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| Tuesday 20th October 2020 | ||
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| The Shetland Isles provided the highlight of the day when a Pine Bunting was discovered on Unst where the
Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll remained, whilst on Mainland the Blackpoll Warbler
continued at Aith. Rarities elsewhere comprised the Eastern Rufous Bush Chat still in Norfolk but increasingly elusive, Brown Shrikes in both Northumberland and West Yorkshire (although Turkestan Shrike was suggested as an alternative identification for the latter), Desert Wheatear in Northumberland, Wilson's Phalarope in Hampshire, Kentsh Plover in Somerset, White-billed Diver in Aberdeenshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, County Dublin, Somerset and North Yorkshire, four Eastern Stonechats, eight Red-flanked Bluetails (including one inland in Bedfordshire), and a total of 12 Dusky Warblers. Scarcities included Pallas's Warbler (County Durham), Rose-coloured Starling and Richard's Pipit (Dorset), Red-backed Shrike (Kent), Wryneck (County Kerry), Purple Heron (Staffordshire), Lesser Snow Goose (Highland), Surf Scoter (Lothian), two each of American Golden Plover, Little Bunting, Hoopoe, and Ring-necked Duck, and three Red-breasted Flycatchers. |
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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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| Monday 19th October 2020 | ||
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| A new Red-flanked Bluetail was discovered at Bamburgh, Northumberland, with a second Dusky Warbler arriving nearby on Holy Island, and another of the latter found on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly.
Lingering rarities included the Eastern Rufous Bush Chat, Red-flanked Bluetail, Eastern Stonechat sp and three Dusky Warblers in Norfolk, Blackpoll Warbler and five Arctic Redpolls in Shetland, Northern Brown Shrike in Yorkshire, Brown Shrike, Desert Wheatear, two Red-flanked Bluetails and two further Dusky Warblers in Northumberland, other Red-flanked Bluetails in Bedfordshire and Western Isles, single Eastern Stonechats in Scilly and Cleveland, more Dusky Warblers in Scilly (two), Essex and Yorkshire, Wilson's Phalarope in Hampshire, Pacific Golden Plover and King Eider in Moray, single Lesser Yellowlegs' in Somerset, Devon and County Dublin, Spotted Sandpiper in Ayrshire and Richardson's Cackling Goose in Argyll. Scarcity highlights included a Barred Warbler, a Red-backed Shrike, a Red-breasted Flycatcher, a Shorelark, two Short-toed Larks, two Richard's Pipits, two Lapland Buntings, four Little Buntings, four Pallas's Warblers, four Rose-coloured Starlings, seven Great Grey Shrikes, two Rough-legged Buzzards, a Grey Phalarope, two American Golden Plovers, three Glossy Ibises, a Todd's Canada Goose, a Lesser Snow Goose, two Tundra Bean Geese, three Black Brants, a Surf Scoter, a Green-winged Teal, two Ring-necked Ducks, a Little Auk, six Balearic Shearwaters and eight Pomarine Skuas. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 18th October 2020 | ||
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| Mega rarities still present today were the Eastern Rufous Bush Chat in Norfolk at Stiffkey,
Taiga Flycatcher in County Durham at South Shields, Masked Shrike in Kent at
Reculver, and Blackpoll Warbler at Aith, Mainland, Shetland Isles. Other rarities from the east comprised Brown Shrikes in both Northumberland and West Yorkshire, a Desert Wheatear new in Northumberland, Hume's Warbler on Shetland, Great Reed Warbler in Devon, both Blyth's Reed Warbler and Olive-backed Pipit in Norfolk, Radde's Warbler in East Yorkshire, three Eastern Stonechats, four Red-throated Pipits, 11 Red-flanked Bluetails, and a total of 18 Dusky Warblers. From American and the Arctic came a Pacific Diver to The Mullet, County Mayo, American Buff-bellied Pipit on Scilly, Snowy Owl, Arctic Redpoll and White-billed Diver all on Shetland, King Eider still in Moray, Baird's Sandpiper in Somerset, Wilson's Phalarope in Hampshire, Spotted Sandpiper in Ayrshire, White-rumped Sandpiper in County Londonderry, and four Lesser Yellowlegs. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 17th October 2020 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was a Rufous Bush Chat discovered at Stiffkey, Norfolk where it showed throughout the day; the first British record since 1980. Also
new was a Masked Shrike in Kent at Shuart; the fifth British record. Otherwise, rarities from east comprised Taiga Flycatcher still in County Durham, White's Thrush in Devon, Brown Shrike in Northumberland, Lanceolated Warbler on Shetland, Pacific Golden Plover in Moray, Red-throated Pipit on the Isles of Scilly, Olive-backed Pipits in both East Yorkshire and Scilly, Eastern Stonechats in Cleveland, Norfolk, and Scilly, 13 Red-flanked Bluetails, and a total of 20 Dusky Warblers. From American and the Arctic were the Blackpoll Warbler and Arctic Redpoll on Shetland, American Buff-bellied Pipit on Scilly, Wilson's Phalarope in Hampshire, Spotted Sandpiper in Ayrshire, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Kerry, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cumbria, Lesser Yellowlegs in Somerset, White-billed Diver in Orkney, and four Blue-winged Teals together on the Western Isles. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Friday 16th October 2020 | ||
