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| Sunday 20th September 2020 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was a large petrel species - presumed to be a White-chinned Petrel
- off Cley, Norfolk on up to three occasions during the day. This follows a White-chinned Petrel photographed on the Orkney Isles on 25th May this year and a possible sighting on the Shetland Isles on 14th September. A Bobolink on Fanad Head, County Donegal is the third Nearctic landbird to be discovered this autumn whilst other discoveries today included a brief Great Snipe on Bryher, Isles of Scilly, an Arctic Warbler in Kent at Ramsgate, Baird's Sandpiper in County Wexford at Nethertown, Black Kite in Pembrokeshire at Dowrog Common, and five Blue-winged Teals on the Western Isles including four together on Lewis. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher in Argyll, Brown Shrike in Norfolk, Black Duck in Highland, both Pallid Harrier and Semipalmated Sandpiper in Cornwall, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cumbria, Lesser Yellowlegs in both County Cork and Norfolk, and Baird's Sandpipers in Cornwall, Highland and Orkney. The Lammergeier was noted again, this time in Leicestershire at Thornton. |
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| - Chris Batty, 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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| Saturday 19th September 2020 | ||
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| New discoveries today included a Pallid Harrier over Penzance, Cornwall and a Red-throated Pipit over Kilnsea, Yorkshire, whilst there were reports of a Bonelli's Warbler species at Holkham, Norfolk and of a second Long-billed Dowitcher at Anthorn, Cumbria.
Lingering rarities included the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher in Western Isles, Brown Shrike and Lesser Yellowlegs in Norfolk, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Cornwall, Baird's Sandpipers in Cornwall, Highland and Orkney, Western Bonelli's Warbler in Shetland, Greenish Warbler in Yorkshire, Blue-winged Teal in Western Isles, Black Duck in Highland and Lammergeier in Derbyshire. Scarcity highlights included a Short-toed Lark, a Melodious Warbler, a Grey-headed Wagtail, a Woodchat Shrike, two Red-backed Shrikes, two Common Rosefinches, two Rose-coloured Starlings, four Barred Warblers, five Little Buntings, six Red-breasted Flycatchers, 11 Wrynecks, at least 58 Lapland Buntings, an American Golden Plover, six Buff-breasted Sandpipers, 11 Dotterel, 16 Pectoral Sandpipers, a Leach's Petrel, three Sabine's Gulls, a Great Shearwater, two Cory's Shearwaters, eight Balearic Shearwaters, five Long-tailed Skuas, 13 Pomarine Skuas, two Surf Scoters, ten Glossy Ibises and two Honey Buzzards. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Friday 18th September 2020 | ||
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| New discoveries today included a Brown Shrike at Warham Greens, Norfolk, a Western Bonelli's Warbler on Out Skerries, Shetland, a Blyth's Reed Warbler at Kilnsea and a Greenish Warbler at Robin Hood's Bay, both Yorkshire, a Red-throated Pipit on North Ronaldsay, Orkney, a Citrine Wagtail at Tacumshin, County Wexford, a Blue-winged Teal at Ardvule, Western Isles, a White-rumped Sandpiper at Carrahane, County Kerry and a Wilson's Petrel off Cape Clear, County Cork.
