both Tengmalm's Owl and White-billed Diver still on the Shetland Isles, White-winged Scoter in Lothian, Ross's Gull and Blue-winged Teal in Devon, Black-throated Thrush in Lincolnshire, Laughing Gull and Kentish Plover in Somerset, American Herring Gull in County Sligo, West Siberian Stonechat in Cheshire, Penduline Tit in Dorset, both Black Duck and King Eider in Highland, Lesser Scaup and White-billed Diver in Cornwall, Lesser Yellowlegs in North Yorkshire, Bonaparte's Gull in County Wexford, and Ferruginous Ducks in both Hampshire and the West Midlands.

Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starling (Anglesey), Rough-legged Buzzard (Norfolk), Surf Scoter (Lothian), Yellow-browed Warbler (London), Snow Goose (Western Isles), Glossy Ibis (Gwent), two American Wigeons, three each of both Ring-billed Gull and Lapland Bunting, four Ring-necked Ducks, five Shorelarks, and a total of 11 Great Grey Shrikes.

Arriving spring migrants included 50 Sand Martins scattered across 18 counties, six Wheatears, two each of both Garganey and Little Ringed Plover, and single Osprey (Leicestershire) and Swallow (Dorset).
Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 12th March 2020  
  The highlight of the day was the reappearance of the Ross's Gull in Devon; today in Plymouth having first been seen at South Huish Marsh on 9th March.

Rarities elsewhere comprised both the Laughing Gull and Kentish Plover still in Somerset, White-winged Scoter in Lothian, Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll, Black-throated Thrush in Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in North Yorkshire, and Ferruginous Duck in the West Midlands.

Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starling (Anglesey), Richard's Pipit (East Yorkshire), Rough-legged Buzzard (Norfolk), Ring-billed Gull (County Cork), Ring-necked Duck (Bedfordshire), Lapland Bunting (Cornwall), Kumlien's Gull (Glamorgan), two Surf Scoters, and a total of seven Great Grey Shrikes.

Commoner spring migrants included 33 Sand Martins, seven Wheatears, two each of both Garganey and Swallow, and a Ring Ouzel.
Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 11th March 2020  
  Lingering rarities seen today included the Tengmalm's Owl in Shetland, Laughing Gull and Kentish Plover in Somerset, Black-throated Thrush in Lincolnshire, Siberian Stonechat in Cheshire, Blue-winged Teal and Long-billed Dowitcher in Devon, Ferruginous Duck in Hampshire, Lesser Scaup in Cornwall, American Herring Gull in County Sligo and Richardson's Cackling Goose in Western Isles.

Scarcity highlights included a Rose-coloured Starling, a Richard's Pipit, three Lapland Buntings, five Shorelarks, nine Great Grey Shrikes, a Rough-legged Buzzard, a Glossy Ibis, two American Wigeon, two Green-winged Teal, seven Ring-necked Ducks, four Tundra Bean Geese, a Kumlien's Gull, four Ring-billed Gulls, 11 Iceland Gulls, 14 Glaucous Gulls and four Pomarine Skuas.
Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 10th March 2020  
 

A first-winter Laughing Gull was found at Chew Valley Lake in Somerset.

Continuing rarities included the Tengmalm's Owl in Shetland, Kentish Plover in Somerset, Black-throated Thrush in Lincolnshire, American Herring Gull in Co.Sligo, White-winged Scoter in Lothian, Blue-winged Teal in Devon, Black Duck in Highland, West Siberian Stonechat in Cheshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in North Yorkshire, Ferruginous Duck in West Midlands and Long-billed Dowitcher in Co.Wicklow,

Among the day's supporting cast were Rough-legged Buzzard (Norfolk), Rose-coloured Starling (Anglesey), eight Great Grey Shrikes, Ring-billed Gull (Co.Kerry), Glossy Ibis (Gwent), five Shorelarks (Norfolk), three Kumlien's Gulls, American Wigeon (Northumberland), Green-winged Teal (Shropshire) and 11 Ring-necked Ducks.
David Campbell, RBA
Monday 9th March 2020  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of an adult Ross's Gull in Devon at South Huish Marsh, whilst in Somerset the Kentish Plover first seen on 26th December 2019 reappeared today at Burnham-on-Sea.

Rarities elsewhere comprised both the Steller's Eider and Snowy Owl on the Orkney Isles, White-winged Scoter in Lothian, Black-throated Thrush in Lincolnshire, American Herring Gull in County Sligo, Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll, Black Duck in Highland, West Siberian Stonechat in Cheshire, Blue-winged Teal in Devon, Lesser Yellowlegs in North Yorkshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in County Wicklow, White-billed Diver on the Shetland Isles, and two Richardson's Cackling Geese still together on the Western Isles.

Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starling (Anglesey), Rough-legged Buzzard (Norfolk), Ring-billed Gull (Cornwall), Yellow-browed Warbler (London), American Wigeon (County Wicklow), Snow Goose (Western Isles), Kumlien's Gull (Glamorgan), two Green-winged Teals, three Lapland Buntings, five Shorelarks, 10 Ring-necked Ducks, and a total of 12 Great Grey Shrikes.

