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 26th June 2021  
  New discoveries today included a Black Scoter off Murcar, Aberdeenshire, a Pallid Harrier over Southfield Reservoir and Stainforth, East Yorkshire, a Caspian Tern at Lound, Nottinghamshire, a Bonaparte's Gull at Mullagh, County Derry and nine Bee-eaters at The Naze, Essex.

Lingering rarities included the Least Tern in County Dublin, Roller in Suffolk, Collared Pratincole and two Black-winged Stilts in Norfolk, further Black-winged Stilts in Gloucestershire (two) and Devon, Caspian Terns in Lincolnshire and Carmarthenshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Shetland, Wilson's Petrel off County Cork, White-spotted Bluethroat in Gloucestershire, Red-footed Falcons in Kent and Scilly and King Eider in Aberdeenshire.

Scarcity highlights included a Short-toed Lark, a Melodious Warbler, an Icterine Warbler, two Rose-coloured Starlings, an American Golden Plover, a Great Shearwater, a Purple Heron, two Glossy Ibises, two Honey Buzzards, a Ring-necked Duck, a Long-tailed Skua, seven Roseate Terns and an Iceland Gull.
Will Soar, RBA
Friday 25th June 2021  
 

A Roller was reported over the A14 near Newmarket, Suffolk/Cambridgeshire, this afternoon. Also today, a White-billed Diver was found off Embo in Highland and two Black-winged Stilts arrived at Pilning Wetland in Gloucestershire.

the Least Tern continued its stay among the Little Terns of Co.Dublin, while crowd-pleasers included the continuing Roller in Suffolk and Collared Pratincole in Norfolk, whose sideshow Black-winged Stilts also continued. The Black-winged Stilt in Devon also stuck around, while the White-spotted Bluethroat in Gloucestershire carried on playing hard to get, Scilly's Red-footed Falcon remained and the Bonaparte's Gull in Shetland showed nicely.

Further highlights nationally were Short-toed Lark (Shetland), Melodious Warbler (Dorset), 10 Rose-coloured Starlings, Purple Heron (Suffolk), Sabine's Gull (Western Isles), three Glossy Ibises and Green-winged Teal (Co.Cork).
David Campbell, RBA
Thursday 24th June 2021  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Caspian Tern in Carmarthenshire at Llanelli, whilst new in Devon were three Black-winged Stilts; two together at Home Farm Marsh, one at Wrafton Pond.

Rarities elsewhere comprised the Least Tern still in County Dublin, Forster's Tern in County Galway, Roller still in Suffolk, Caspian Tern in East Yorkshire, Great Reed Warbler in song in Nottinghamshire, Blyth's Reed Warbler in song in Warwickshire, Bonaparte's Gull on the Shetland Isles, Lesser Yellowlegs in County Wexford, both Red-footed Falcon and Wilson's Petrel on the Isles of Scilly, White-spotted Bluethroat in Gloucestershire, and in Norfolk Collared Pratincole, two Black-winged Stilts, and a total of 10 Bee-eaters.

Scarcities included Melodious Warbler (Dorset), Short-toed Lark (Shetland Isles), two Purple Herons, four Glossy Ibises, and a total of eight Rose-coloured Starlings.
Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 23rd June 2021  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Green Warbler on Fair Isle, Shetland Isles. Only the ninth record of this species for Britain but the eighth to have occurred in as many years, three of which have been on Fair Isle.

Elsewhere, a Roller was found in Suffolk at Icklingham, and on Shetland a Bonaparte's Gull on Unst, and a King Eider off Bressay. Brief encounters included an Alpine Swift in Cornwall, Black Kite in Dumfries and Galloway, Red-footed Falcon in Lincolnshire, Wilson's Petrel at sea off County Cork, and the party of nine Bee-eaters in Norfolk.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Least Tern in County Dublin, Caspian Tern in East Yorkshire, territorial Blyth's Reed Warbler in Staffordshire, territorial Great Reed Warbler in Nottinghamshire, White-spotted Bluethroat in song in Gloucestershire, and two Black-winged Stilts together in Norfolk.

Scarcities included Short-toed Lark (Shetland Isles), Melodious Warbler (Worcestershire), Common Rosefinch (Highland), Red-backed Shrike (Kent), Golden Oriole (Hampshire), Ring-necked Duck (Cornwall), Glossy Ibis (Lincolnshire), two each of both American Golden Plover, Marsh Warbler, and Red-necked Phalarope, and a total of six Rose-coloured Starlings.
Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 22nd June 2021  
 

Two Black-winged Stilts appeared at Hickling Broad in Norfolk, a new Blyth's Reed Warbler sang on Scilly, and a Black Kite flew over Mullion Cove in Cornwall. Shetland's regular Snowy Owl reappeared near Ronas Hill.