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A Blackpoll Warbler and a Lanceolated Warbler shared the same plantation near Aith on Mainland Shetland. A White's Thrush was found late in the day at Inishbofin in Co.Galway and a Brown Shrike appeared at Chapel Porth in Cornwall. New waders included Spotted Sandpiper at Culzean Bay in Ayrshire and Semipalmated Sandpiper in Co.Kerry. Eastern Stonechats were new at Holkham in Norfolk, on Gugh in Scilly, at Broadstairs in Kent and Constantine Bay in Cornwall. Sea Palling in Norfolk had a Red-throated Pipit while Olive-backed Pipits turned up at Whitburn in Co.Durham, on St.Mary's in Scilly and Thornwick Bay in East Yorkshire. More Dusky Warblers were discovered at Holme in Norfolk, Bempton Cliffs and Flamborough Head (two) in East Yorkshire, Minsmere RSPB in Suffolk, Bockhill Farm and South Foreland in Kent, South Gare in Cleveland, Gibraltar Point in Lincolnshire, and and Frinton-on-Sea in Essex. Three new Red-flanked Bluetails appeared at Holme in Norfolk and another was arrived on Fair Isle. Positive rarity updates referred to the Taiga Flycatcher in Co.Durham, American Buff-bellied Pipit on Scilly, Brown Shrike in Northumberland, Wilson's Phalarope in Hampshire, King Eider in Moray, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cumbria; Lesser Yellowlegs in Somerset, Devon, North Yorkshire and Co.Wexford; Blyth's Reed Warbler in Shetland, Red-throated Pipit on Fair Isle, Olive-backed Pipit in East Yorkshire; Red-flanked Bluetails in Norfolk (three), Northumberland and Shetland; and Dusky Warblers in Norfolk (two), East Yorkshire (two), Northumberland, Shetland (two) and Lincolnshire. Scarcities included Ortolan Bunting (Cornwall), five Little Buntings, 23 Pallas's Warblers, six Barred Warblers, three Short-toed Larks, two Red-backed Shrikes, four Great Grey Shrikes, six Richard's Pipits, eight Red-breasted Flycatchers, three Pectoral Sandpipers, Dotterel (Co.Cork), Spotted Crake (Hampshire), Surf Scoter (Lothian), two Ring-necked Ducks, Green-winged Teal (East Yorkshire), Sabine's Gull (Co.Antrim), Long-tailed Skua (Lincolnshire), two Ring-billed Gulls (both Co.Clare), 12 Little Auks, six Glossy Ibises, three Tundra Bean Geese and Todd's Canada Goose (Dumfries & Galloway). |
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| - David Campbell, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 15th October 2020 | ||
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A Brown Shrike was new on Fair Isle and an Eastern Stonechat sp appeared late in the day at Joss Bay in Kent, while a Radde's Warbler was trapped and ringed at Brownstown Head in Co.Waterford. Red-throated Pipits flew over St.Mary's on Scilly, Sea Palling in Norfolk and St.Levan in Cornwall. Olive-backed Pipits were found in East Yorkshire (two) and Lincolnshire. The glut of Red-flanked Bluetails continued with three new arrivals in Norfolk and another in east Kent. The run of Dusky Warblers went on, too, with three in East Yorkshire and others in North Yorkshire, Norfolk and Lincolnshire. The Taiga Flycatcher lingered in Co.Durham, as did the Swainson's Thrush and American Buff-bellied Pipit on Scilly, Brown Shrike in Northumberland, Wilson's Phalarope in Hampshire, King Eider in Moray, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cumbria, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon and North Yorkshire, Red-throated Pipit on Fair Isle, and Dusky Warblers in Northumberland, Norfolk and on Fair Isle. Red-flanked Bluetails had stayed overnight in Norfolk, Northumberland and Shetland. The Lammergeier seemed to take its leave at last, heading out to sea at Beachy Head at 2pm. Other highlights from the day included 22 Pallas's Warblers, Common Rosefinch (Scilly), four Richard's Pipits, two Bluethroats, Rose-coloured Starling (Dorset), seven Little Buntings, four Red-breasted Flycatchers, Marsh Warbler (Gwynedd), five Barred Warblers, five Short-toed Larks, two Red-backed Shrikes, four Great Grey Shrikes, two American Golden Plovers, three Pectoral Sandpipers, Green-winged Teal (East Yorkshire), three Ring-necked Ducks, Long-tailed Skua (Cleveland), five Glossy Ibises and four Little Auks. |
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| - David Campbell, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 14th October 2020 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the identification of a Taiga Flycatcher in County Durham at South Shields whilst other Asian passerines included a
