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| Saturday 5th August 2023 | ||
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| A Baird's Sandpiper was found at Blanket Nook, County Donegal today, joining the long staying Black-winged Pratincole.
Seawatching in Cornwall produced Wilson's Petrels off Porthgwarra, St Ives (three), and Pendeen (11), with another off Brandon Point, County Kerry, with other totals being 22 Balearic Shearwaters, 34 Great Shearwaters, around 944 Cory's Shearwaters, two Long-tailed Skuas, 14 Pomarine Skuas, three Grey Phalaropes and four Sabine's Gulls. Lingering rarities included the Hudsonian Godwit in Shetland, Long-billed Dowitchers in Norfolk and Orkney, Black-winged Stilts in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire (five), Forster's Tern in Dorset, Caspian Tern in County Wexford, Bonaparte's Gull in Kent and King Eider in Lothian. Other scarcities included a Red-backed Shrike, a Montagu's Harrier, five Glossy Ibises, a Ring-necked Duck, an American Golden Plover, a Pectoral Sandpiper, a Red-necked Phalarope and a Glaucous Gull. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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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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| Friday 4th August 2023 | ||
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| Two Kentish Plovers were found at Pegwell Bay, Kent today.
Seawatching records included a Fea's or Desertas Petrel off Porthgwarra, Cornwall, Wilson's Petrels off Pendeen, St Agnes Head, two from the Scillonian.III, three from a pelagic trip out of Penzance and four from the Scilly pelagic, along with totals of around 15 Balearic Shearwaters, 85 Great Shearwaters, 428 Cory's Shearwaters, a Long-tailed Skua and two Pomarine Skuas. Lingering rarities seen today included the Hudsonain Godwit in Shetland, Black-winged Pratincole in County Donegal, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, Black-winged Stilts in Lincolnshire (seven) and Yorkshire (five), Forster's Tern in Dorset, Caspian Tern in County Wexford, Bonaparte's Gull in Kent and King Eider in Lothian. Other scarcity highlights included a Red-backed Shrike, a Common Rosefinch, a Honey Buzzard, three Montagu's Harriers, an American Golden Plover, a Temminck's Stint, two Pectoral Sandpipers, two Ring-necked Ducks, 23 Glossy Ibises, an Iceland Gull and two Glaucous Gulls. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 3rd August 2023 | ||
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Seawatching was again the main focus of attention, with a total of 24 Wilson's Petrels logged, with 17 from a pelagic off the Scillies, six seen from Cornish headlands and a single off Strumble Head in south Wales. Some 460 Cory's Shearwaters were seen along the west coast, with a further three off the east coast and there were 170 Great Shearwaters, 11 Balearic Shearwaters, two Sabine's Gulls and singles of Grey Phalarope and Long-tailed Skua. The Hudsonian Godwit remained on south Mainland, Shetland, although it became a little more mobile today. The Forster's Tern was still at Poole in Dorset, with the Least Tern again at Portrane beach in County Dublin. Other lingering rarities included Long-billed Dowitchers in Norfolk and Orkney, Caspian Tern in Norfolk, King Eider in Lothian, and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent. Other scarcities included a Ring-necked Duck in Suffolk, Pectoral Sandpipers in Kent and County Louth, American Golden Plover in County Derry, Montagu's Harrier in Essex, Red-backed Shrike on Orkney and Wryneck on the Isle of Wight. |
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| - Pete Hayman, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 2nd August 2023 | ||
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| Highlights today were seven Wilson's Petrel in County Clare (1) off Loop Head, and altogether six seen flying past Pendeen, Porthgwarra, and St Ives, in Cornwall. Two Fea's Petrel also went past Porthgwarra in Cornwall, the only non-seawatching new rariry was a Greenish Warbler trapped +ringed on Fair Isle.
Lingering rarities included the Hudsonian Godwit in Shetland, two Bonaparte's Gulls in both Kent and Argyll, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Caspian Tern in Norfolk, Black-winged Pratincole in County Donegal, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, 14 Black-winged Stilts in Yorkshire (5) and Lincolnshire (9), and King Eider in Lothian Other seabird totals included a Sabine's Gull, three Long-tailed Skuas, six Pomarine Skuas, 32 Balearic Shearwaters, over 307 Great Shearwaters and well over 6000 Cory's Shearwaters, including over 5000 off Porthgwarra. Other scarcities included an American Golden Plover, three Montagu's Harrier, two Pectoral Sandpipers, a Ring-necked Duck, c35 Roseate Terns, a Temminck's Stint and a Glossy Ibis. |
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| - Ben Clark, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 1st August 2023 | ||
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| Late news of a South Polar Skua from a Scilly pelagic c10mls south of St.Mary's. Also yesterday, a Wilson's Petrel was seen in County Clare off Black Head, today another Wilson's Petrel was seen flying past Pendeen, Cornwall. A Fea's Petrel went past Porthgwuarra in Cornwall, and the 'regular' Double Crested Cormorant was seen at Doon Lough, County Leitrim.
