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
Friday 23rd July 2021  
  Highlight of the day was the discovery of a Western Sandpiper at Snettisham RSPB (Norfolk).

New discoveries elsewhere included a Western Bonelli's Warbler in Cornwall and a Caspian Tern in Cleveland, whilst the Elegant Tern (Anglesey), Pacific Golden Plover (Lincolnshire), Bonaparte's Gulls (Kent and Shetland), White-rumped Sandpipers (Shetland and Suffolk) and Pectoral Sandpipers (Norfolk and South Yorkshire) all lingered.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Thursday 22nd July 2021  
  New discoveries today included single Gull-billed Terns at Chartham, Kent and Stallingborough, Lincolnshire, single White-rumped Sandpipers at Snettisham, Norfolk and Pool of Virkie, Shetland and a Bee-eater over Gunwalloe, Cornwall.

Lingering rarities included the Elegant Tern in Anglesey, Black-browed Albatross in Yorkshire, American Black Tern in Northumberland, Pacific Golden Plover in Lincolnshire, White-rumped Sandpiper in Suffolk and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent.

Scarcity highlights included a Melodious Warbler, two Rose-coloured Starlings, two Pectoral Sandpipers, two Glossy Ibises, four Balearic Shearwaters and an Iceland Gull.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 21st July 2021  
  Lingering Mega-rarities comprised the Black-browed Albatross in East Yorkshire and Elegant Tern on Anglesey, whilst in Ireland the Short-billed Dowitcher remained in Co Cork and the Least Tern relocated approximately 12 miles to the north, crossing the border from Co Dublin to Co Louth. 

Elsewhere the Pacific Golden Plover (Lincolnshire), Snowy Owl (Western Isles) and Bonaparte's Gull (Kent) all lingered, and scarcity highlights included Hoopoe (Wirral), White-winged Black Tern (Cheshire), six Rose-coloured Starlings, Pectoral Sandpipers (Norfolk and South Yorkshire) and Melodious Warbler (Cornwall).

Significant late news related to a male Pallid Harrier on territory in Co Limerick during the spring and early summer, last seen on 29th June.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 20th July 2021  
  A Lesser Yellowlegs was discovered in Dublin today, at Booterstown Marsh, whilst lingering rarities comprised Black-browed Albatross (East Yorkshire), Elegant Tern (Anglesey), Short-billed Dowitcher (Co Cork), Bonaparte's Gulls (Kent and Shetland), Pacific Golden Plover (Lincolnshire) and White-rumped Sandpiper (Suffolk).

Significant late news related to an American Black Tern at Long Nanny (Northumberland) on Friday, where it had been present for almost two months.

Scarcity highlights included Melodious Warbler (Wirral), seven Rose-coloured Starlings, Pectoral Sandpiper and Golden Oriole (Norfolk), Temminck's Stint (Hampshire), Common Rosefinch (Cornwall) and Hoopoe (Cambridgeshire).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 19th July 2021  
  The Egyptian Vulture reappeared today, being seen over Avoca in County Wicklow early evening.

New discoveries today included a Fea's or Desertas Petrel off Kilcummin Head, County Mayo, a Pacific Golden Plover at Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincolnshire and a White-rumped Sandpiper at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk.

Lingering rarities included the Black-browed Albatross in Yorkshire, Elegant Tern in Anglesey, Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent.

Scarcity highlights included two Rose-coloured Starlings, a Red-necked Phalarope, a Pectoral Sandpiper, a Temminck's Stint, two Honey Buzzards, a Long-tailed Skua, a Pomarine Skua and two Balearic Shearwaters.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 18th July 2021  
  A Western Subalpine Warbler trapped and ringed on Skokholm (Pembrokeshire) was the standout discovery of the day.

In East Yorkshire the Black-browed Albatross reappeared at Bempton Cliffs after its no-show yesterday, and the Elegant Tern (Anglesey), Least Tern (Co Dublin), Bonaparte's Gulls (Kent and Shetland), White-rumped Sandpiper (Norfolk), King Eider (Shetland) and Red-footed Falcon (Wiltshire) all lingered.

A Wilson's Petrel was logged at sea off Co Donegal and three Rose-coloured Starlings, three Glossy Ibises, Pectoral Sandpiper (Norfolk) and Red-necked Phalarope (East Yorkshire) were all recorded.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 17th July 2021  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of the White-rumped Sandpiper in Norfolk at Cley, whilst a Bee-eater in Cornwall was at Nanquidno and later Sennen.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised the Elegant Tern on Anglesey, Pacific Golden Plover in Norfolk, both Black Stork and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent, Bonaparte's Gull on the Shetland Isles, and the Red-footed Falcon in Wiltshire.

Scarcities included Purple Heron in Cambridgeshire, Rose-coloured Starling on the Western Isles, both Pectoral Sandpiper and Glossy Ibis in Norfolk, Montagu's Harrier in County Cork, and the Long-tailed Skua still on territory on Shetland.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 16th July 2021  
  The highlight of the day was the Bonaparte's Gull that returned to Oare Marshes, Kent for a ninth summer, a Kentish Plover was confirmed in West Sussex at Pagham Harbour, and a Red-footed Falcon was reported in Hampshire at Beaulieu.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Elegant Tern on Anglesey, the Black-browed Albatross in East Yorkshire, Pacific Golden Plover in Norfolk, Black Stork in Kent, Black Scoter in Aberdeenshire, Red-footed Falcon in Wiltshire, both Bonaparte's Gull and King Eider on the Shetland Isles, but in County Donegal the Egyptian Vulture was not seen all day.

Scarcities included Golden Oriole (Kent), Cory's Shearwater (County Donegal), Pectoral Sandpiper (Norfolk), Grey Phalarope (Anglesey), two Glossy Ibises, and three Rose-coloured Starlings.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 15th July 2021  
 

The West Midlands Region was treated to a Caspian Tern at Middleton Lakes, on the Staffordshire/Warwickshire border. A Black Stork flew west over Dover Castle in Kent, ending up over Rye Harbour in East Sussex at lunchtime. The RV Celtic Explorer encountered a Wilson's Petrel in the pelagic hinterlands 42 miles north of St.Kilda. In Cornwall, a Black Kite was seen high over Tregeare near Launceston.

The Egyptian Vulture continued to perform in Co.Donegal, while other lingering rarities included the Elegant Tern in Anglesey, Black-browed Albatross in East Yorkshire, Black Scoter in Aberdeenshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Shetland and Red-footed Falcon in Wiltshire.

two Pectoral Sandpipers, Temminck's Stint (Northumberland), Long-tailed Skua (Northumberland), Glossy Ibis (Kent), three Rose-coloured Starlings and Surf Scoter (Aberdeenshire).

 
-  David Campbell, RBA
Wednesday 14th July 2021  
 

The adult Egyptian Vulture seen on the Isles of Scilly last month was relocated in Co.Donegal, near Dunfanaghy, where it was visible in flight on several occasions.

The Black-browed Albatross in East Yorkshire, Least Tern in Co.Dublin, Elegant Tern in Anglesey, Black Scoter in Aberdeenshire, Red-footed Falcon, and King Eider and Bonaparte's Gull in Shetland all remained. Three Bee-eaters were reported south over Bentley in Suffolk.

Scarcities included Red-backed Shrike (Cornwall), seven Rose-coloured Starlings, Surf Scoter (Aberdeenshire) and Glossy Ibis (Kent).
-  David Campbell, RBA