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| Tuesday 29th September 2020 | ||
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Britain's fifth Tennessee Warbler - the first since one on St.Kilda in 1995 - was discovered at Burravoe on Yell in Shetland in the morning and went on to show well for the rest of the day. In the evening, identification of a Two-barred Greenish Warbler at Budle Point in Northumberland was secured. The third headline bird of the day was a Black-browed Albatross past Hurlestone Point in Somerset. Other top finds included Wilson's Phalarope at Martin Mere WWT in Lancashire, Red-flanked Bluetail on the Isle of Man, Citrine Wagtail on Fair Isle, Red-throated Pipits at Chobham Common in Surrey and over both Bardsey Island in Gwynedd and Tacumshin in Co.Wexford, Arctic Warbler in Shetland on Yell and Long-billed Dowitcher at Lytchett Fields RSPB in Dorset The day's other rarity reports involved the Kentish Plover in Sussex, Eastern Stonechat sp in Cleveland, Blyth's Reed Warbler in Norfolk, Olive-backed Pipit in Shetland, Arctic Warbler in Co.Wexford, Greenish Warbler in Norfolk, three Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls in Shetland (two on Fair Isle and one on Foula), Rustic Bunting in Shetland, Lesser Yellowlegs in Western Isles and Co.Wexford, Long-billed Dowitchers in Cumbria and Co.Wexford, King Eider in Moray and four Blue-winged Teal in Western Isles. The best of the rest was made up of Woodchat Shrike (Shetland), four Common Rosefinches, Richard's Pipit (Gloucestershire), Rose-coloured Starling (Pembrokeshire), two Red-breasted Flycatchers, five Barred Warblers, seven Red-backed Shrikes, Hoopoe (Yorkshire), 12 Wrynecks, two Little Buntings, two American Golden Plovers, Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Co.Derry), nine Pectoral Sandpipers, two Dotterel, three Spotted Crakes, two Surf Scoters, American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, Honey Buzzard (Kent), six Glossy Ibises, two Sabine's Gulls, four Grey Phalaropes and Long-tailed Skua (Suffolk). |
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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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| Monday 28th September 2020 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was a Black-browed Albatross in Suffolk; first suspected passing south at Lowestoft it was later tracked along the coast to Thorpeness. Meanwhile, the wandering
Lammergeier relocated to Norfolk where it spent two hours between Foxley and Beetley. New rarities elsewhere comprised in East Yorkshire a Red-flanked Bluetail at Spurn and an Arctic Warbler at Flamborough, in Norfolk a Blyth's Reed Warbler at Holme and a Greenish Warbler at Winterton, on the Isles of Scilly a Red-throated Pipit on St Mary's, and on the Shetland Isles a Red-throated Pipit on Mainland at Quendale, a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on Whalsay, an Olive-backed Pipit on Fair Isle, and a Blyth's Reed Warbler on Unst. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Pallid Harrier and Kentish Plover in West Sussex, Eastern Stonechat in Cleveland, Red-throated Pipit in East Yorkshire, Olive-backed Pipit on Shetland at Asta, two Semipalmated Sandpipers in Cornwall, Blue-winged Teal and Lesser Yellowlegs on the Western Isles, Long-billed Dowitchers in both County Londonderry and County Wicklow, and in County Wexford both Long-billed Dowitcher and Lesser Yellowlegs together and - more significantly - the Greenish Warbler at Churchtown was reidentified as an Arctic Warbler. Scarcities included Bluethroat (Shetland), Rose-coloured Starling (Dorset), Surf Scoter (Lothian), Spotted Crake (Somerset), Great Shearwater (East Yorkshire), three each of Buff-breasted Sandpiper, American Golden Plover, Common Rosefinch, Glossy Ibis and Long-tailed Skua, four Sabine's Gulls, five of Red-backed Shrike and Wryneck, six Little Buntings, eight Red-breasted Flycatchers, 10 Barred Warblers, and a total of 12 Pectoral Sandpipers. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 27th September 2020 | ||
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The finds of the day were Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler on Fair Isle, Red-flanked Bluetail on Unst in Shetland, Olive-backed Pipit on Mainland Shetland and Eastern Stonechat sp at Deerness in Orkney. Two White-billed Divers flew past the Northumberland coast: one at Annstead Point then another at Newton Point. What was presumably the first bird was then seen off St.Abb's Head in Borders. An Arctic Warbler was a great record for Co.Wexford at Churchtown and a new Long-billed Dowitcher arrived at Kilcoole in Co.Wicklow. In Shetland, the islands of Fair Isle, Unst and Foula each had two Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls. Continuing rarities were the Kentish Plover in Sussex, Dusky Warbler in Shetland, Eastern Stonechat sp in Cleveland, two Semipalmated Sandpipers in Cornwall, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cumbria, and Lesser Yellowlegs in Warwickshire and Western Isles. The best of the rest included Bluethroat (Shetland), five Little Buntings, four Common Rosefinches, three Red-breasted Flycatchers, Short-toed Lark (Shetland), two Rose-coloured Starlings, five Barred Warblers, Hoopoe (Argyll), two Woodchat Shrikes (both Shetland), Red-backed Shrike (Orkney) 10 Wrynecks, Red-necked Phalarope (Norfolk), two American Golden Plovers, four Buff-breasted Sandpipers, three Dotterel, 11 Pectoral Sandpipers, Taiga Bean Goose (Anglesey), two Spotted Crakes, Surf Scoter (Argyll), American Wigeon (Co.Galway), five Glossy Ibises and two Honey Buzzards. |