Lingering rarities included the Hudsonian Godwit in Shetland, two Bonaparte's Gulls in both Kent and Argyll, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Caspian Tern in Norfolk, Black-winged Pratincole in County Donegal, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, Pacific Golden Plover in Orkney, 14 Black-winged Stilts in Yorkshire, Kent, and Lincolnshire respectively, King Eider in Lothian Other seabird totals included six Long-tailed Skuas, four Pomarine Skuas, six Balearic Shearwaters, over 1249 Great Shearwaters and around 10,000 Cory's Shearwaters, including over 4000 off both Porthgwarra, Cornwall and the Scillonian. Other scarcities included an American Golden Plover, a Montagu's Harrier, two Pectoral Sandpipers, two Ring-necked Ducks, c40 Roseate Terns, a Night Heron and a Glossy Ibis. |
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| - Ben Clark, RBA | ||
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| Monday 31st July 2023 | ||
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| A Sooty or Bridled Tern was seen off Pendeen Watch, Cornwall, along with another Wilson's Petrel. A Scopoli's Shearwater was seen from the Scilly pelagic, along with a record count of 39 Wilson's Petrels. Further Wilson's Petrels went past Start Point, Devon, Galley Head, County Cork, Brandon Point and Dingle Bay, County Kerry and two at Bridges of Ross, County Clare.
Other new discoveries included a Lesser Yellowlegs at Welney, Norfolk, a Caspian Tern at Toft Newton Reservoir, Lincolnshire and a Bonaparte's Gull at Ullapool, Highland. Lingering rarities included the Hudsonian Godwit in Shetland, Least Tern in County Louth, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Caspian Tern in County Wexford, Black-winged Pratincole in County Donegal, Long-billed Dowitchers in Orkney and Norfolk, Pacific Golden Plover in Orkney, five Black-winged Stilts in both Yorkshire and Kent, King Eider in Lothian and three Bee-eaters in Norfolk. Other seabird totals included a Sabine's Gull, four Long-tailed Skuas, up to 15 Pomarine Skuas, 48 Balearic Shearwaters, over 260 Great Shearwaters and over 3,350 Cory's Shearwaters, including over a thousand off both Porthgwarra, Cornwall and the Scilly pelagic. Other scarcities included a Red-backed Shrike, a Spotted Crake, an American Golden Plover, a Pectoral Sandpiper, two Honey Buzzards, a Night Heron and four Glossy Ibises. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 30th July 2023 | ||
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| The first Hudsonian Godwit for Shetland was discovered at Grutness today. Nearby, a Long-billed Dowitcher was on Loch of Swartmill, Orkney, a Caspian Tern flew past Girdle Ness, Aberdeenshire and a Bonaparte's Gull was found at Scallastle Bay, Mull, Argyll.
However, seabirds were the main talking point of the day. The waters around the Isles of Scilly contained a staggering number of birds, with virtually uncountable numbers of Cory's Shearwaters in the area (estimates of 16,000 off Giant's Castle, 3,500 from the pelagic, 2,500 off Porthcressa and 2,500 from the Scillonian.III), flocks which also included at least three Scopoli's Shearwaters (at least two south of the islands and one off Innisidgen, St Mary's), at least 1,840 Great Shearwaters (including 1,500 from the pelagic), 21 Wilson's Petrels, two Pomarine Skuas and a Long-tailed Skua. Nearby, Cornwall recorded single Fea's or Desertas Petrels off both Porthgwarra and Pendeen, four Wilson's Petrels (two off Pendeen and one off both Porthgwarra and Penlee Point), over 7,700 Cory's S'waters, 160 Great Shearwaters, 44 Balearic Shearwaters and a Pomarine Skua. Ireland produced single Fea's or Desertas Petrels off Galley Head, County Cork and Grainne Cove, County Galway, Wilson's Petrels off Mutton Island, County Galway and Mizen Head, County Cork (six), nearly 8,500 Cory's Shearwaters, 278 Great Shearwaters, six Balearic Shearwaters, five Pomarine Skuas, two Long-tailed Skuas, two Grey Phalaropes and two Sabine's Gulls. Small numbers of seabirds were seen elsewhere, with Cory's Shearwaters also seen in Gwynedd, Pembrokeshire (five) and Devon, Great Shearwater in Pembrokeshire, Balearic Shearwaters in Devon (11), Dorset, Pembrokeshire and Gwynedd, Pomarine Skuas in Devon (three) and Pembrokeshire and a Grey Phalarope in Gwynedd. Away from the sea, lingering rarities seen today included the Forster's Tern in Dorset, Caspian Tern in County Wexford, Black-winged Pratincole in County Donegal, Black-winged Stilts in Lincolnshire (four) and Kent (five), Long-billed Dowitcher and three Bee-eaters in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gull in Kent and King Eider in Lothian. Scarcity highlights included a Melodious Warbler, a Red-backed Shrike, an American Golden Plover, two Pectoral Sandpipers, a Night Heron, three Glossy Ibises, four Honey Buzzards, a Surf Scoter and two Ring-necked Ducks. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 29th July 2023 | ||
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| A Pacific Golden Plover was found at Spurn, Yorkshire during the morning, and a Lesser Yellowlegs was at Myross, County Cork.
