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
Thursday 12th August 2021  
  New discoveries today included single Black Storks over Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincolnshire and Snape Maltings, Suffolk, a Blyth's Reed Warbler on North Ronaldsay, Orkney and eight Bee-eaters over Easington, Yorkshire.

Lingering rarities still present included the Least Tern in County Dublin, Elegant Tern in Merseyside, Black-winged Pratincole in Shetland, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cheshire, two Pacific Golden Plovers in Lincolnshire and another in Norfolk, Lesser Yellowlegs in Scilly, White-rumped Sandpiper in Norfolk, Booted Warbler in Shetland, Baltic Gull in Oxfordshire and eight Wilson's Petrels were seen from the Scilly pelagic.

Scarcity highlights included a Red-backed Shrike, a Wryneck, three Barred Warblers, a Pectoral Sandpiper, a Montagu's Harrier, a Glossy Ibis, 11 Cory's Shearwaters, 51 Great Shearwaters, two Long-tailed Skuas and a Pomarine Skua.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 11th August 2021  
  The Shetland Isles dominated today with a Black-winged Pratincole on Fetlar, a Booted Warbler new on Fair Isle, the Long-tailed Skua still present, and two Red-backed Shrikes.

Rarities elsewhere comprised the elusive Egyptian Vulture still in County Mayo at Shanvolahan, Pacific Golden Plovers still in both Lincolnshire (2) and Norfolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cheshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Kent, Lesser Yellowlegs on the Isles of Scilly, White-rumped Sandpiper in Norfolk, and a Baltic Gull in Oxfordshire.

Scarcities included Melodious Warbler and Cory's Shearwater (Cornwall), Marsh Warbler and Barred Warbler (Orkney Isles), Rose-coloured Starling (South Yorkshire), Pectoral Sandpiper (Suffolk), and Glossy Ibis (Lincolnshire).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 10th August 2021  
 

A Greenish Warbler on Noss in Shetland was the best find of the day, the first of the autumn. 20 or more Wilson's Petrels were seen during the day's Scilly pelagic, with at least two seen from a boat near Cape Clear in Co.Cork and another northwest of Fethaland, Shetland.

Continuing rarities comprised the Elegant Tern in Merseyside, Pacific Golden Plovers in Lincolnshire (two) and Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gull in Kent, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cheshire, White-rumped Sandpipers in Norfolk and Suffolk, Black-winged Stilt in Somerset and Lesser Yellowlegs on Scilly.

Other highlights included Red-backed Shrike (Shetland), two Barred Warblers, Icterine Warbler (East Yorkshire), Pectoral Sandpiper (Suffolk), Red-necked Phalarope in Somerset, Sabine's Gull (Shetland), two Long-tailed Skuas, three of both Cory's and Great Shearwater and three Glossy Ibises.
-  David Campbell, RBA
Monday 9th August 2021  
  Highlights of the day were the reappearance of the Elegant Tern in Merseyside at Formby Point, a Lesser Yellowlegs new on the Isles of Scilly on Tresco, and the Black Stork still in East Yorkshire before relocating to Lincolnshire.

Rarities elsewhere comprised the Forster's Tern still in County Louth, Pacific Golden Plovers in both Lincolnshire (2) and Norfolk, Black-winged Stilt in Somerset, White-rumped Sandpipers in both Norfolk and Suffolk, Bonaparte's Gull on the Shetland Isles, and two Baltic Gulls together in Oxfordshire.

Seabirds included nine Wilson's Petrels together at sea off the Isles of Scilly, and totals of four Sabine's Gulls, five Cory's Shearwaters, and 14 Great Shearwaters.

Other scarcities were Barred Warbler, Common Rosefinch, Red-backed Shrike, and Long-tailed Skua (all on Shetland), Red-necked Phalarope (Norfolk), Pectoral Sandpiper (Suffolk), and two each of both Rose-coloured Starling and Glossy Ibis.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 8th August 2021  
  Rarities today comprised the Least Tern still in County Dublin, two Pacific Golden Plovers still together in Lincolnshire, White-rumped Sandpiper in Suffolk, Black-winged Stilt in Somerset, Bonaparte's Gulls in both Kent and the Shetland Isles, and the Black Stork in East Yorkshire relocated between Withernsea and Easington.

West coast seawatching produced seven Wilson's Petrels, four each of both Sabine's Gull and Long-tailed Skua, eight Great Shearwaters, 11 Cory's Shearwaters, and a Grey Phalarope.

