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 4th May 2023  
 

Lingering rarites still present today included the Grey-headed Lapwing still in Northumberland, Stejneger's Scoter and White-winged Scoter together in Fife, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, White-billed Diver in Moray, and Bonaparte's Gulls in both Cornwall and Shetland.

Rarities of European origin comprised Pallid Harriers in Highland at Balnakeil, Lothian at Aberlady Bay, and on the Orkney Isles on North Ronaldsay, the Squacco Heron still in Cornwall, Great Reed Warbler in Somerset, Red-footed Falcon new in Kent at Stodmarsh, Black Kite in North Yorkshire, and Black-winged Stilts in Flintshire, Lincolnshire (2), and South Yorkshire (2).

Scarcities included Woodchat Shrike (Isles of Scilly), Purple Heron (Suffolk), Golden Oriole and Honey Buzzard (Dorset), Wryneck (Shetland Isles), American Wigeon (Fife), Shorelark (East Yorkshire), Grey-headed Wagtail (Essex), two each of Pectoral Sandpiper, Surf Scoter, and Ring-necked Duck, three Night Herons, four Temminck's Stints, five of White-winged Black Tern and Glossy Ibis, eight Hoopoes, and a total of 12 migrant Dotterel.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 3rd May 2023  
 

Discoveries today included Pallid Harrier on the Orkney Isles on North Ronaldsay, an Olive-backed Pipit on the Shetland Isles on Fair Isle, a Lesser Scaup in Staffordshire at Branston, a Black Kite in East Sussex briefly, Black-winged Stilts in Leicestershire (2), Lincolnshire (2), and five Bee-eaters together in Cornwall.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Grey-headed Lapwing in Northumberland, Stejneger's Scoter, White-winged Scoter, and five Surf Scoters together in Fife, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Squacco Heron in Cornwall, Blue-winged Teal in Lincolnshire, Great Reed Warbler in Somerset, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gulls in Cornwall and Shetland Isles, Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, and White-billed Diver in Moray.

Scarcities included Woodchat Shrike (Isles of Scilly), Purple Heron (Suffolk), Montagu's Harrier (Cornwall), Serin (Isle of Wight), Marsh Warbler (Shetland), Shorelark (East Yorkshire), American Wigeon (Fife), Grey-headed Wagtail (Essex), three of Golden Oriole, Ring-necked Duck, and Glossy Ibis, four of Night Heron, Hoopoe, and Temminck's Stints, and a total of 11 Dotterel.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 2nd May 2023  
 

The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Grey-headed Lapwing in the Northumberland where it remained all day between Low Newton-by-the-Sea and Long Nanny.

Discoveries today included a Pallid Harrier in East Yorkshire at Spurn and then later at Holmpton, a Bonaparte's Gull on the Shetland Isles on Mainland at Loch of Hillwell, and a Kentish Plover in Essex at The Naze.

Rarities elsewhere comprised the Stejneger's Scoter and White-winged Scoter still together in Fife, Pine Bunting still on the Orkney Isles, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Blue-winged Teal in Lincolnshire, Great Reed Warbler in Somerset, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, Long-billed Dowitchers in Cheshire and Norfolk, White-billed Diver in Moray, two Ferruginous Ducks together in Norfolk, and Black-winged Stilts in Aberdeenshire, East Sussex, Lincolnshire (3), and Suffolk (3).

Scarcities included Golden Oriole (Cornwall), Serin (Dorset), Honey Buzzard (Leicestershire), Pectoral Sandpiper (Essex), Temminck's Stint (East Yorkshire), Montagu's Harrier (Cornwall and Suffolk), American Wigeon (Fife), two Glossy Ibises, three of Surf Scoter, Ring-necked Duck, and Yellow-browed Warbler, five Night Herons, and a total of seven Hoopoes.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 1st May 2023  
 

Sensational news this morning of a Grey-headed Lapwing in Northumberland at Low Newton-by-the-Sea where it showed until dusk. Since the first Grey-headed Lapwing for the Western Palearctic in Turkey in March 2018 the species has been recorded in Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands in spring 2019, and Slovenia and Italy in August 2021, although it is unclear how many individuals are involved in these records.

