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 25th August 2023  
  The second South Polar Skua of the year for the Scilly pelagic was identified this evening, with single Fea's Petrel species also seen passing Pendeen, Cornwall, Brandon Point, County Kerry and Bridges of Ross, County Clare. Other new discoveries included a Broad-billed Sandpiper at Tyninghame Bay, Lothian, a Booted Warbler on Out Skerries, Shetland, three Bee-eaters at Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire, a Caspian Tern at Titchwell, Norfolk and a Bonaparte's Gull at Harper's Island, County Cork.

Lingering rarities included the Red-footed Booby and a Wilson's Petrel in Scilly, Greater Sand Plover in County Wexford (now at The Cull), Forster's Tern in Dorset, Stejneger's Scoter in Lothian, Blue-winged Teal in Yorkshire, Long-billed Dowitchers in Norfolk and Orkney, Lesser Yellowlegs in Pembrokeshire, White-rumped Sandpiper in Northumberland, four Black-winged Stilts in Yorkshire, Greenish Warblers in Shetland and Yorkshire and Bonaparte's Gulls in Kent and County Down.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 24th August 2023  
  New discoveries today included an Arctic Warbler on North Ronaldsay, Orkney, single Greenish Warblers on Fair Isle, Shetland, at Flamborough Head, Yorkshire and on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, a Citrine Wagtail at Nanjizal, Cornwall, single Lesser Yellowlegs at Loch of Strathbeg, Aberdeenshire and Neyland, Pembrokshire and a second Blue-winged Teal joined the lingering bird at Tophill Low, Yorkshire.

Other lingering rarities still present included the Red-footed Booby and a Wilson's Petrel in Scilly, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Stejneger's Scoter and King Eider in Lothian, Booted Warbler in Orkney, single Greenish Warblers in Northumberland and Shetland, Black-headed Wagtail in County Derry, Black Stork in Lincolnshire, single Long-billed Dowitchers in Norfolk and Orkney, Pacific Golden Plover and White-rumped Sandpiper in Northumberland, Black-winged Stilts in Lincolnshire (five) and Yokshire and single Bonaparte's Gulls in County Down and Kent.

Scarcity highlights included a Woodchat Shrike, a Short-toed Lark, a Melodious Warbler, a Marsh Warbler, a Hoopoe, two Barred Warblers, three Icterine Warblers, five Wrynecks, six Red-backed Shrikes, three Honey Buzzards, a Night Heron, two Purple Herons, three Glossy Ibises, a Dotterel, a Pectroal Sandpiper, a Red-necked Phalarope, three American Golden Plovers, a Ring-necked Duck, two White-winged Black Terns, a Sabine's Gull, a Leach's Petrel, a Long-tailed Skua, five Pomarine Skuas, five Great Shearwaters, 14 Balearic Shearwaters and at least 591 Cory's Shearwaters.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 23rd August 2023  
 

Discoveries today included a Greater Sand Plover in County Wexford at Tacumshin, a Western Bonelli's Warbler in Pembrokeshire at Skokholm, a Blue-winged Teal in East Yorkshire at Tophill Low, a Kentish Plover in East Yorkshire at Spurn, and two Citrine Wagtails together on the Wirral at Hoylake.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Red-footed Booby on the Isles of Scilly, Stejneger's Scoter, Surf Scoter and King Eider all together in Lothian, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Black-headed Wagtail in County Londonderry, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, White-rumped Sandpiper in Northumberland, Greenish Warblers in Northumberland and the Shetland Isles, Bonaparte's Gull in Kent, and Black-winged Stilts in Lincolnshire (5) and South Yorkshire (5).

Scarcities included White-winged Black Tern and Long-tailed Skua (Western Isles), Common Rosefinch (Shetland), Dotterel (Cornwall), Ring-necked Duck (Suffolk), two each of American Golden Plover, Pectoral Sandpiper, Sabine's Gull, and Glossy Ibis, three each of Melodious Warbler, Icterine Warbler, and Wryneck, four Red-backed Shrikes, 22 Great Shearwaters, and a total of 114 Cory's Shearwaters.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 22nd August 2023  
  A Sooty Tern flew past Pendeen, Cornwall, single Black Storks were at Snettisham, Norfolk and Brockenhurst, Hampshire, a Bonaparte's Gull was at Loch Bee, Western Isles, an Azorean Yellow-legged Gull was at The Gearagh, County Cork and a Greenish Warbler was at Tresta, Fetlar, Shetland.

