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
Saturday 24th April 2021  
 

An adult summer White-billed Diver was tracked along the east coast between Whitburn (Co.Durham) and Holy Island (Northumberland); additionally there were two in Moray and three in Shetland. Black Kites were seen over Snettisham in Norfolk and Samphire Hoe in Kent.

Still with us were the American Herring Gull in Cornwall, Iberian Chiffchaff in Suffolk, Red-throated Pipit in Northumberland, Eastern Subalpine Warbler in Cornwall, Black-winged Stilt in Co.Cork, Bonaparte's Gulls in Glamorgan and Leicestershire, Bee-eater on Scilly, and Dusky Warblers in Merseyside and Norfolk.

Other national highlights included Red-backed Shrike (Kent), two Temminck's Stints and Serins, three Purple Herons and Wrynecks, Night Heron (Devon) and four Hoopoes, as well as Sabine's Gull (Cumbria), Dotterel (Isle of Wight), Yellow-browed Warbler (Shetland), Grey Phalarope (Norfolk), Kumlien's Gull (Shetland), Green-winged Teal (Co.Wexford), Black Brant (Norfolk), three Little Buntings, plus four Ring-necked Ducks and Glossy Ibises.
-  David Campbell, RBA
Friday 23rd April 2021  
  New discoveries today included a Pallid Harrier over Pitsford Reservoir, Northamptonshire, a Red-throated Pipit at Low Newton, Northumberland, a King Eider and a White-billed Diver off Unst, Shetland (with another new bird off Fair Isle), single Bee-eaters on Tresco, Scilly and over Rainham Marshes, London and a Black Kite near Grassington, North Yorkshire.

Late news from Wednesday concerned a Greater Sand Plover at Schull, County Cork, but there has been no sign of it since.

Lingering rarities included the Belted Kingfisher, Sardinian Warbler and Black-winged Stilt in County Cork, two Eastern Subalpine Warblers and American Herring Gull in Cornwall, Iberian Chiffchaff in Suffolk, Dusky Warbler in Norfolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in Yorkshire, Spotted Sandpiper in Ayrshire, Bonaparte's Gulls in Leicestershire and Glamorgan and three White-billed Divers in Aberdeenshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 22nd April 2021  
  Arrivals from the continent continue to be discovered with a Collared Pratincole on the Wirral at Leasowe briefly, Sardinian Warbler, Black-winged Stilt, and two Hoopoes in County Cork, the territorial Iberian Chiffchaff still in Suffolk, Bee-eater on the Isles of Scilly, Hoopoes in both Buckinghamshire and Nottinghamshire, Night Herons in Devon and the Isle of Wight, Purple Heron in Herefordshire, Wrynecks in East Sussex and Lincolnshire, and a total of eight Glossy Ibises.

Rarities elsewhere comprised a Pallid Harrier in Northumberland at East Chevington albeit briefly, the Double-crested Cormorant still in County Kerry, Belted Kingfisher still in County Cork, Bonaparte's Gulls in both Leicestershire and County Wexford, Lesser Scaup in County Donegal, Long-billed Dowitcher in North Yorkshire, Dusky Warbler in Norfolk, Richardson's Cackling Goose in Highland, White-billed Diver on the Western Isles, and two Little Buntings together in Surrey.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 21st April 2021  
  Southern rarities continued to arrive today with in County Cork a Sardinian Warbler discovered on Knockadoon Head, a Black-winged Stilt new at Clonakilty, and a Hoopoe at Sheep's Head, in Cornwall Eastern Subalpine Warblers at both Land's End and Porthgwarra, and a Black-winged Stilt at Par, a Kentish Plover new in Leicestershire at Rutland Water, the territorial Iberian Chiffchaff still in Suffolk, Bee-eater on the Isles of Scilly, Wryneck in Norfolk, Night Heron in both Devon and the Isle of Wight, Purple Heron in both Herefordshire and Kent, and a total of 11 Glossy Ibises.

Other rarities today comprised the American Herring Gull still in Cornwall, Bonaparte's Gull still in Leicestershire, Spotted Sandpiper in Ayrshire, Richardson's Cackling Goose in Highland, Dusky Warbler in Norfolk, two Little Buntings together in Surrey, and in Scotland seven White-billed Divers were logged.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 20th April 2021  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of an Eastern Subalpine Warbler in Cornwall at Treeve Moor, whilst a Bonaparte's Gull was indentified in Leicestershire at Rutland Water, and the first Black-winged Stilt of the spring arrived at Rainham Marshes, London.

Rarities elsewhere comprised the American Herring Gull still in Cornwall, the territorial Iberian Chiffchaff still in Suffolk, Bee-eater on the Isles of Scilly, Long-billed Dowitcher in North Yorkshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan, Lesser Scaup in County Fermanagh, Richardson's Cackling Goose in both Highland and the Western Isles, and White-billed Divers in Aberdeenshire and the Orkney Isles.

