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 26th July 2021  
  New discoveries today included a Gull-billed Tern in Suffolk, initially at Minsmere RSPB before relocating to Carlton Marshes SWT, a Semipalmated Sandpiper at Lower Rosses, County Sligo, a Subalpine Warbler species on Barra, Western Isles, a Pacific Golden Plover at Burnham Norton, Norfolk (present for its 4th day) and the Long-billed Dowitcher in the county was relocated at Potter Heigham Marshes. Late news from June concerned a Short-toed Eagle seen in Highland on 20th.

Lingering rarities included the Western Sandpiper in Norfolk, Least Tern in County Dublin, Elegant Tern in Anglesey, Black-browed Albatross in Yorkshire, Snowy Owl in Western Isles, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cheshire, Pacific Golden Plover in Lincolnshire, Caspian Tern in Cleveland, Bonaparte's Gull in Kent and King Eider in Shetland.

Scarcity highlights included two Hoopoes, two Rose-coloured Starlings, a Pectoral Sandpiper, an American Golden Plover, a Grey Phalarope, two Dotterel, a Honey Buzzard, a Glossy Ibis and two Pomarine Skuas.
Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 25th July 2021  
  Long-billed Dowitchers were discovered at Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB, Cheshire and at Dickleburgh Moor, Norfolk, whilst a Red-rumped Swallow was reported at Alkborough Flats, Lincolnshire.

Lingering rarities seen today included the Western Sandpiper in Norfolk, Least Tern in both County Dublin and County Louth, Elegant Tern in Anglesey, Caspian Tern in Lincolnshire, Black-browed Albatross in Yorkshire, Pacific Golden Plover in Lincolnshire, Western Bonelli's Warbler in Cornwall and Bonaparte's Gull in Shetland.

Scarcity highlights included a Hoopoe, two Pectoral Sandpipers, three Glossy Ibises, two Honey Buzzards and a Pomarine Skua.
Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 24th July 2021  
 

The Western Sandpiper remained on The Wash at Snettisham in Norfolk, while other continuing rarities comprised the Least Tern in Co.Louth, Elegant Tern in Anglesey, Western Bonelli's Warbler in Cornwall, Pacific Golden Plover in Lincolnshire, Caspian Tern in Cleveland, Bonaparte's Gull in Kent and White-rumped Sandpipers in Shetland and Suffolk.

Other news was light, with two Pectoral Sandpipers (Norfolk and Northumberland), a migrant Red-necked Phalarope (East Yorkshire) and Glossy Ibis (Norfolk) the pick of the bunch.
David Campbell, RBA
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