Lingering rarities still present included the Red-footed Booby in Scilly, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Black-winged Pratincole in County Donegal, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, White-rumped Sandpiper in Northumberland, five Black-winged Stilts in both Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, Stejneger's Scoter and King Eider in Lothian, Bonaparte's Gull in Kent, Black-headed Wagtail in County Derry and single Greenish Warblers in Shetland and Northumberland.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Monday 21st August 2023  
  In Cornwall, a Fea's or Desertas Petrel flew past Pendeen and a Bee-eater flew over Drift Reservoir. Further north, a Greenish Warbler was at Cresswell Pond, Northumberland, with another at Norwick and a Blyth's Reed Warbler at Halligarth, both Unst, Shetland.

Lingering rarities included the Red-footed Booby in Shetland, Hudsonian Godwit in Shetland, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, White-rumped Sandpiper in Northumberland, Black-winged Stilts in Lincolnshire (six) and Yorkshire (five), Forster's Tern in Dorset, Stejneger's Scoter and King Eider in Lothian, Double-crested Cormorant in County Leitrim, Black Stork in Lincolnshire, Booted Warbler in Orkney, two Greenish Warblers in Shetland, Black-headed Wagtail in County Derry, Bonaparte's Gulls in Kent and Argyll and Wilson's Petrels in Cornwall and Scilly (two).

Scarcity highlights included a Golden Oriole, a Melodious Warbler, a Barred Warbler, a Short-toed Lark, a Hoopoe, a Rose-coloured Starling, four Red-backed Shrikes, five Wrynecks, 15 Icterine Warblers, a Pectoral Sandpiper, two American Golden Plovers, three Grey Phalaropes, seven Honey Buzzards, two Glossy Ibises, a Surf Scoter, a Ring-necked Duck, two White-winged Black Terns, nine Sabine's Gulls, two Long-tailed Skuas, 70 Balearic Shearwaters, 320 Great Shearwaters and at least 1,057 Cory's Shearwaters.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 20th August 2023  
 

Seabirds today included the Red-footed Booby, Scopoli's Shearwater, and three Wilson's Petrels all at sea off the Isles of Scilly, and totals of three Long-tailed Skuas, 28 Sabine's Gulls, 57 Great Shearwaters, and 898 Cory's Shearwaters.

From the east came two Arctic Warblers and a Red-breasted Flycatcher on the Shetland Isles, Greenish Warblers in Highland, Orkney Isles, and Shetland (3), two Common Rosefinches, 10 Barred Warblers, 15 Red-backed Shrikes, 18 Wrynecks, and a total of 25 Icterine Warblers.

Elsewhere rarities included the Hudsonian Godwit still on Shetland, Stejneger's Scoter and King Eider still together in Lothian, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Black Stork in Lincolnshire, Black-headed Wagtail in County Londonderry, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, White-rumped Sandpipers in Northumberland and the Western Isles, Bonaparte's Gulls in Kent and the Western Isles, Bee-eater in Suffolk, Black-winged Stilts in Lincolnshire (5) and South Yorkshire (5).

Scarcities included Short-toed Lark (Pembrokeshire), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (County Donegal), Red-necked Phalarope (Dumfries and Galloway), Purple Heron (Lancashire), Night Heron (East Yorkshire), Surf Scoter (Lothian), Ring-necked Duck (Suffolk), two each of Melodious Warbler, White-winged Black Tern, American Golden Plover, and Pectoral Sandpiper, and four Glossy Ibises.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 19th August 2023  
 

Seabirds again proved to be the highlight of the day with a Brown Booby in Norfolk passing both Cley and Sheringham, a Scopoli's Shearwater and six Wilson's Petrels at sea off the Isles of Scilly, Fea's/Desertas Petrels in County Cork and Devon, a Gull-billed Tern in County Wexford at Hook Head, three Sabine's Gulls, 14 Long-tailed Skuas, 48 Great Shearwaters, and a total of 1,171 Cory's Shearwaters.

Landbirds from the east included a Booted Warbler on the Orkney Isles on North Ronaldsay, Greenish Warbler and Common Rosefinch on Orkney, Greenish Warbler and Blyth's Reed Warbler on the Shetland Isles, Ortolan Bunting in Suffolk, two each of both Marsh Warbler and Barred Warbler, seven Wrynecks, 14 Icterine Warblers, and 15 Red-backed Shrikes.

