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 21st May 2022  
  Rarities discovered today were a Tawny Pipit on the Isles of Scilly on St Martin's, Blyth's Reed Warbler on the Shetland Isles on Fair Isle, two Black-winged Stilts in East Sussex at Down Level with another in Essex at Wallasea Island, a Bee-eater in Highland at Skirza, and in Cornwall Bee-eater and Red-rumped Swallow together at Skewjack. Elsewhere, brief encounters included two Red-footed Falcons together in Hampshire near Beaulieu Road Station, two Red-rumped Swallows in Kent, a Black Kite on the Orkney Isles, and Bee-eaters in both Anglesey and Suffolk (3).

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Black-browed Albatross in East Yorkshire, Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll, Broad-billed Sandpiper and two Red-rumped Swallows on the Western Isles, Great Reed Warbler in Norfolk, American Black Tern Northumberland, territorial Iberian Chiffchaff in London, King Eider in Lothian, Ferruginous Duck in North Yorkshire, and two Black Kites on the Shetland Isles.

Scarcities included Woodchat Shrike (Pembrokeshire), Serin and Long-tailed Skua (Shetland), Rose-coloured Starling (Scilly), Common Rosefinch (Orkney), Surf Scoter (Western Isles), Red-necked Phalarope (Northumberland), Green-winged Teal (Highland), Black Brant (East Yorkshire), three of both Ring-necked Duck and Grey-headed Wagtail, four Purple Herons, five Honey Buzzards, eight Temminck's Stints, and 15 each of both Golden Oriole and Glossy Ibis.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 20th May 2022  
  A male Collared Flycatcher and a Thrush Nightingale arrived on Fair Isle, Shetland today, with a Western Subalpine Warbler nearby on Out Skerries. A White-throated Sparrow was on Great Saltee Island, County Wexford (the first record for Ireland since 2008), with a Bonaparte's Gull at Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire and Bee-eaters over Beachy Head, Sussex (two) and Bockhill Farm, Kent.

Lingering rarities included the Great Reed Warbler in Norfolk, Iberian Chiffchaff in London, Broad-billed Sandpiper and two Red-rumped Swallows in Western Isles, Caspian Tern in Kent, American Black Tern in Northumberland, Black Kite in Shetland, Black-browed Albatross and Ferruginous Duck in Yorkshire and King Eider in Lothian.

Scarcity highlights included an Icterine Warbler, a Hoopoe, a Rose-coloured Starling, two Serins, two Woodchat Shrikes, two Red-backed Shrikes, two Common Rosefinches, three Grey-headed Wagtails, four Bluethroats, 25 Golden Orioles, three Purple Herons, 12 Glossy Ibises, seven Honey Buzzards, two Spotted Crakes, a Temminck's Stint, a Ring-billed Gull, a Long-tailed Skua and a Pomarine Skua.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 19th May 2022  
  Rarities discovered today comprised a Broad-billed Sandpiper on the Western Isles on North Uist, in Norfolk a mobile Caspian Tern in The Broads and now two Great Reed Warblers together at Snettisham, a Tawny Pipit on the Isles of Scilly on St Mary's, a Rustic Bunting on the Shetland Isles on Fair Isle, Black Kites on the Orkney Isles and Shetland (2), Red-rumped Swallows in East Yorkshire and the Western Isles (2), and Black-winged Stilts in Clyde and Cambridgeshire (2).

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Black-browed Albatross in East Yorkshire, Gull-billed Terns in both County Cork and Lothian, Western Subalpine Warbler in Isle of Man, American Black Tern in Northumberland, King Eider in Lothian, Iberian Chiffchaff in London, and Black-winged Stilts in both Norfolk (2) and South Yorkshire (2).

Scarcities included Icterine Warbler (Orkney), Red-backed Shrike (Pembrokeshire), Purple Heron (Cornwall), Pectoral Sandpiper (Aberdeenshire), American Wigeon (County Londonderry), Green-winged Teal (Gloucestershire), Red-necked Phalarope (Northumberland), Long-tailed Skua (Shetland), Black Brant (East Yorkshire), two each of Woodchat Shrike, Serin, and Rose-coloured Starling, six Temminck's Stints, eight Glossy Ibises, 10 Grey-headed Wagtails, and a total of 14 Golden Orioles.

In East Yorkshire the Baikal Teal showed again at Flamborough Head where it was seen to be a ringed escape.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 18th May 2022  
  The highlight of the day was a Masked Wagtail found at Easington, East Yorkshire in the evening; the second British record of this Central Asian subpsecies of White Wagtail. Rarities discovered elsewhere comprised a Pallid Swift briefly in Northumberland at Boulmer, a Gull-billed Tern in Lothian at Gosford Bay, a pair of Black-winged Stilts in Dorset at Abbotsbury Swannery, on the Shetland Isles a Pallid Harrier on Foula and a Blyth's Reed Warbler on Fair Isle, whilst other brief encounters were a Caspian Tern in Kent, Red-rumped Swallow in Northumberland, Bee-eater in East Yorkshire, and Black Kites in both Somerset and County Wicklow.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Black-browed Albatross in East Yorkshire, American Black Tern in Northumberland, Gull-billed Tern in County Cork, Great Reed Warbler in Norfolk, Subalpine Warbler species in Pembrokeshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Iberian Chiffchaff in London, Ferruginous Duck in North Yorkshire, and Black-winged Stilts in Norfolk (4) and South Yorkshire (2).