Discoveries elsewhere included a Blue-winged Teal in Lincolnshire at Frampton Marsh, a Black Kite in Dorset at Bincombe Hill, and in Aberdeenshire the King Eider returned to the Ythan Estuary.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Stejneger's Scoter and two White-winged Scoters together in Fife, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Squacco Heron and Bonaparte's Gull in Cornwall, Great Reed Warbler in Somerset, Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, Eastern Yellow Wagtail in Suffolk, White-billed Divers in both Moray and the Shetland Isles, and Black-winged Stilts in Lincolnshire (3), Shropshire, Staffordshire, Suffolk (3).

Scarcities included Purple Heron (Suffolk), Serin (Devon), Ring-billed Gull (Perth and Kinross), Pectoral Sandpiper (Essex), American Wigeon (Fife), Green-winged Teal (County Mayo), Yellow-browed Warbler (Cleveland), Spotted Crake (Oxfordshire), two each of Woodchat Shrike, Montagu's Harrier, Temminck's Stint, and Ring-necked Duck, three of Surf Scoter and Shorelark, four migrant Dotterel, five of Night Heron and Hoopoe, and a total of seven Glossy Ibises.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 30th April 2023  
 

The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Stejneger's Scoter in Fife at Lower Largo where it remained with three White-winged Scoters, and three Surf Scoters.

Elsewhere, lingering rarities comprised the Forster's Tern still in Dorset, Squacco Heron and Bonaparte's Gull in Cornwall, Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, Great Reed Warbler in Somerset, Eastern Yellow Wagtail in Suffolk, Long-billed Dowitcher and Ferruginous Duck in Norfolk, White-billed Diver in Moray, Black Kite in North Yorkshire, and Black-winged Stilts in County Cork (3), Kent (2), Norfolk, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Suffolk (3), whilst brief encounters included a Gull-billed Tern in Suffolk, Black Kite in Derbyshire, and Red-rumped Swallow in County Cork.

Scarcities included Bluethroat (Dorset), American Wigeon (Fife), Little Bunting and Yellow-browed Warbler (Shetland Isles), two of Montagu's Harrier, Woodchat Shrike, and Green-winged Teal, three Purple Herons, three further Surf Scoters, four of Ring-necked Duck and Dotterel, five Hoopoe, eight Night Herons, and a total of 10 Glossy Ibises.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 29th April 2023  
  The scoter flock off Lower Largo in Fife today contained the Stejneger's Scoter and, astonishingly, three White-winged Scoters, along with three Surf Scoters. Other new discoveries today included a Pine Bunting on Papa Westray, Orkney and a Squacco Heron at Lanreath, Cornwall.

Other lingering rarities included the Gambel's White-crowned Sparrow in Sussex, Great Reed Warbler in Somerset, Eastern Yellow Wagtail in Suffolk, Forster's Terns in Dorset and County Galway, Bonaparte's Gulls in Cornwall and County Cork, Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, King Eider in Fife, Long-billed Dowitchers in Norfolk and Cheshire, Black-winged Stilt in Shropshire and White-billed Diver in Moray.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 28th April 2023  
 

New discoveries today consisted of a Stejneger's Scoter and White-winged Scoter at Lower Largo in Fife, Red-rumped Swallow at Ambleside in Cumbria, three Black-winged Stilts at WWT National Wetlands Centre in Carmarthenshire, Black Kite at Lady's Island Lake in County Wexford, and Great Reed Warbler at Ham Wall RSPB in Somerset.

Existing rarities today comprised of a Gambel's White-crowned Sparrow in East Sussex, Seven Black-winged Stilts in County Cork, Carmarthenshire, and Dorset, two Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk and Cheshire, Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Bonaparte's Gull in Cornwall, and King Eider in Fife.

Scarcities included seven Night Herons, Pom Skua, Short-toed Lark, Taiga Bean Goose, seven Surf Scoters, four Dotterel, Temminck's Stint, two Hoopoe, two Glaucous Gull, eight Glossy Ibises, Green-winged Teal, Shorelark, Woodchat Shrike, two Glaucous Gulls, Montagu's Harrier, Ring-billed Gull, and three Ring-necked Ducks.
-  Ben Clark, RBA
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