Other discoveries incluted a White-rumped Sandpiper in Northumberland at Boulmer, a Bonaparte's Gull in County Down at Holywood, an Alpine Swift in County Antrim at Rathlin Island, and a Ferruginous Duck in Cambridgeshire at Needingworth.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Hudsonian Godwit on Shetland, Stejneger's Scoter and King Eider together in Lothian, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Black Storks in Kent and Lincolnshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gull in Kent, and Black-winged Stilts in Lincolnshire (6) and South Yorkshire (4), whilst further scarcities were Short-toed Lark (Pembrokeshire), White-winged Black Tern (Western Isles), Red-necked Phalarope (Nottinghamshire), Surf Scoter (Lothian), Dotterel (Norfolk), Ring-necked Duck (Suffolk), two Pectoral Sandpipers, and two Glossy Ibises.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 18th August 2023  
  In Scotland, the roaming Brown Booby was seen again, heading north past Tarbat Ness, Highland. Booted Warblers were at Landguard, Suffolk and Blakeney Point, Norfolk, a Blyth's Reed Warbler was on Fair Isle, Shetland, a Kentish Plover was at Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincolnshire and a Wilson's Petrel flew past Hook Head, County Wexford.

Lingering rarities included the Hudsonian Godwit in Shetland, Pacific Golden Plover in Northumberland, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, Black-winged Stilts in Lincolnshire (five) and Yorkshire (six), Forster's Tern in Dorset, single Black Storks in Lincolnshire and Kent, Stejneger's Scoter and King Eider in Lothian and single Bonaparte's Gulls in Kent and County Dublin.

Scarcity highlights included two Melodious Warblers, two Common Rosefinches, two Red-backed Shrikes, three Marsh Warblers, three Barred Warblers, five Wrynecks, ten Icterine Warblers, a Ring-necked Duck, two Surf Scoters, a Dotterel, two Pectoral Sandpipers, a Night Heron, two Glossy Ibises, a Honey Buzzard, 12 Pomarine Skuas, 25 Long-tailed Skuas, a Glaucous Gull, four Sabine's Gulls, six Balearic Shearwaters, 288 Great Shearwaters, around 1,600 Cory's Shearwaters and a White-winged Black Tern.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 17th August 2023  
 

The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Brown Booby in Lothian off Cramond Island before it departed and later was noted passing Fife Ness, Fife with nearby a Barolo Shearwater passing Elie Ness. Other seabirds comprised the Red-footed Booby still on the Isles of Scilly, a Sabine's Gull in Essex, and totals of at least nine Long-tailed Skuas, 80 Great Shearwaters, and 609 Cory's Shearwaters.

Rarities elsewhere comprised the Hudsonian Godwit still on the Shetland Isles, Stejneger's Scoter, King Eider, and Surf Scoter all still together in Lothian, Forster's Tern still in Dorset, a Bonelli's Warbler species briefly in Devon at East Soar, Black Stork in Kent, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gull in County Dublin, and Black-winged Stilts in both Lincolnshire (3) and South Yorkshire (4).

Scarcities included Barred Warbler, Marsh Warbler, and Common Rosefinch (Shetland), Melodious Warbler and Dotterel (Cornwall), White-winged Black Tern (Leicestershire), American Golden Plover (County Down), Ring-necked Duck (Suffolk), and two each of Wryneck, Pectoral Sandpiper, and Glossy Ibis.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 16th August 2023  
 

Seabirds dominated the headlines today with Red-footed Booby, Barolo Shearwater and two Sabine's Gulls around the Isles of Scilly, and totals of at least 26 Great Shearwaters and 677 Cory's Shearwaters.

Discoveries elsewhere today included an Eleonora's Falcon briefly in Norfolk at Breydon Water, a Blyth's Reed Warbler off the Isle of Man on Calf of Man, Black Kite in Cambridgeshire at Somersham, and a Ferruginous Duck at Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Hudsonian Godwit on Sheltland Isles, Stejneger's Scoter in Lothian, Double-crested Cormorant in County Leitrim, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Black Storks in both Kent and Lincolnshire, Pacific Golden Plover in Northumberland, Greenish Warbler on the Isle of Wight, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, White-rumped Sandpiper on the Orkney Isles, Bonaparte's Gulls in County Dublin and Kent, and Black-winged Stilts in South Yorkshire (4) and Lincolnshire (6).

Scarcities included Marsh Warbler and Red-backed Shrike (Shetland Isles), two each of Melodious Warbler, Pectoral Sandpiper, Ring-necked Duck, and Glossy Ibis.
-  Chris Batty, RBA