Scarcities included Woodchat Shrike (Pembrokeshire), Icterine Warbler (Orkney Isles), Common Rosefinch (Norfolk), American Wigeon (County Londonderry), Montagu's Harrier (Cornwall), Red-necked Phalarope (Northumberland), Black Brant (East Yorkshire), Grey-headed Wagtail and Kumlien's Gull (Western Isles), two each of both Red-breasted Flycatcher and Green-winged Teal, three Pectoral Sandpipers, five of Bluethroat and Red-backed Shrike, eight Temminck's Stints, 10 Glossy Ibises, and a total of 11 Golden Orioles.

Significant late news concerned a flock of around 12 Bee-eaters present yesterday in Leicestershire at Loughborough, and on Monday a Baikal Teal at Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 17th May 2022  
  Once again the weather brought Fennoscandia migrants with a River Warbler, Rustic Bunting, and Red-breasted Flycatcher all new on Out Skerries, Shetland Isles, with further Rustic Buntings in Fife on the Isle of May, and Shetland on Noss, Great Reed Warbler in Norfolk, Red-backed Shrike on Fair Isle, two each of both Icterine Warbler and Grey-headed Wagtail, four Golden Orioles, six Temminck's Stints, and a total of 15 Bluethroats.

Other discoveries comprised Squacco Herons in Cambridgeshire at Smithey Fen and Dorset at Lodmoor, a Gull-billed Tern in County Cork at Harper's Island, Pallid Harrier in Highland at Balnakeil, Eastern Subalpine Warbler in Pembrokeshire on Skokholm, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon at Exmouth, Black Kite in County Kerry at Skellig Michael, and Kentish Plovers in Lothian at Aberlady Bay and Lincolnshire at Tetney Marshes.

Continuing rarities comprised the Black-browed Albatross still in East Yorkshire, American Black Tern in Northumberland, territorial Iberian Chiffchaff in London, Ferruginous Duck in North Yorkshire, and Black-winged Stilts in Norfolk (4), Nottinghamshire, and South Yorkshire (2).

Scarcities included Woodchat Shrike (Devon), Montagu's Harrier (Cornwall), Hoopoe (Dorset), Long-tailed Skua (Shetland), Red-necked Phalarope (Northumberland), Kumlien's Gull (Western Isles), two each of Short-toed Lark, Purple Heron, and Pectoral Sandpiper, three of Green-winged Teal and Honey Buzzard, and a total of 10 Glossy Ibises.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 16th May 2022  
  Conducive weather brought migrants bound for Scandinavia with a Great Reed Warbler in Norfolk at Snettisham, Citrine Wagtails briefly in Norfolk and East Yorkshire, at total of 11 Red-spotted Bluethroats, four Red-breasted Flycatcher, Red-backed Shrike, and Lapland Bunting on the Shetland Isles, Wryneck on the Orkney Isles, five Grey-headed Wagtails, eight Golden Orioles, and 11 Temminck's Stints.

Other discoveries included a Spanish Wagtail and Red-rumped Swallow in East Yorkshire at Spurn, Ferruginous Duck in North Yorkshire at Castle Howard, two Black-winged Stilts in South Yorkshire at Potteric Carr, Black Kites in Argyll and Kent, Red-rumped Swallow in Norfolk, White-billed Diver in Aberdeenshire, and Bee-eaters in both Kent and Suffolk (2).

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Black-browed Albatross in East Yorkshire, American Black Tern in Northumberland, Red-breasted Goose in Norfolk, territorial Iberian Chiffchaff in London, Red-footed Falcon in Berkshire, and Black-winged Stilts in Nottinghamshire and Norfolk (4).

Scarcities included Serin (County Wexford), Purple Heron and Black Brant (East Yorkshire), Hoopoe and Red-necked Phalarope (Northumberland), Montagu's Harrier (Cornwall), American Wigeon (Norfolk), Long-tailed Skua (Shetland), Honey Buzzard (Lincolnshire), three Pectoral Sandpipers, four Green-winged Teals, and 13 Glossy Ibises.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 15th May 2022  
  Discoveries today included a Baird's Sandpiper in Highland at Balnakeil, in Lincolnshire a Rustic Bunting at Horse Shoe Point and a Broad-billed Sandpiper at Gibraltar Point, in Nottinghamshire Great Reed Warbler at Lound and three Black-winged Stilts together at Langford Lowfields, Bonaparte's Gull in County Cork, Black Kite in East Sussex, and in Suffolk up to 22 Bee-eaters in two parties.