Incoming spring migrants included 20 Sand Martins, Osprey, Little Ringed Plover, Wheatear, Swallow and White Wagtail, whilst a Ring Ouzel and three Garganey are all lingering from the winter.
Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 8th March 2020  
  Rarities today comprised the White-winged Scoter still in Lothian, Forster's Tern in County Galway, Black Scoter in Northumberland, Black-throated Thrush in Lincolnshire, West Siberian Stonechat in Cheshire, Blue-winged Teal in Devon, Lesser Yellowlegs in North Yorkshire, Bonaparte's Gull in County Wexford, Ferruginous Duck in West Midlands, and single Long-billed Dowitchers in County Wexford, County Wicklow and Devon.

Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starling (Anglesey), American Wigeon (Northumberland), Rough-legged Buzzard (Norfolk), Yellow-browed Warbler (London), Snow Goose (Western Isles), Black Brant (Dorset), two each of both Green-winged Teal and Kumlien's Gull, three Glossy Ibises, four Ring-billed Gulls, eight Ring-necked Ducks, and a total of 12 Great Grey Shrikes.

Spring migrants included 15 Sand Martins, four Garganey and a Wheatear (Somerset).
Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 7th March 2020  
 

The White-winged Scoter in Lothian, Black Duck in Highland, Black-throated Thrush in Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in North Yorkshire, West Siberian Stonechat in Cheshire, Long-billed Dowitchers in Devon and Co.Wicklow, Penduline Tit in Dorset, Bonaparte's Gull in Co.Wexford and Ferruginous Duck in West Midlands all extended their stays.

Other news included two Richard's Pipits (Kent and East Yorkshire), Rough-legged Buzzard (Norfolk), five Ring-billed Gulls, two Glossy Ibises, three Kumlien's Gulls, nine Great Grey Shrikes, five Shorelarks. three Green-winged Teal, four Ring-necked Ducks, two American Wigeon, Surf Scoter (Lothian), Todd's Canada Goose (Lancashire) and Black Brant (East Yorkshire).
David Campbell, RBA
Friday 6th March 2020  
  Rarity highlights comprised Black-throated Thrush (Lincolnshire), White-winged Scoter (Lothian), Black Scoter (Angus), Richardson's Cackling Geese (Argyll and Highland), West Siberian Stonechat (Cheshire), Bonaparte's Gull (Co Wexford), Long-billed Dowitcher (Devon and Co Wicklow), Blue-winged Teal (Devon), Penduline Tit (Dorset), Lesser Scaup (Dumfries & Galloway), Lesser Yellowlegs (North Yorkshire) and Ferruginous Duck (West Midlands).

The best of the rest included Rose-coloured Starling (Anglesey), Rough-legged Buzzard (Norfolk), American Wigeon (Northumberland), Snow Goose (Western Isles), two Richard's Pipits, Yellow-browed Warblers, Black Brants and Glossy Ibises, three Pomarine Skuas, at least three Surf Scoters, four Green-winged Teals, five Shorelarks, eight Great Grey Shrikes and ten Ring-necked Ducks.
Stuart Piner, RBA
Thursday 5th March 2020  
  Rarities today comprised the White-winged Scoter still in Lothian, Black-throated Thrushes in both Bedfordshire and Lincolnshire, West Siberian Stonechat in Cheshire, American Herring Gulls in both County Cork and County Sligo, Lesser Yellowlegs North Yorkshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in County Wicklow, Ferruginous Duck in the West Midlands, and a White-billed Diver on the Orkney Isles where recently a Snowy Owl has been present on Eday.

Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starling (Anglesey), Yellow-browed Warbler (London), Ring-billed Gull and Kumlien's Gull (Cornwall), two each of Rough-legged Buzzard, Surf Scoter, American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck and Glossy Ibis, three Green-winged Teals, five Shorelarks, and a total of six Great Grey Shrikes.

Spring migrants included the second Wheatear of the spring (Gloucestershire), the second Sand Martin (Isles of Scilly), and a Garganey; the latter one of nine logged so far this year of which at least six had over-wintered. Other apparent migrant arrivals since the middle of February include Swallow (2), Willow Warbler (2), House Martin (3) and White Wagtail (4).
Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 4th March 2020  
  Rarities today comprised the White-winged Scoter still in Lothian, Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll, Black-throated Thrush in Lincolnshire, West Siberian Stonechat in Cheshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in North Yorkshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Devon, Bonaparte's Gull in County Wexford, and Ferruginous Ducks in both Hampshire and West Midlands.

Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starling (Anglesey), Richard's Pipit (East Yorkshire), Ring-billed Gull (Cornwall), Glossy Ibis (Gwent), two each of Surf Scoter, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal and Lapland Bunting, three Ring-necked Ducks, and a total of seven Great Grey Shrikes.
Chris Batty, RBA