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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Saturday 4th September 2021  
 

The best finds of the day were a Western Bonelli's Warbler on St.Mary's (Scilly) a Lesser Yellowlegs at Tacumshin in Co.Waterford and a Fea's/Desertas Petrel past Newbiggin in Northumberland. Another of the latter was off North Ronaldsay.

Still present were the White-tailed Lapwing in East Yorkshire, Black-browed Albatross in East Yorkshire, Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll, Black Scoter in Angus, Black Stork in Lincolnshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gulls in Co.Down and Kent, and Snowy Owl in Aberdeenshire.

The pick of the best otherwise involved Surf Scoter (Angus), Spotted Crake (Northumberland), three Dotterel, White-winged Black Tern (Hampshire), two Glossy Ibises, Montagu's Harrier (Essex), 33 Wrynecks, Melodious Warbler (Co.Cork), Icterine Warbler (Kent), six Barred Warblers, Bluethroat (Scilly), seven Common Rosefinches and Ortolan Bunting (Cornwall).
David Campbell, RBA
Friday 3rd September 2021  
  The second Sykes's Warbler for Norfolk was discovered on Blakeney Point today, where it remained until dusk. A Fea's/Desertas Petrel flew past North Ronaldsay, Orkney and a Baird's Sandpiper was at Clonakilty, County Cork, whilst a Greenish Warbler was present for a second day at Luccombe, Isle of Wight.

Lingering rarities still present included the White-tailed Lapwing in Yorkshire, Black Stork in Lincolnshire, Forster's Tern in County Louth, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk and single Bonaparte's Gulls in Kent and County Down.

Scarcity highlights included an Ortolan Bunting, a Red-backed Shrike, two Bluethroats, five Barred Warblers, nine Common Rosefinches, 24 Wrynecks, a Red-necked Phalarope, a Dotterel, three Honey Buzzards, two Glossy Ibises, a Ring-necked Duck, a Surf Scoter, a White-winged Black Tern, seven Pomarine Skuas, 25 Long-tailed Skuas and 13 Sabine's Gulls.
Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 2nd September 2021  
  Seabirds again provided the highlights with Fea's/Desertas Petrels passing County Durham, Northumberland, Aberdeenshire, and the Orkney Isles, three Wilson's Petrels at sea off the Isles of Scilly, at least 300 Balearic Shearwaters together in Devon at Thurlestone, and totals of six Sabine's Gulls and 39 Long-tailed Skuas.

Otherwise, rarities today comprised the White-tailed Lapwing still in East Yorkshire, Forster's Tern still in County Louth, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, Citrine Wagtail on the Shetland Isles, Bonaparte's Gull in County Down, a Greenish Warbler new in Suffolk at Thorpeness, and in Angus the Black Scoter returned to Kinnaber.

Scarcities included Melodious Warbler (Shetland), Red-breasted Flycatcher (Norfolk), Rose-coloured Starling (Dorset), Bluethroat and Golden Oriole (Scilly), Surf Scoter (Angus), two each of both Glossy Ibis and Dotterel, five Common Rosefinches, six Barred Warblers, and a total of 24 Wrynecks.
Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 1st September 2021  
  Seawatching provided the highlights today with a Fea's/Desertas Petrel again tracked north along the east coast of England from Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire to Northumberland, a Cory's Shearwater passed Suffolk, five Sabine's Gulls, and at least 21 Long-tailed Skuas were logged.

Rarities elsewhere comprised both the White-tailed Lapwing and Black-browed Albatross still in East Yorkshire, the Elegant Tern still in Lancashire, Forster's Tern in County Louth, Booted Warbler and Citrine Wagtail still together on the Shetland Isles, both Lesser Yellowlegs and Bee-eater briefly on the Isles of Scilly, Snowy Owl still on the Western Isles, Bonaparte's Gull in County Down, Long-billed Dowitchers in both Kent and Norfolk, and in Nottinghamshire the pratincole species was reported again.

Scarcities included Bluethroat (Scilly), Red-breasted Flycatcher (Norfolk), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Shetland), American Golden Plover (Cornwall), Ring-billed Gull (County Kerry), two each of Icterine Warbler and Dotterel, three of Common Rosefinch and Glossy Ibis, seven Barred Warblers, and a total of 15 Wrynecks.
Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 31st August 2021  
  Rarities today comprised both the White-tailed Lapwing and Black-browed Albatross still in East Yorkshire, Booted Warbler and Citrine Wagtail on the Shetland Isles together on Fair Isle, unidentified pratincole species in Nottinghamshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gull in County Down, the Forster's Tern relocated to County Meath, and the Elegant Tern returned to Lancashire.

