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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Thursday 27th April 2023  
 

Rarities today comprised the Gambel's White-crowned Sparrow still in East Sussex and now showing well, the Double-crested Cormorant still in County Leitrim, Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, Long-billed Dowitcher and two Ferruginous Ducks in Norfolk, King Eider in Fife, Bonaparte's Gulls in both County Cork and Cornwall, Black-winged Stilts in County Cork (4), Cheshire, Dorset (2), and Staffordshire, and White-billed Divers in Aberdeenshire, Moray (3), Orkney Isles (2), and the Shetland Isles.

Scarcities included Short-toed Lark and Wryneck (Isles of Scilly), American Wigeon (Fife), Temminck's Stint (Norfolk), Shorelark (East Yorkshire), two each of both Hoopoe and Green-winged Teal, three Ring-necked Ducks, five Dotterel, seven Glossy Ibises, eight Surf Scoters, and a total of 12 Night Herons.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 26th April 2023  
 

Rarities today comprised a Squacco Heron new in Cornwall at Dobwalls, the Gambel's White-crowned Sparrow still in East Sussex, Forster's Tern still in Dorset, Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, King Eider in Fife, Bonaparte's Gulls in both County Cork and Cornwall, Black-winged Stilts in Dorset (2) and Staffordshire, and White-billed Divers in Aberdeenshire and Moray.

Scarcities included Short-toed Lark (Isles of Scilly), Purple Heron (Nottinghamshire), Ring-billed Gull (County Limerick), Wryneck (Suffolk), Shorelark (East Yorkshire), Green-winged Teal (Nottinghamshire), two each of Temminck's Stint, Woodchat Shrike, and Dotterel, three of both Surf Scoter and Hoopoe, seven Ring-necked Ducks, eight of Night Heron and Glossy Ibis.

Significant news from yesterday concerned a Bonaparte's Gull in County Wexford at Tacumshin, and at sea between the Orkney Isles and Shetland Isles both a Song Sparrow and a Slate-coloured Junco were aboard a ship.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 25th April 2023  
 

Discoveries today included two Black-winged Stilts together in Denbighshire at Rhyl, and Red-rumped Swallows briefly in Dorset and the Isles of Scilly.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Gambel's White-crowned Sparrow in East Sussex, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Penduline Tit and Black Kite in North Yorkshire, Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cheshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Cornwall, Black-winged Stilts in Dorset (2) and Kent, King Eider in Fife, White-billed Diver in Moray, and three Ferruginous Ducks together in Norfolk.

Scarcities included Ring-billed Gull (Perth and Kinross), Pectoral Sandpiper (Argyll), Temminck's Stint (Lincolnshire), Shorelark (East Yorkshire), two each of Woodchat Shrike, Purple Heron, and Green-winged Teal, three of Hoopoe and Dotterel, five of Night Heron and Ring-necked Duck, and seven Glossy Ibises.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 24th April 2023  
 

The highlight of the day was the discovery of an Elegant Tern alongside two Black-winged Stilts in Dorset at Lodmoor. New rarities elsewhere comprised a Penduline Tit in North Yorkshire at Seamer Carr, and a Subalpine Warbler species in Cornwall at St Just.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Gambel's White-crowned Sparrow in East Sussex, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cheshire, Bonaparte's Gulls in County Cork and Cornwall, King Eider in Fife, Ferruginous Duck in Norfolk, Black Kite in North Yorkshire, two White-billed Divers together in Moray, and Black-winged Stilts in County Cork (3) and Kent.

Scarcities included Golden Oriole (Cornwall), Ring-billed Gull (Perth and Kinross), Purple Heron (Pembrokeshire), Pectoral Sandpiper (Argyll), Dotterel (Isles of Scilly), Shorelark (Norfolk), Glossy Ibis (Hampshire), two Woodchat Shrikes, three each of both Hoopoe and Green-winged Teal, four Ring-necked Ducks, and a total of five Night Herons.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 23rd April 2023  
 

The highlights of the day were the discovery of a Forster's Tern in Dorset in Poole Harbour, a Gull-billed Tern in Cornwall at Dinham Flats, a Lesser Scaup in County Sligo at Lough Gara, and now two Penduline Tits together in Kent at Oare Marshes.

Rarities elsewhere comprised the elusive Gambel's White-crowned Sparrow still in East Sussex, Isabelline Wheatear in Norfolk, Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, King Eider in Fife, Black Kite in North Yorkshire, two White-billed Divers in Moray, Long-billed Dowitchers in Cheshire and Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gulls in County Cork and Cornwall, Lesser Scaups in Greater Manchester and Oxfordshire, Ferruginous Ducks in Norfolk and Staffordshire, and Black-winged Stilts in County Cork, Glamorgan (2), Herefordshire (2), County Kerry (4).

Scarcities included Golden Oriole and Montagu's Harrier (Cornwall), Dotterel (Isles of Scilly), three of Hoopoe and Green-winged Teal, four Woodchat Shrikes, five Ring-necked Ducks, eight Glossy Ibises, and a total of 10 Night Herons.

Incoming summer migrants included 56 Garganey, 49 Ring Ouzels, 13 each of Black Tern and Pied Flycatcher, six Wood Sandpipers, four Blue-headed Wagtail, and three Wood Warblers.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 22nd April 2023  
  The first White-crowned Sparrow, of the western form gambelii, for Sussex was discovered at Seaford Head mid morning, where it showed on and off into the evening. A Gull-billed Tern was at Misson, Nottinghamshire, a Penduline Tit was at Oare Marshes, Kent, a Red-rumped Swallow was at Ham Wall RSPB, Somerset, a Black-winged Stilt was on the Cooley Peninsula, County Louth and another was at Dungeness, Kent and a White-billed Diver flew past Pendeen Watch, Cornwall.