Brown Shrike new in Northumberland on Holy Island, Lanceolated Warbler on North Ronaldsay, Orkney Isles,
Rustic Bunting in North Yorkshire, both Red-throated Pipit and Blyth's Reed Warbler on the Shetland Isles,
Olive-backed Pipit in East Yorkshire, Radde's Warblers in East Yorkshire, Kent and the Isles of Scilly,
Dusky Warblers in Argyll, Lincolnshire, Northumberland, Norfolk and Shetland (3), and
Red-flanked Bluetails in Kent, Norfolk (3), and Shetland (2). From the Nearctic were Swainson's Thrush and American Buff-bellied Pipit still on Scilly, Wilson's Phalarope in Hampshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cumbria, Lesser Yellowlegs in both Devon and Somerset, Black Duck in Highland, and Cackling Geese in both Argyll and the Western Isles (2). From elsewhere were a Short-toed Treecreeper new in Kent at Dungeness, both Pacific Golden Plover and King Eider in Moray, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on Shetland, and the Lammergeier relocated in East Sussex. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 13th October 2020 | ||
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| Nearctic landbirds today were confined to the Isles of Scilly where both Swainson's Thrush and American Buff-bellied Pipit were
present on Bryher. Asian passerines included the White's Thrush still in Devon on Lundy, Red-flanked Bluetails in both Northumberland and the Shetland Isles, Red-throated Pipits in Cornwall and Scilly, Radde's Warblers in Suffolk and Scilly, Dusky Warblers in East Yorkshire and Shetland, Blyth's Reed Warbler on Shetland, Eastern Yellow Wagtail in County Galway, and Citrine Wagtail in County Wexford. Other lingering rarities comprised both Pacific Golden Plover and King Eider still in Moray, Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll, Wilson's Phalarope in Hampshire, and Lesser Yellowlegs in both North Yorkshire and Somerset. Late news concerned the Lammergeier that was present yesterday in Kent near Tunbridge Wells. DNA analysis of a feather dropped by this bird has proven that it originates from the Alps. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Monday 12th October 2020 | ||
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| New discoveries today included an Isabelline Wheatear on Lundy, Devon, a Rustic Bunting and a Radde's Warbler on Portland, Dorset, a Hume's Warbler, a Red-flanked Bluetail and an Olive-backed Pipit on Mainland, Shetland and a Dusky Warbler on Tresco, Scilly.
Lingering rarities included the Philadelphia Vireo and Eastern Yellow Wagtail in County Galway, Swainson's Thrush and Radde's Warbler in Scilly (with a report of the Black-and-white Warbler present again), White's Thrush in Devon, Red-throated Pipit and Blyth's Reed Warbler in Shetland, Citrine Wagtail in County Wexford, Wilson's Phalarope in Hampshire, single Lesser Yellowlegs' in Somerset and Yorkshire, Pacific Golden Plover and King Eider in Moray, four Blue-winged Teals and two Cackling Geese in Western Isles and Lammergeier in Bedfordshire. Scarcity highlights included a Short-toed Lark, two Richard's Pipits, two Barred Warblers, two Hoopoes, three Red-backed Shrikes, three Red-breasted Flycatchers, five Little Buntings, 25 Lapland Buntings, a Little Auk, a Dotterel, four Pectoral Sandpipers, five Grey Phalaropes, six American Golden Plovers, two Ring-necked Ducks, two Glossy Ibises, a Pomarine Skua and three Iceland Gulls. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 11th October 2020 | ||
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| Nearctic landbirds today comprised the Philadelphia Vireo still in County Galway,
Blackpoll Warbler in County Cork, Swainson's Thrush and Red-eyed Vireo on the Isles of Scilly, Red-eyed Vireo in County Kerry, and
American Buff-bellied Pipit on the Orkney Isles all making 17 individuals of 10 species of Nearctic landbird located across Britain and Ireland this autumn since 15th September. Meanwhile, American waders included
Wilson's Phalarope in Hampshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cumbria, and
Lesser Yellowlegs in County Galway, Somerset and North Yorkshire. Asian passerines today included White's Thrush still in Devon, Eastern Yellow Wagtail in County Galway, Citrine Wagtail in County Wexford, Red-throated Pipit on both Orkney and Shetland, three Olive-backed Pipits together and a Blyth's Reed Warbler on Shetland, Dusky Warbler on Scilly, and Radde's Warblers in Cornwall, East Sussex, Scilly (2), and Suffolk. Otherwise, the Western Orphean Warbler remained in Highland, as did Pacific Golden Plover in Moray, Pallid Harrier, Snowy Owl and Coues's Arctic Redpoll on Shetland, two each of both Blue-winged Teal and Cackling Goose on the Western Isles, a White-billed Diver passed County Durham and then Northumberland, and the Lammergeier ranged from Cambridgeshire, through Bedfordshire to reach London. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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