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| - David Campbell, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 26th September 2020 | ||
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Fair Isle turned up a White's Thrush which performed for much of the day. Shetland had Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls on Fair Isle (two) and Foula. The first Olive-backed Pipit of the autumn was on Unst, Shetland, while Red-throated Pipits were found at Spurn in East Yorkshire and Carrahane in Co.Kerry. A Radde's Warbler appeared in Essex at Holland Haven Country Park and a Dusky Warbler was found on Shetland at Maywick. An adult Lesser White-fronted Goose arrived with Pinkfeet at Staveley YWT in North Yorkshire before joining a flock of Canada Geese and Greylags. A juvenile Kentish Plover appeared at Thorney Island in Sussex. The Blue-winged Teal at Annagh Marsh in Co.Mayo was joined by a second bird and the Long-billed Dowitcher count at Tacumshin, Co.Wexford, also increased to two. Rustic Buntings on Fair Isle also made a brace. In Warwickshire, a Lesser Yellowlegs was found at Ladywalk NR in the evening. The Long-billed Dowitcher remained in Cumbria, as did Lesser Yellowlegs in Western Isles and Co.Wexford. Other highlights included Montagu's Harrier (Co.Wexford), Ortolan Bunting (Scilly), Little Bunting (Orkney), Bluethroat (Co.Cork), Red-breasted Flycatcher (East Yorkshire), Hoopoe (North Yorkshire), three Common Rosefinches, six Barred Warblers, two Woodchat Shrikes (both Shetland), Red-backed Shrike (Co.Cork), 10 Wrynecks, two Red-necked Phalaropes, 15 Sabine's Gulls, 21 Long-tailed Skuas, 16 Grey Phalaropes, two Buff-breasted Sandpipers (Shetland), nine Pectoral Sandpipers, two Spotted Crakes, two American Golden Plovers, Dotterel (Scilly), six Glossy Ibises, American Wigeon (Cambridgeshire), Ring-necked Duck (Lancashire) and Todd's Canada Goose (Merseyside). |
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| - David Campbell, RBA | ||
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| Friday 25th September 2020 | ||
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| A Black-browed Albatross was seen off Holy Island, Northumberland, on the sea for 20 minutes early evening before flying off north. Other new discoveries included a Long-billed Dowitcher and Black Kite at Tacumshin, County Wexford, a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on Fair Isle, Shetland, a Kentish Plover on Hayling Island, Hampshire and an Alpine Swift at South Gare, Cleveland.
Lingering rarities included the Rustic Bunting in Shetland, Long-billed Dowitchers in Cumbria and County Derry, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Cornwall and Lesser Yellowlegs in County Wexford. Seawatching produced two Cory's Shearwaters, 12 Grey Phalaropes, 12 Leach's Petrels, 25 Sabine's Gulls, 25 Long-tailed Skuas, 37 Pomarine Skuas and 44 Balearic Shearwaters, as well as exceptional numbers of Sooty Shearwaters on the east coast, with high counts of 814 past Flamborough, 786 past Cullernose Point, 529 past Howick and 503 past the Isle of May. Other scarcity highlights included a Red-breasted Flycatcher, a Bluethroat, a Hoopoe, a Common Rosefinch, a Rose-coloured Starling, two Barred Warblers, six Wrynecks, 47 Lapland Buntings, a Spotted Crake, a Corncrake, an American Golden Plover, a Red-necked Phalarope, two Dotterel, three Buff-breasted Sandpipers, 12 Pectoral Sandpipers, four Glossy Ibises, two Iceland Gulls and a Roseate Tern. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 24th September 2020 | ||
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| Discoveries today were headlined by an Eastern Stonechat species in Cleveland at South Gare and a
Lesser Yellowlegs on North Uist, Western Isles. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Bobolink in County Donegal, Rustic Bunting on the Shetland Isles, a Blue-winged Teal on the Western Isles, both Baird's Sandpiper and Semipalmated Sandpiper in Cornwall, and Lesser Yellowlegs in County Wexford, whilst the Franklin's Gull was reported again in West Yorkshire at Redcar Tarn. Scarcities included Woodchat Shrike (Shetland Isles), Purple Heron (Somerset), Cory's Shearwater (County Mayo), Ring-necked Duck (Cambridgeshire), Dotterel and Corncrake (Isles of Scilly), two each of Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Rose-coloured Starling, Little Bunting, Barred Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Common Rosefinch and Wryneck, three of both American Golden Plover and Sabine's Gull, four of Glossy Ibis and Long-tailed Skua, eight Pectoral Sandpipers, and a total of 52 Lapland Buntings. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 23rd September 2020 | ||