Rarities elsewhere comprised the Black-browed Albatross still in East Yorkshire, Snowy Owl on the Western Isles, American Black Tern in Northumberland, Spotted Sandpiper in Greater Manchester, Red-breasted Goose and three Black-winged Stilts in Norfolk, territorial Iberian Chiffchaff in London, Red-footed Falcon in Berkshire, Red-rumped Swallow on the Orkney Isles, and White-billed Divers in Moray, Shetland Isles (2), and the Western Isles.

Scarcities included Woodchat Shrike (Somerset), Common Rosefinch and Wryneck (County Wexford), Montagu's Harrier and Hoopoe (Cornwall), Red-necked Phalarope (Northumberland), Ring-necked Duck (Forth), two each of Bluethroat, Purple Heron, American Wigeon, Long-tailed Skua, and Kumlien's Gull, three of Pectoral Sandpiper, Honey Buzzard, and Green-winged Teal, four Golden Orioles, 12 Glossy Ibises, and a total of 16 Temminck's Stints.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 14th May 2022  
  The highlight of the day was a Northern Brown Shrike in East Yorkshire at Spurn whilst other discoveries included a Spotted Sandpiper in Cheshire at Doddington Pool, a Western Subalpine Warbler off the Isle of Man on Calf of Man, Red-footed Falcon in Somerset at Greylake, now two Azorean Yellow-legged Gulls together on The Mullet, County Mayo, whilst a Black Kite in Suffolk, Bee-eater in Lancashire, and Red-rumped Swallows in both Northumberland and East Sussex were all brief encounters.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Black-browed Albatross in East Yorkshire, American Black Tern in Northumberland, Snowy Owl on the Western Isles, Black Duck in County Mayo, Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll, Spotted Sandpiper in Greater Manchester, Red-breasted Goose, Dusky Warbler, and two Black-winged Stilts in Norfolk, Iberian Chiffchaff in London, Lesser Yellowlegs in Aberdeenshire, Red-footed Falcon in Berkshire, and Red-rumped Swallows in Lincolnshire and the Orkney Isles.

Scarcities included Woodchat Shrike (Somerset), Wryneck (County Wexford), Montagu's Harrier (Cornwall), Red-necked Phalarope (Northumberland), Green-winged Teal (Highland), two Hoopoes, four each of migrant Dotterel and Grey-headed Wagtail, five of Pectoral Sandpiper and Honey Buzzard, six Temminck's Stints, seven Golden Orioles, 13 Long-tailed Skuas, and a total of 19 Glossy Ibises.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 13th May 2022  
  An arrival of Red-rumped Swallows resulted in two birds at Dunwich, Suffolk, three at Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire, up to three at Spurn/Kilnsea, Yorkshire and one at Hunmanby, also Yorkshire. Other new rarities included a Spotted Sandpiper at Elton Reservoir, Greater Manchester, a Lesser Yellowlegs at Meikle Loch, Aberdeenshire, an American Black Tern at Long Nanny, Northumberland, an Alpine Swift at Brierley Hill, West Midlands with another plus a Red-footed Falcon at Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire and a Bee-eater at Portland, Dorset.

Lingering rarities seen today included the Black-browed Albatross in Yorkshire, Spotted Sandpiper in Cumbria, three Black-wingd Stilts in Norfolk, Iberian Chiffchaff in London, Red-rumped Swallow in Orkney, Red-footed Falcon in Berkshire and Red-breasted Goose in Norfolk.

Scarcity highlights included a Hoopoe, a Bluethroat, a Grey-headed Wagtail, seven Golden Orioles, a Montagu's Harrier, two Honey Buzzards, a Purple Heron, 11 Glossy Ibises, an American Golden Plover, a Red-necked Phalarope, three Pectoral Sandpipers, five Temminck's Stints, seven Dotterel, a Green-winged Teal, a Surf Scoter, a Kumlien's Gull, five Iceland Gulls, six Glaucous Gulls, at least 107 Pomarine Skuas and at least 321 Long-tailed Skuas.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 12th May 2022  
  The highlight of the spring so far was the discovery of a male Blue Rock Thrush in Essex at The Naze albeit only present briefly in the  afternoon.

Discoveries elsewhere included a Red-footed Falcon in Berkshire at Woolhampton, Savi's Warbler in Lincolnshire at Wolla Bank, Black Kite in Cornwall at Bartinney Downs, White-billed Diver on the Shetland Isles off Whalsay, and Red-rumped Swallows in East Yorkshire (4), Norfolk, Orkney Isles, and Suffolk.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Black-browed Albatross in East Yorkshire, Snowy Owl on the Western Isles, Red-breasted Goose and four Black-winged Stilts in Norfolk, Spotted Sandpiper in Cumbria, territorial Iberian Chiffchaff in London, and Lesser Yellowlegs in County Londonderry.

Scarcities included Purple Heron (Suffolk), Golden Oriole (Kent), Red-necked Phalarope (Northumberland), Green-winged Teal (Shetland), Honey Buzzard (Lincolnshire), two each of Montagu's Harrier, Hoopoe, and Pectoral Sandpiper, three Long-tailed Skuas, four Temminck's Stints, and a total of 16 Glossy Ibises.
-  Chris Batty, RBA