Lingering rarities included the Isabelline Wheatear, Long-billed Dowitcher, Black-winged Stilt and two Ferruginous Ducks in Norfolk, further Long-billed Dowitchers in Cheshire and Orkney, five more Black-winged Stilts in County Cork, Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, Lesser Scaups in Oxfordshire and Greater Manchester, Bonaparte's Gull in Cornwall, Black Kite in Yorkshire, White-billed Divers in Aberdenshire (two) and Moray (seven) and Eastern Yellow Wagtail in Suffolk.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 21st April 2023  
  New discoveries today included an Isabelline Wheatear at West Runton, Norfolk, Black-winged Stilts at Keyhaven, Hampshire (two) and Welney, Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gulls at Marazion, Cornwall and Rosslare, County Wexford, King Eider off the Isle of May, Fife and two White-billed Divers in Shetland.

Lingering rarities still present included the Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, two Ferruginus Ducks in Norfolk, Lesser Scaups in Oxfordshire and Greater Manchester, Black-winged Stilts in Isle of Wight and County Cork (six), Long-billed Dowitchers in Cheshire and Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gull in County Cork, Black Kite in Yorkshire and White-billed Divers in Moray, Aberdeenshire (three) and Shetland (four).
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 20th April 2023  
 

Rarities discovered today were all brief encounters: a Gull-billed Tern on the Isles Scilly in The Roads, a Subalpine Warbler species in Conwy at Penmaenmawr, a Little Bittern on the Isle of Wight at Alverstone Mead, Kentish Plover in Norfolk at Holkham, and an Alpine Swift in West Sussex at Barnham Brooks.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Double-crested Cormorant in County Leitrim, Gull-billed Tern in Cheshire, Tawny Pipit on Scilly, Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, Long-billed Dowitchers in Cheshire and Norfolk, Lesser Scaup in Oxfordshire, three Ferruginous Ducks together in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gull in County Cork, Black Kite in North Yorkshire, Black-winged Stilts in County Cork, Cornwall, County Kerry (4), and the Isle of Wight, and White-billed Divers in Aberdeenshire (4), Moray (4), and the Shetland Isles (2).

Scarcities included Purple Heron (County Kerry), Montagu's Harrier (Cornwall), Ring-billed Gull (Perth and Kinross), Wryneck (Pembrokeshire), Lapland Bunting (Argyll), two of Rough-legged Buzzard, Dotterel, Glossy Ibis, and Green-winged Teal, three of Woodchat Shrike and Ring-necked Duck, five Shorelarks, eight Hoopoes, and a total of 15 Night Herons.

Incoming summer migrants included 65 Ring Ouzels, 48 Garganey, 11 Pied Flycatchers, six Blue-headed Wagtails, three Wood Warblers, two Wood Sandpipers, and a Spotted Flycatcher.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 19th April 2023  
 

European rarities and scarcities today comprised a Gull-billed Tern new in Cheshire at Burton Mere Wetlands, a Subalpine Warbler species in County Cork at Ballynacarriga, Tawny Pipit on the Isles of Scilly, Kentish Plover in Kent, Alpine Swift in Lincolnshire, Purple Heron and Montagu's Harrier in Cornwall, Black Kites in Kent, Leicestershire, and North Yorkshire, Black-winged Stilts in County Cork (6), Devon, and the Isle of Wight, two each of Golden Oriole, Serin, Wryneck, and Hoopoe, three Woodchat Shrikes, six Glossy Ibises, and seven Night Herons.

From elsewhere were Ross's Gull and Rough-legged Buzzard in Aberdeenshire, Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, Bonaparte's Gull in County Cork, Surf Scoter in Lothian, Green-winged Teal in Cambridgeshire, Long-billed Dowitchers in both Cheshire and Norfolk, four Ring-necked Ducks, and six Shorelarks, Lesser Scaups in Fife, Greater Manchester, and Oxfordshire, and White-billed Divers in Aberdeenshire (2), Orkney, and Moray (13).

Incoming spring migrants included 60 Garganey, 28 Ring Ouzels, three Wood Sandpipers, two Blue-headed Wagtails, and a Black Tern.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 18th April 2023  
 

Sensational news today of the first Black-winged Kite for Britain discovered in Powys at Glanmule where it was present mid morning before flying west. On 16th April a probable Black-winged Kite had been glimpsed 195 miles to the east southeast at Kirton, Suffolk, perhaps the same bird.

Other Mediterranean species today comprised a Little Bittern new in Devon at Exminster Marshes, a Western Subalpine Warbler reported in East Yorkshire at Easington, a total of 14 Black-winged Stilts, nine each of both Night Heron and Glossy Ibis, three Woodchat Shrikes, Alpine Swifts in Conwy and Gwynedd, Hoopoes in Cornwall and Suffolk, and two Serins together in Dorset.

Otherwise rarities comprised a Red-footed Falcon briefly on the Shetland Isles at Scousburgh, Mainland, a Black Kite reported in North Yorkshire at Duncombe Park, the singing Savi's Warbler reported again in Cheshire, Hooded Merganser still in Cumbria, Long-billed Dowitcher and three Ferruginous Ducks in Norfolk, Lesser Scaups in both Fife and Oxfordshire, and five White-billed Divers in Moray.

Scarcities included Montagu's Harrier (Cornwall), Surf Scoter (Orkney Isles), Lapland Bunting (Argyll), two each of Shorelark and Green-winged Teal, and five Ring-necked Ducks.

Incoming summer migrants included 49 Ring Ouzels, 45 Garganey, two each of Blue-headed Wagtail, Wood Sandpiper, Whinchat, and Swift, and a Black Tern.
-  Chris Batty, RBA