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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Sunday 15th August 2021  
  A Long-billed Dowitcher was found at Llanelli, Carmarthenshire.

Lingering rarities included the Black-browed Albatross in Yorkshire, Elegant Tern in Merseyside, Forster's Tern in County Louth, Black Storks in Lincolnshire and Suffolk/Essex, Black-winged Pratincole in Shetland, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cheshire, two Pacific Golden Plovers in Lincolnshire and one in Norfolk, White-rumped Sandpiper in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gull in Kent and six Wilson's Petrels from the Scilly pelagic.

Scarcity highlights included a Melodious Warbler, a Rose-coloured Starling, two Honey Buzzards, a Purple Heron, three Glossy Ibises, a Pectoral Sandpiper, an American Golden Plover, a Cory's Shearwater, six Great Shearwaters, a Long-tailed Skua, a Pomarine Skua and a Ring-billed Gull.
Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 14th August 2021  
  Rarities today comprised the Least Tern still in County Dublin, Black-browed Albatross still in East Yorkshire, Elegant Tern in Merseyside, Black-winged Pratincole in Shetland, Black Storks in both Essex/Suffolk and Lincolnshire, Pacific Golden Plovers in Lincolnshire (2) and Norfolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cheshire, Bonaparte's Gulls in Kent and Shetland, White-rumped Sandpiper in Norfolk, Wilson's Petrels at sea off County Kerry (4) and the Isles of Scilly (7), and an Alpine Swift reported briefly on the Isle of Wight.

Scarcities included Purple Heron (Essex), Temminck's Stint (Nottinghamshire), Pectoral Sandpiper (Suffolk), Barred Warbler and Long-tailed Skua (Shetland), two each of both American Golden Plover and Cory's Shearwater, three Glossy Ibises, four Rose-coloured Starlings, and a total of five Great Shearwaters.
Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 13th August 2021  
  A Greenish Warbler was found on Out Skerries, Shetland today.

Lingering rarities still present included the Least Tern in County Dublin, Elegant Tern in Merseyside, Black-browed Albatross in Yorkshire, Black-winged Pratincole in Shetland, two Pacific Golden Plovers in Lincolnshire and one in Norfolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cheshire, White-rumped Sandpiper in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gulls in Shetland and Kent, Baltic Gull in Oxfordshire and five Wilson's Petrels from the Scilly pelagic.

Scarcity highlights included a Red-backed Shrike, a Rose-coloured Starling, a Barred Warbler, three Icterine Warblers, a Grey Phalarope, a Temminck's Stint, a Pectoral Sandpiper, eight Glossy Ibises, ten Sabine's Gulls, three Great Shearwaters, seven Pomarine Skuas and a Long-tailed Skua.
Will Soar, RBA
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