Scarcities included Woodchat Shrike and Pectoral Sandpiper (Cornwall), Serin (Norfolk), Hoopoe (County Cork), Night Heron (Devon), American Wigeon (Shetland Isles), Green-winged Teal (East Yorkshire), Great Grey Shrike (Hampshire), two each of both American Golden Plover and Wryneck, three Glossy Ibises, five Lapland Buntings, and a total of eight Ring-necked Ducks.

Significant late news concerned a Subalpine Warbler present yesterday in Cheshire at Burton Marsh.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 19th April 2021  
  A Kentish Plover was found at Ballycotton, County Cork, and the identity of the Richardson's Cackling Goose at Udale Bay, Highland was confirmed.

Other lingering rarities included the Iberian Chiffchaff in Suffolk, Bee-eater in Scilly, Lesser Yellowlegs in County Waterford and Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan.

Scarcity highlights included a Serin, a White-spotted Bluethroat, a Wryneck, a Hoopoe, a Great Grey Shrike, an American Golden Plover, a Pectoral Sandpiper, two Dotterel, a Night Heron, three Kumlien's Gulls, a Rough-legged Buzzard, a Surf Scoter, three Green-winged Teals and eight Ring-necked Ducks.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 18th April 2021  
 

An Iberian Chiffchaff was found singing in Ipswich in Suffolk and, later in the day, an Alpine Swift was seen near Broad Haven in Pembrokeshire.

Still present were the Belted Kingfisher and Bufflehead in Co.Cork, American Herring Gull in Cornwall, White-throated Sparrow in Sussex, Spotted Sandpiper in Ayrshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in North Yorkshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan, Dusky Warbler in Merseyside and Bee-eater on Scilly. There were seven White-billed Divers in Moray, with eight in Aberdeenshire and singles in Shetland and Lothian.

Other highlights included White-spotted Bluethroat (Norfolk), four Hoopoes and Night Heron (Devon), as well as Pectoral Sandpiper (Northumberland), Great Grey Shrike (Hampshire), Yellow-browed Warbler (Sussex), Grey Phalarope (Norfolk), Surf Scoter (Lothian), two Dotterel (together in Anglesey), two Kumlien's Gulls, three Green-winged Teal, four Little Buntings, 10 Glossy Ibises and 16 Ring-necked Ducks.
-  David Campbell, RBA
Saturday 17th April 2021  
  New discoveries today included a Bee-eater over Earls Barton, Northamptonshire, a Black Kite on Papa Westray then Westray, Orkney and a White-billed Diver off Unst, Shetland.

Lingering rarities included the White-throated Sparrow in Sussex, American Herring Gull in Cornwall, Spotted Sandpiper in Ayrshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Yorkshire, Bee-eater in Scilly, Dusky Warbler in Merseyside, four White-billed Divers in Moray, three in Aberdeenshire and one in Lothian, Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll and Lesser Scaup in County Fermanagh.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 16th April 2021  
  New rarities discovered today were a Tawny Pipit briefly on the Isles of Scilly on Bryher, and in Aberdeenshire now 11 White-billed Divers at Portsoy.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised the Double-crested Cormorant in County Kerry, Belted Kingfisher in County Cork, White-throated Sparrow in East Sussex, American Herring Gull in Cornwall, Bee-eater on the Isles of Scilly, Spotted Sandpiper in Ayrshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in North Yorkshire, Lesser Scaup in County Fermanagh, and a White-billed Diver on the Orkney Isles.

Scarcities included Night Heron (Devon), Wryneck (Dorset), Ring-billed Gull (Western Isles), Grey Phalarope (Norfolk), Kumlien's Gull (Cambridgeshire), two Serin, four each of both Hoopoe and Surf Scoter, five of Little Bunting and Green-winged Teal, nine Glossy Ibises, 11 Ring-necked Ducks, and a total of 12 Lapland Buntings.

Significant late news concerned an Iberian Chiffchaff yesterday singing in Suffolk at Sizewell.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 15th April 2021  
  The highlight of the day was news of Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls in Highland at Lochinver, and on Foula, Shetland Isles, making a total of four now discovered in northern Scotland since 11th April.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised the White-throated Sparrow in East Sussex, American Herring Gull in Cornwall, Bufflehead in County Cork, Citrine Wagtail and Bee-eater on the Isles of Scilly, Spotted Sandpiper in Ayrshire, Dusky Warbler in Merseyside, Lesser Scaup in County Fermanagh, and White-billed Divers in Moray (7) and the Orkney Isles (2).

Scarcities incldued Night Heron (Devon), American Wigeon (Cleveland), Montagu's Harrier (Dorset), Lapland Bunting (Highland), Corncrake (Cornwall), Grey Phalarope (Norfolk), two Wrynecks, three Hoopoes, four each of Little Bunting, Surf Scoter, Ring-necked Duck, and Green-winged Teal, and a total of seven Glossy Ibises.
-  Chris Batty, RBA