Scarcities elsewhere included American Golden Plover (Wirral), Barred Warbler (Orkney Isles), Common Rosefinch and Long-tailed Skua (Shetland), Temminck's Stint (Lincolnshire), two each of Icterine Warbler, Red-backed Shrike, and Rose-coloured Starling, and three Pectoral Sandpipers.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 7th August 2021  
  The highlight of the day was a Black Stork in East Yorkshire that flew from Flamborough Head to Buckton.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Least Tern in County Dublin, Black-browed Albatross in East Yorkshire, Pacific Golden Plover in Lincolnshire (2) and Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gull in Kent and the Shetland Isles, White-rumped Sandpipers in County Dublin and Suffolk, Black-winged Stilt in Somerset, and Baltic Gull in Oxfordshire.

Seabirds logged between County Clare and the Isles of Scilly included 16 Wilson's Petrels, four Long-tailed Skuas, eight Cory's Shearwaters, and 15 Great Shearwaters. Other scarcities included White-winged Black Tern and Barred Warbler (both Shetland), American Golden Plover (Merseyside then relocated on the Wirral), Red-backed Shrike (Aberdeenshire), Temminck's Stint (Lincolnshire), two each of both Surf Scoter and Glossy Ibis, three Rose-coloured Starlings, and four Pectoral Sandpipers.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 6th August 2021  
  Rarities today comprised the Black-browed Albatross still in East Yorkshire, Elegant Tern still in Merseyside, Pacific Golden Plover in Lincolnshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cheshire, Black-winged Stilt in Somerset, Baltic Gull in Oxfordshire, Bonaparte's Gulls in both Kent and the Shetland Isles, and White-rumped Sandpipers in County Dublin and Suffolk.

Notable seabirds were logged between County Clare and the Isles of Scilly including eight Wilson's Petrels, three Sabine's Gulls, Long-tailed Skua, 15 Cory's Shearwaters, and 82 Great Shearwaters.

Other scarcities included Barred Warbler, Red-backed Shrike, and Long-tailed Skua (all on the Shetland Isles), Temminck's Stint (Lincolnshire), Glossy Ibis (Kent), Glaucous Gull (County Londonderry), three Pectoral Sandpipers, and four Rose-coloured Starlings.

Significant late news concerned a further sighting of the elusive Egyptian Vulture; last seen on 4th August in County Mayo at Ceide Fields.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 5th August 2021  
  A Black Stork flew over Beeley Moor, Derbyshire, whilst a second Pacific Golden Plover joined the long staying individual at Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincolnshire.

Lingering rarities still present included the Elegant Tern in Merseyside, Black-browed Albatross in Yorkshire, Pacific Golden Plover in Norfolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cheshire, White-rumped Sandpipers in Suffolk and County Dublin, Bonaparte's Gull in Kent and four Wilson's Petrels from the Scilly pelagic.

Scarcity highlights included four Rose-coloured Starlings, two Purple Herons, an American Wigeon, a Pectoral Sandpiper, a Temminck's Stint, two Honey Buzzards, two Long-tailed Skuas, seven Pomarine Skuas, 21 Great Shearwaters and 50 Cory's Shearwaters.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 4th August 2021  
  New discoveries today included a Pacific Golden Plover at Wells, Norfolk, a White-rumped Sandpiper on Swords Estuary, County Dublin and a Black Kite over Cuckmere Haven, East Sussex.

Lingering rarities still present included the Elegant Tern in Merseyside, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cheshire, Pacific Golden Plover in Lincolnshire, White-rumped Sandpiper in Suffolk, Black-winged Stilt in Devon, Forster's Tern in County Louth and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent.

Scarcity highlights included a Hoopoe, a Rose-coloured Starling, a Buff-breasted Sandpiper, a Pectoral Sandpiper, a Temminck's Stint, a Red-necked Phalarope, a Purple Heron, two Glossy Ibises, a Surf Scoter, three Honey Buzzards, a Cory's Shearwater and a Leach's Petrel.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 3rd August 2021  
  The stand-out report of the day was a pale morph Booted Eagle over-flying Carlton Marshes, Suffolk.

Confirmed rarities today comprised the Western Sandpiper still in County Waterford, Black-browed Albatross still in East Yorkshire, Elegant Tern in Merseyside, Pacific Golden Plover in Lincolnshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cheshire, Black-winged Stilt in Devon, Bonaparte's Gulls in both Kent and the Shetland Isles, White-rumped Sandpipers in Norfolk and Suffolk, and two Wilson's Petrels at sea off Isles of Scilly. In Ireland the Forster's Tern returned to County Louth, where it was first noted in 2006.

Scarcities included Bluethroat (Cornwall), Purple Heron and Pectoral Sandpiper (both Suffolk), Temminck's Stint (Lincolnshire), Long-tailed Skua (Shetland), Glaucous Gull (County Londonderry), two Glossy Ibises, and a total of four Great Shearwaters.
-  Chris Batty, RBA