Seawatching and pelagic trips produced totals of 18 Wilson's Petrels, four Sabine's Gulls, three Grey Phalaropes, two Pomarine Skuas, 12 Balearic Shearwaters, around 195 Great Shearwaters and around 7,500 Cory's Shearwaters. There was also late news from yesterday of single Scopoli's Shearwaters off Porthgwarra, Cornwall and from the Scilly pelagic. Lingering rarities included the Least Tern in County Dublin, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Caspian Tern in County Wexford, Black-winged Pratincole in County Donegal, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, Black-winged Stilts in Yorkshire (five), Lincolnshire (four) and Kent (five), King Eider in Lothian, three Bee-eaters in Norfolk and Bonaparte's Gull in Kent. Scarcity highlights included two Ring-necked Ducks, four Honey Buzzards, four Glossy Ibises, an American Golden Plover and a Pectoral Sandpiper. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Friday 28th July 2023 | ||
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| Rarities seen today included the Forster's Tern at Arne RSPB, Dorset, a Caspian Tern on South Slob, County Wexford, Black-winged Pratincole at Blanket Nook, County Donegal, Long-billed Dowitcher at Cley, Norfolk, Black-winged Stilts in Yorkshire (five), Lincolnshire (ten) and Kent (six), Bonaparte's Gull at Oare, Kent, Black-headed Wagtail on Myroe Levels, County Derry and three Bee-eaters at Trimingham, Norfolk.
Seawatching and pelagic trips produced totals of eight Wilson's Petrels, six Sabine's Gulls, a Long-tailed Skua, three Pomarine Skuas, 16 Balearic Shearwaters, at least 293 Great Shearwaters and an impressive 6,400 Cory's Shearwaters, including 4,104 off Galley Head in County Cork. Scarcity highlights included a Rose-coloured Starling, a Pectoral Sandpiper, two American Golden Plovers, two Honey Buzzards, six Glossy Ibises, a Surf Scoter, two Ring-necked Ducks, a Tundra Bean Goose, an Iceland Gull and three Glaucous Gulls. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 27th July 2023 | ||
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A Black Stork flew over Wymeswold near Loughborough in Leicestershire and an Alpine Swift flew over Saltfleetby St.Peter in Lincolnshire. Seawatching on west coasts was again notable with a Fea's/Desertas Petrel passing Galley Head in County Cork and 13 Wilson's Petrels seen from the pelagic off Scilly, with other singles in Dingle Bay, County Kerry and off Cape Cornwall, Cornwall. Other seabirds included totals of 582 Cory's Shearwaters, 41 Great Shearwaters, 58 Balearic Shearwaters, 2 Long-tailed Skuas, 9 Pomarine Skuas and a Grey Phalarope. The Forster's Tern was seen again at Arne in Dorset and the Black-winged Pratincole was still to be found at Blanket Nook in County Donegal. Other lingering rarities included both Long-billed Dowitcher and Caspian Tern in Norfolk, King Eider in Lothian, Bonaparte's Gull in Kent and both White-rumped Sandpiper and Gull-billed Tern at Tacumshin in County Wexford. There was a Rose-coloured Starling in Sussex, Pectoral Sandpipers in north Norfolk and Suffolk, an American Golden Plover in Pembrokeshire and a Ring-necked Duck remained in Suffolk. |
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| - Pete Hayman, RBA | ||
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