Lingering rarities included the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher in Western Isles, Swainson's Thrush in Orkney, Arctic Warbler in Shetland, Semipalmated Sandpiper and Baird's Sandpiper in Cornwall (with others of the former in County Cork and Western Isles and of the latter in Orkney and Highland), single Lesser Yellowlegs in Norfolk, Gloucestershire and County Cork, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cumbria, Spotted Sandpiper in Scilly and Lammergeier in Derbyshire. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 17th September 2020 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Swainson's Thrush at Swannay, Orkney Isles; the second Nearctic landbird of the
autumn in Britain. Elsewhere the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher remained on Tiree, Argyll, with other rarities today including the Lammergeier still in Derbyshire, Black Duck in Highland, Bonaparte's Gull in County Cork, Bee-eater in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and Arctic Warblers new at both East Hills, Norfolk, and on Unst, Shetland Isles. Nearctic waders today comprised one Spotted Sandpiper (Isles of Scilly), three each of both Baird's Sandpiper and Lesser Yellowlegs, four Semipalmated Sandpipers, eight Pectoral Sandpipers, and a total of 11 Buff-breasted Sandpipers. Significant late news from yesterday concerned a Brown Booby reported passing Trevose Head, Cornwall. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 16th September 2020 | ||
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The pick of the day's finds were a Spotted Sandpiper on Unst, Shetland, two Black-winged Stilts at Christchurch Harbour in Dorset, a Bee-eater flew over St.Levan in Cornwall, a Greenish Warbler at Wells Woods in Norfolk and a Citrine Wagtail at Grutness on Mainland Shetland. The Yellow-bellied Flycatcher showed for the first to reach Tiree, while other continuing rarities included the Bonaparte's Gull in Co.Cork, Citrine Wagtail in Shetland, Black Kite in Cornwall, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cumbria, Lesser Yellowlegs in Norfolk, Spotted Sandpiper on Scilly Semipalmated Sandpipers in Cornwall and Western Isles, Baird's Sandpipers in Cornwall, Highland and Orkney, and the Lammergeier in Derbyshire. Scarcity highlights included two Red-breasted Flycatchers (both Norfolk), Little Bunting (Fair Isle), two Ortolan Buntings, three Woodchat Shrikes, seven Wrynecks, five Common Rosefinches, two Rose-coloured Starlings, four Barred Warblers, five Yellow-browed Warblers, American Golden Plover (Kent), Dotterel (Cornwall), nine Pectoral Sandpipers, three Buff-breasted Sandpipers, 11 Sabine's Gulls, Cory's Shearwater (East Yorkshire) and seven Glossy Ibises. |
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| - David Campbell, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 15th September 2020 | ||
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News emerged late in the day of the Western Paleartic's first Yellow-bellied Flycatcher on Tiree, Argyll. A Lanceolated Warbler found on North Ronaldsay in Orkney is the earliest record to date, while a Lesser Yellowlegs was appeared at Farmoor Reservoir in Oxfordshire. The rarities still present today were the Pallid Harrier in Sussex, Franklin's Gull in West Yorkshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Co.Cork, Citrine Wagtail in Shetland, Lesser Yellowlegs in Norfolk and Co.Derry, Spotted Sandpiper on Scilly, Semipalmated Sandpipers in Cornwall, Argyll and Western Isles, and Baird's Sandpipers in Cornwall, Highland, Western Isles and Co.Cork. The Lammergeier continued its residence in the Peak District. The pick of the rest of the day's news includes two Little Buntings, two Ortolan Buntings, Red-breasted Flycatcher (East Yorkshire), Melodious Warbler (Cornwall), Icterine Warbler (Hampshire), three Barred Warblers, Yellow-browed Warbler (Fair Isle), three Common Rosefinches, two Woodchat Shrikes, three Red-backed Shrikes, nine Wrynecks, two Rose-coloured Starlings, five Buff-breasted Sandpipers, four American Golden Plovers, 18 Pectoral Sandpipers, Surf Scoter (Gwynedd), Ring-necked Duck (Orkney), Grey Phalarope (Cornwall), four Glossy Ibises, Long-tailed Skua (Co.Donegal) and two Sabine's Gulls. |
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| - David Campbell, RBA | ||
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| Monday 14th September 2020 | ||
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| Nearctic waders continued to dominate the headlines with Baird's Sandpipers in Cornwall, Highland, the Orkney Isles, and the Western Isles,
Lesser Yellowlegs in both County Londonderry and Norfolk, American Golden Plovers
on the Shetland Isles (2) and Kent, Spotted Sandpiper on Isles of Scilly,
Semipalmated Sandpiper in Argyll, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cumbria, seven
Buff-breasted Sandpipers, and a total of 18 Pectoral Sandpipers. Elsewhere rarities comprised the Lammergeier still in Derbyshire, Franklin's Gull in West Yorkshire, Pallid Harrier in West Sussex, Citrine Wagtail on Shetland Isles, Red-footed Falcon in East Sussex at Pett Level, and a Wilson's Petrel at sea off the Isles of Scilly. Significant late news concerned the Sora that was still present yesterday off Devon on Lundy. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 13th September 2020 | ||
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| New discoveries today included a Semipalmated Sandpiper at Rosscarbery, County Cork, a Lesser Yellowlegs on the Bann Estuary, County Derry, a Baird's Sandpiper on Baleshare, Western Isles, a Tawny Pipit at Porthgwarra, Cornwall and a Greenish Warbler at Mizen Head, County Cork.