Still present were the Red-winged Blackbird in Co.Mayo, Least Tern in Co.Dublin, Black Duck in Co.Mayo, Iberian Chiffchaff in Suffolk, Caspian Tern in East Yorkshire, the two Great Reed Warblers in Nottinghamshire, Blyth's Reed Warbler in Staffordshire, Black-winged Stilt in Cornwall, White-billed Diver in Orkney and White-spotted Bluethroat in Gloucestershire. The flock of nine Bee-eaters remained on the edge of Great Yarmouth, while others appeared in Filby (two) and over Hickling Broad.

Other highlights included Short-toed Lark (Shetland), two Marsh Warblers (Shetland), Melodious Warbler (Worcestershire), Grey-headed Wagtail (East Yorkshire), Common Rosefinch (Argyll), seven Rose-coloured Starlings, Night Heron (Cornwall), Red-backed Shrike (Shetland), American Golden Plover (Lancashire), Long-tailed Skua (Shetland), American Wigeon (Cambridgeshire) and two Glossy Ibises.
David Campbell, RBA
Monday 21st June 2021  
  The highlight of the day was a male Red-winged Blackbird in County Mayo on The Mullet at Annagh Marsh. Presumably the same individual as that present 38 miles to the east southeast of its current location at Castleconnor, County Sligo on 11th June. This is the first record of Red-winged Blackbird for Ireland.

Other discoveries today included a Red-flanked Bluetail in Norfolk near Blakeney, Black-winged Stilt in Cornwall at Marazion, and Bee-eaters in both Cambridgeshire and Norfolk (9).

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised the Least Tern in County Dublin, Caspian Tern in Lincolnshire (albeit only briefly), Great Reed Warbler in Nottinghamshire, Blyth's Reed Warbler in Staffordshire, Lesser Scaup in Borders, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, and White-spotted Bluethroat in Gloucestershire.

Scarcities included American Golden Plover (Lancashire), Red-backed Shrike (Shetland Isles), Red-necked Phalarope (Northumberland), three Glossy Ibises, and a total of eight Rose-coloured Starlings.
Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 20th June 2021  
 

Caspian Terns appeared in Lincolnshire and Essex, while Nottinghamshire's second Great Reed Warbler of the year was found at Misson.

Still present were the Least Tern in Co.Dublin, Iberian Chiffchaff in Suffolk, Great Reed Warbler in Nottinghamshire, Lesser Scaup in Borders, Blyth's Reed Warbler in Staffordshire and White-billed Diver in Shetland.

Among the rest of the day's highlights were White-winged Black Tern (Suffolk), White-spotted Bluethroat (Gloucestershire), 14 Rose-coloured Starlings, Icterine Warbler (Borders), Marsh Warbler (Norfolk), American Golden Plover (Lancashire), Long-tailed Skua (Shetland) and three Glossy Ibises.
David Campbell, RBA
Saturday 19th June 2021  
  A Least Tern was identified in County Dublin this morning, where it visited a Little Tern colony at Portrane. It appears likely that it has been present around two weeks this year, and was also heard in 2020.

New arrivals today included Caspian Terns at Southfield Reservoir, Yorkshire (two), Barton-upon-Humber, Lincolnshire and Beckton, London, a White-spotted Bluethroat at Slimbridge WWT, Gloucestershire and a Wilson's Petrel at sea off the Isles of Scilly. The Black Duck reappeared at Cross Lough, County Mayo.

Lingering rarities included the Great Reed Warbler in Nottinghamshire, Blyth's Reed Warbler in Staffordshire, Snowy Owl in Shetland, Red-footed Falcon in Scilly and King Eider in Aberdeenshire.
Will Soar, RBA
Friday 18th June 2021  
  A singing Blyth's Reed Warbler was found at Middleton Lakes RSPB, Staffordshire this morning, where it remained all day.

Lingering rarities included the River Warbler in Somerset, Great Reed Warbler in Northumberland, Snowy Owl in Shetland, Red-footed Falcon in Scilly, King Eider in Aberdeenshire and White-billed Diver in Orkney.

Scarcity highlights included a Golden Oriole, a Hoopoe, two Marsh Warblers, 11 Rose-coloured Starlings, four Roseate Terns, Honey Buzzard, a Red-necked Phalarope, two Ring-necked Ducks, two Glossy Ibises, two Glaucous Gulls and two Iceland Gulls.
Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 17th June 2021  
  Two Bee-eaters were seen near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk today, and a pratincole species flew over St Buryan, Cornwall.

Lingering rarities included the River Warbler in Somerset, Great Reed Warbler in Nottinghamshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Western Isles, Lesser Yellowlegs in County Wexford and Red-footed Falcon in Scilly.

Scarcity highlights included an Ortolan Bunting, an Icterine Warbler, three Marsh Warblers, 14 Rose-coloured Starlings, a Green-winged Teal, two Ring-necked Ducks, a Purple Heron, two Glossy Ibises, a Honey Buzzard, a Red-necked Phalarope, a Long-tailed Skua, two Pomarine Skuas, four Roseate Terns, two Iceland Gulls and a Glaucous Gull.
Will Soar, RBA