Scarcities included Bluethroat (Isles of Scilly), Red-breasted Flycatcher (Norfolk), Ortolan Bunting (County Cork), Pectoral Sandpiper (Highland), Great Shearwater (East Yorkshire), Ring-necked Duck (Cornwall), two each of Melodious Warbler, Temminck's Stint, and Dotterel, three Barred Warblers, seven Sabine's Gulls, eight Glossy Ibises, 11 Common Rosefinches, 22 Long-tailed Skuas, and a total of 24 Wrynecks.
Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 30th August 2021  
 

A Fea's or Desertas Petrel flew north past Hartlepool Headland in Cleveland and was tracked north along the coast as far as Donmouth in Aberdeenshire. An unidentified pratincole was seen near Misson in Nottinghamshire and a Black Kite flew over Garinish Point in Co.Cork.

Still present were the White-tailed Lapwing in East Yorkshire, Black-winged Pratincole and King Eider in Shetland, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gulls in Co.Down and Kent, and Forster's Tern in Co.Louth.

Additional news included Ring-necked Duck (Cornwall), two Dotterel, two Temminck's Stints, American Golden Plover (Shetland), three Sabine's Gulls, five Glossy Ibises, Montagu's Harrier (Essex), 17 Wrynecks, Golden Oriole (Nottinghamshire), Barred Warbler (East Yorkshire) and Bluethroat (Scilly).
David Campbell, RBA
Sunday 29th August 2021  
  New discoveries today included an Olive-backed Pipit in Cornwall, a Wilson's Petrel from a pelagic off Pembrokeshire and a Bonaparte's Gull at Belfast Lough RSPB, County Antrim.

Lingering rarities still present included the White-tailed Lapwing and Black-browed Albatross in Yorkshire, Forster's Tern in County Louth and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent.

Scarcity highlights included a Bluethroat, a Common Rosefinch, a Rose-coloured Starling, four Barred Warblers, 26 Wrynecks, two Dotterel, two Temminck's Stints, two Pectoral Sandpipers, two American Golden Plovers, a Purple Heron, six Glossy Ibises, three Great Shearwaters, four Pomarine Skuas, 14 Long-tailed Skuas, a Sabine's Gull and a Ring-billed Gull.
Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 28th August 2021  
  New discoveries today included a second Arctic Warbler on Fair Isle, Shetland and a Greenish Warbler at Ardmair, Highland.

Lingering rarities included the White-tailed Lapwing and Black-browed Albatross in Yorkshire, Black Stork in Lincolnshire, Booted Warbler in Shetland, Long-billed Dowitcher in Carmarthenshire and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent.

Scarcity highlights included an Icterine Warbler, two Red-backed Shrikes, three Common Rosefinches, eight Barred Warblers, 16 Wrynecks, a Dotterel, two Temminck's Stints, two Purple Herons, 12 Glossy Ibises, two Cory's Shearwaters, two Great Shearwaters, five Sabine's Gulls, six Pomarine Skuas and around 19 Long-tailed Skuas.
Will Soar, RBA
Friday 27th August 2021  
  A Fea's or Desertas Petrel flew north past Cowbar, Cleveland this evening, before being tracked along the coast through County Durham and Northumberland. The Elegant Tern relocated to Hodbarrow, Cumbria, with new discoveries including an Arctic Warbler on Fair Isle, Shetland and single Greenish Warblers on Great Saltee Island, County Wexford and at Whitby, Yorkshire (joining another lingering bird).

Other lingering rarities included the White-tailed Lapwing and Black-browed Albatross in Yorkshire, Black Stork in Lincolnshire, Forster's Tern in County Louth, Long-billed Dowitcher in Carmarthenshire and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent.

Scarcity highlights included an Icterine Warbler, a Red-backed Shrike, a Rose-coloured Starling, 11 Barred Warblers, 17 Wrynecks, a Grey Phalarope, a Pectoral Sandpiper, two American Golden Plovers, three Temminck's Stints, a Honey Buzzard, a Purple Heron, eight Glossy Ibises, five Sabine's Gulls, two Pomarine Skuas, 29 Long-tailed Skuas and a Ring-billed Gull.
Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 26th August 2021  
 

Blacktoft Sands RSPB recorded its 52nd wader species with a White-tailed Lapwing on view all day. The Black-browed Albatross was present early in the morning and again from just before 5pm at Bempton Cliffs; in the meantime, there was a sighting of an adult off Sheringham in Norfolk at lunchtime, about 95 miles away.

A flock of nine Bee-eaters were at Beachy Head in Sussex in the morning, a White-rumped Sandpiper appeared at Aberlady Bay in Aberdeenshire in the evening, and a Black Kite flew over Conyer in Kent. In Borders, a Citrine Wagtail was reported near Cove.

Positive updates were received on the Forster's Tern in Co.Louth, Black-winged Pratincole in Shetland, Pacific Golden Plover in Lincolnshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Kent, Long-billed Dowitcher in Carmarthenshire, Greenish Warbler in North Yorkshire and Citrine Wagtail on Scilly.

Other highlights included Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Kent), two American Golden Plovers, Red-necked Phalarope (Kent), three Dotterel, five Sabine's Gulls, six Glossy Ibises, Purple Heron (Somerset), 10 Wrynecks, Red-backed Shrike (Cambridgeshire), two Barred Warblers, Rose-coloured Starling (Co.Derry) and Common Rosefinch (Orkney).
David Campbell, RBA