Lingering rarities included the Franklin's Gull in Yorkshire, Semipalmated Sandpipers in Cornwall, Argyll and Western Isles, Spotted Sandpiper in Scilly, Baird's Sandpipers in Cornwall and Orkney, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cumbria, Citrine Wagtail in Shetland, two Blue-winged Teals in Western Isles, Black Duck in Highland, Bonaparte's Gull in Kent, Pallid Harrier in West Sussex, Black Kite in Cornwall and Lammergeier in Derbyshire. Scarcity highlights included a Woodchat Shrike, a Red-backed Shrike, an Ortolan Bunting, two Melodious Warblers, two Icterine Warblers, two Rose-coloured Starlings, three Wrynecks, three Barred Warblers, 154 Lapland Buntings, a Cory's Shearwater, two Pomarine Skuas, three Sabine's Gulls, six Leach's Petrels, nine Roseate Terns, a Spotted Crake, four Honey Buzzards, a Temminck's Stint, two Grey Phalaropes, two American Golden Plovers, two Dotterel, 14 Buff-breasted Sandpipers, 21 Pectoral Sandpipers, a Purple Heron, eight Glossy Ibises, a Ring-necked Duck and a Ring-billed Gull. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 12th September 2020 | ||
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| A Sora was discovered on Lundy Island, Devon, late afternoon.
The only other new rarity discovered today was a Bonaparte's Gull at Loghill, County Sligo. In West Yorkshire the Franklin's Gull was relocated at Redcar Tarn, and the identity of the Semipalmated Sandpiper near Keillmore, Argyll was confirmed. Lingering rarities included Semipalmated Sandpiper and Baird's Sandpiper in Cornwall (with another of the former in Western Isles and one of the latter in Orkney), Spotted Sandpiper in Scilly, Pallid Harrier in West Sussex, Black Kite in Cornwall, Lammergeier in Derbyshire, Citrine Wagtail in Shetland and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent. Scarcity highlights included a Melodious Warbler, an Ortolan Bunting, a Barred Warbler, three Red-backed Shrikes, three Rose-coloured Starlings, five Wrynecks, 40 Lapland Buntings, a Dotterel, a Temminck's Stint, an American Golden Plover, two Grey Phalaropes, ten Buff-breasted Sandpipers, 17 Pectoral Sandpipers, a Honey Buzzard, a Purple Heron, five Glossy Ibises, a Ring-necked Duck, three Sabine's Gulls, 12 Roseate Terns, six Balearic Shearwaters, nine Leach's Petrels, a Pomarine Skuas and ten Long-tailed Skuas. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Friday 11th September 2020 | ||
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Portland delivered a Western Bonelli's Warbler in a garden at Southwell; fortunately it was a vocal individual, making ruling out Eastern was straightforward. Neighbouring Hampshire had an Aquatic Warbler at Hook Links which proved just about twitchable. News emerged of an adult Franklin's Gull seen during the day in West Yorkshire at Thornton before it was tracked down to a rooftop in Bradford at Girlington in the evening. A juvenile Red-footed Falcon flew through the valley at Ditchling Beacon in Sussex. A juvenile Baird's Sandpiper was found practically alongside the continuing Semipalmated Sandpiper on the Hayle Estuary in Cornwall, while the Baird's on North Ronaldsay remained and the Semipalmated Sandpiper on Lewis, Western Isles, returned to Loch Ordais. Other rarities still showing were the Pallid Harrier in Sussex, Spotted Sandpiper on Scilly, two juvenile Black-winged Stilts in Somerset and the Lammergeier in Derbyshire. The pick of the rest of the day's news included Icterine Warbler (Cornwall), two Barred Warblers, 17 Lapland Buntings, five Wrynecks, Red-backed Shrike (lingering adult male in West Midlands), four Sabine's Gulls, seven Buff-breasted Sandpipers, 11 Pectoral Sandpipers, two Temminck's Stints, two Dotterel, four Long-tailed Skuas, 10 Pomarine Skuas, Great Shearwater (Cornwall) and five Glossy Ibises. Small numbers of Fieldfares and Redwings arrived. |
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| - David Campbell, RBA | ||
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