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A nice selection of finds today included an adult male Pallid Harrier over Chippenham in Wiltshire, Booted Warbler on Unst in Shetland, Alpine Swift over Colchester Zoo in Essex, Greenish Warbler at Porthgwarra in Cornwall, Blyth's Reed Warbler on St.Mary's in Scilly, Semipalmated Sandpiper at Wadebridge in Cornwall and Lesser Yellowlegs at both Tacumshin in Co.Wexford and Baltimore in Co.Cork. The Yellow-bellied Flycatcher in Argyll, Bobolink in Co.Donegal, four Blue-winged Teal in Western Isles, Rustic Bunting on Fair Isle, Citrine Wagtail in Shetland, Baird's Sandpipers in Cornwall and Western Isles, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Cornwall, Spotted Sandpiper in Argyll and Lesser Yellowlegs in Norfolk were all still present. Among other highlights were Short-toed Lark (Shetland), Bluethroat (Shetland), two Red-breasted Flycatchers, Purple Heron (Somerset), two Woodchat Shrikes, five Red-backed Shrikes, four Common Rosefinches, two Little Buntings, 11 Barred Warblers, seven Wrynecks, Rose-coloured Starling (Dorset), four Buff-breasted Sandpipers, nine Pectoral Sandpipers, four American Golden Plovers, three Dotterel, two Spotted Crakes, Ring-necked Duck (Cambridgeshire), Surf Scoter (Shetland), three Sabine's Gulls, nine Glossy Ibises and a Honey Buzzard (Scilly). |
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| - David Campbell, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 22nd September 2020 | ||
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| New rarities discovered today comprised a Paddyfield Warbler in Cornwall at Porthgwarra, a
Laughing Gull in Highland at Littleferry, Spotted Sandpiper in Argyll on Tiree, Red-throated Pipit
on the Isles of Scilly on St Mary's, Rustic Bunting on Fair Isle, Shetland Isles, and in Kent a
Red-rumped Swallow flew over North Foreland. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher in Argyll, Bobolink in County Donegal, Brown Shrike in Norfolk, Tawny Pipit in Cornwall, Arctic Warbler in Kent, Greenish Warbler in East Yorkshire, Blyth's Reed Warbler still in Essex, Baird's Sandpipers in both Cornwall and Orkney, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Galway, Lesser Yellowlegs in both Gwent and Norfolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cumbria, and two Blue-winged Teals together on the Western Isles. Scarcities included Little Bunting (East Yorkshire), Ortolan Bunting (Scilly), American Golden Plover (County Galway), Ring-necked Duck (Cambridgeshire), Spotted Crake (Somerset), two each of both Red-breasted Flycatcher, Rose-coloured Starling and Common Rosefinch, three of Barred Warbler and Red-backed Shrike, four Buff-breasted Sandpipers, five Glossy Ibis, nine Pectoral Sandpipers, and a total of 17 Wrynecks. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Monday 21st September 2020 | ||
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There were a fair few new finds today, including Blue-winged Teal at Annagh Marsh in Co.Mayo, Spotted Sandpiper at Cloghaun Lough in Co.Clare, Tawny Pipit at Porthgwarra in Cornwall, Aquatic Warbler at Radipole Lake RSPB in Dorset, Blyth's Reed Warblers in East Yorkshire and Kent, Greenish Warbler at Flamborough in East Yorkshire, Arctic Warblers at Warham Greens in Norfolk and at Whitburn in Co.Durham, Lesser Yellowlegs in Gwent, Long-billed Dowitcher at Lough Beg in Co.Derry, and Baird's Sandpipers in Western Isles and Co.Wexford. There was late news of a Collared Pratincole at Ballinskelligs in Co.Kerry yesterday. Scilly had its latest Wilson's Petrel record from the day's pelagic. The Yellow-bellied Flycatcher remained on Tiree and the Bobolink remained in Co.Donegal while the Brown Shrike in Norfolk, Arctic Warbler in Kent, four Blue-winged Teal in Western Isles, Black Kite in Cornwall, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cumbria, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Cornwall, Lesser Yellowlegs in Norfolk, and the Baird's Sandpipers in Cornwall and Co.Cork were all still present. Other highlights included American Golden Plover (Hampshire), 11 Pectoral Sandpipers, two Sabine's Gulls, eight of both Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Dotterel, nine Barred Warblers, Woodchat Shrike (Shetland), four Red-breasted Flycatchers, four Common Rosefinches, two Rose-coloured Starlings, four Little Buntings, three Red-backed Shrikes, 12 Wrynecks, Spotted Crake (Suffolk), Surf Scoter (Co.Kerry), American Wigeon and Ring-necked Duck (both at sites in Cambridgeshire), 11 Glossy Ibises and three migrant Honey Buzzards. |
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| - David Campbell, RBA | ||
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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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