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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Thursday 1st July 2021  
  A Pterodroma initially identified as a Fea's/Desertas was tracked north along the east coast between Flamborough Head and Bamburgh. Later examination of photographs revealed it to be nothing short of a Soft-plumaged Petrel, the first for Britain and the third for the Western Palearctic.

Other finds included a first-summer Baltic Gull at Appleford GPs in Oxfordshire in the evening, as well as White-billed Diver in Sandside Bay, Highland, and Savi's Warbler in the Wiltshire section of the Cotswold Water Park. Nine Bee-eaters flew over Sandwich in Kent.

The Roller in Suffolk, Black Scoter in Aberdeenshire, King Eider in Shetland, two Caspian Terns in Yorkshire, Red-footed Falcon on Scilly, the pairs of Black-winged Stilts in Norfolk and Gloucestershire,

Other highlights included Pectoral Sandpiper (Cleveland), five Rose-coloured Starlings, Red-backed Shrike (Sussex) and Red-necked Phalarope (Suffolk).
-  David Campbell, RBA
Wednesday 30th June 2021  
  The Black-browed Albatross in East Yorkshire was again the highlight of the day where it spent most of the day at Bempton Cliffs.

Rarities elsewhere comprised the Least Tern still in County Dublin, the Roller still in Suffolk, Black Scoter in Aberdeenshire, two Caspian Terns together in East Yorkshire, Bonaparte's Gull on the Shetland Isles, and Black-winged Stilts in both Gloucestershire (2) and Norfolk (2).

Scarcities included Cory's Shearwater (Lothian), Red-necked Phalarope (Suffolk), and three Rose-coloured Starlings.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 29th June 2021  
  The highlight of the day was the Black-browed Albatross that showed all day at Bempton Cliffs, East Yorkshire.

Rarities elsewhere comprised the Least Tern still in County Dublin, Roller still in Suffolk, Gull-billed Tern in Cornwall, Caspian Terns in Carmarthenshire, East Yorkshire, and Lincolnshire, both Bonaparte's Gull and King Eider on the Shetland Isles, and Black-winged Sitlts in Gloucestershire (2) and Norfolk (2).

Scarcities included Short-toed Lark (Shetland), Common Rosefinch (Perth and Kinross), Temminck's Stint (Buckinghamshire), Pectoral Sandpiper (Western Isles), Red-necked Phalarope (Norfolk), Purple Heron and Glossy Ibis (Suffolk), two each of both Icterine Warbler and Marsh Warbler, and four Rose-coloured Starlings.

Significant late news from yesterday concerned a Fea's/Desertas Petrel at sea off Lamorna.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 28th June 2021  
  The Black-browed Albatross returned to East Yorkshire today, being seen in flight off Thornwick Bay at Flamborough heading towards Bempton Cliffs RSPB this evening. A Gull-billed Tern was present on the Hayle Estuary in Cornwall.

Lingering rarities seen today included the Least Tern in County Dublin, Roller in Suffolk, Caspian Terns in Lincolnshire, East Yorkshire and Carmarthenshire, Black Scoter in Aberdeenshire, two Black-winged Stilts in both Norfolk and Gloucestershire, Bonaparte's Gull in Shetland, White-spotted Bluethroat in Gloucestershire and Wilson's Petrel and Red-footed Falcon in Scilly.

Scarcity highlights included a Melodious Warbler, a Rose-coloured Starling, a Purple Heron, two Glossy Ibises, a Spotted Crake, a Honey Buzzard, two Red-necked Phalaropes, a Long-tailed Skua, three Roseate Terns, two Glaucous Gulls and an Iceland Gull.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 27th June 2021  
  The highlight of the day was the presence of a Pacific Swift in Glamorgan on Gower at Fall Bay although it only present there briefly.

Elsewhere rarities comprised the Least Tern still in County Dublin, Forster's Tern still in County Galway, Roller still in Suffolk, Caspian Terns in both Carmarthenshire and Lincolnshire, territorial Great Reed Warbler still in Nottinghamshire, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Bonaparte's Gull on the Shetland Isles, Red-footed Falcon on the Isles of Scilly, Black-winged Stilts in both Gloucestershire (2) and Norfolk (2), and two Bee-eaters new in Lincolnshire at Tetney.

Scarcities included Melodious Warbler (Dorset), Purple Heron (Suffolk), Red-necked Phalarope (Northumberland), Long-tailed Skua (Shetland), and two each of both American Golden Plover and Glossy Ibis.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
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