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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Monday 4th September 2023  
 

The highlight of the day was the reapparance of the Brown Booby in North Yorkshire between Filey and Hunmanby Gap where it showed for much of the day. Seabirds elsewhere included Red-footed Booby and two Wilson's Petrels at sea off the Isles of Scilly, and around island totals of two Sabine's Gulls, 582 Great Shearwaters, and 6,440 Cory's Shearwaters.

Nearctic waders comprised the Wilson's Phalarope still in Highland, Semipalmated Sandpipers in both County Cork and County Wexford, Long-billed Dowitchers in Norfolk and the Orkney Isles, three Buff-breasted Sandpipers, four American Golden Plovers, and seven Pectoral Sandpipers.

Other rarities comprised Stejneger's Scoter, King Eider, and Surf Scoter all together in Lothian, Western Rufous Turtle Dove still on the Western Isles, Greater Sand Plover in County Wexford, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Pallid Harrier on the Shetland Isles, Bonaparte's Gull in County Dublin, and two Blue-winged Teals together in East Yorkshire.

Scarcities included Melodious Warbler (County Kerry), Corncrake (Kent), Spotted Crake (Derbyshire), Hoopoe (Orkney Isles), Temminck's Stint (Gloucestershire), two each of Rose-coloured Starling, Common Rosefinch, and Red-necked Phalarope, three Barred Warblers, six Red-backed Shrikes, seven Glossy Ibises, and eight Wrynecks.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 3rd September 2023  
  A Brown Booby was found at Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire mid morning, lingering before being lost to view after it landed on the sea. The Red-footed Booby remained on Bishop Rock, Scilly.

Other new discoveries involved a Wilson's Phalarope at Dunnet Bay, Highland, a Semipalmated Sandpiper at Clonakilty, County Cork, a Thrush Nightingale at Nanjizal, Cornwall, single Western Bonelli's Warblers on Lundy, Devon and St Mary's, Scilly, a Greenish Warbler at Alnmouth, Northumberland, a Pallid Harrier at Boddam, Shetland, a Black Kite at Dungeness, Kent and a Wilson's Petrel off Annagh Head, Count Mayo.

Lingering rarities included the Greater Sand Plover, Wilson's Phalarope and Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Wexford, Lesser Yellowlegs in Angus, single Long-billed Dowitchers in Norfolk and Orkney, Western Rufous Turtle Dove in Western Isles, Forster's Tern in Dorset, single Bonaparte's Gulls in County Down and County Dublin, Blue-winged Teal in Yorkshire, King Eider in Lothian and Greenish Warbler in Fife.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 2nd September 2023  
  New discoveries today included a Gull-billed Tern along the River Thames at Grays, Essex, a Pallid Harrier over the Isle of May and, later, Crail, Fife, a Greenish Warbler also on the Isle of May and single Blyth's Reed Warblers trapped at Fife Ness, also Fife and on Fair Isle, Shetland.

Lingerers included the Red-footed Booby in Scilly, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Greater Sand Plover and Wilson's Phalarope in County Wexford, Black-winged Pratincole in County Donegal, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gulls in Kent and County Down, two Blue-winged Teals in Yorkshire and a King Eider in Lothian.

Scarcity highlights included a Woodchat Shrike, a Hoopoe, a Short-toed Lark, an Icterine Warbler, two Melodious Warblers, two Ortolan Buntings, two Common Rosefinches, four Barred Warblers, seven Red-backed Shrikes, eight Wrynecks, three Honey Buzzards, five Glossy Ibises, two Red-necked Phalaropes, two Temminck's Stints, two Dotterel, two American Golden Plovers, three Buff-breasted Sandpipers, six Pectoral Sandpipers, a Surf Scoter, at least 13 Long-tailed Skuas, 25 Pomarine Skuas, over 670 Balearic Shearwaters (537 of which were off Portland Bill, Dorset), over 1,500 Great Shearwaters (including 1,300 off Lizard Point, Cornwall) and over 6,400 Cory's Shearwaters (including at least 5,000 off Lizard Point).
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 1st September 2023  
  In Borders an adult Brown Booby flew north past Eyemouth this evening, whilst both a Wilson's Phalarope and a Semipalmated Sandpiper were at Tacumshin, County Wexford.

Lingering rarities seen today included the Red-footed Booby in Scilly, Double-crested Cormorant in County Leitrim, Greater Sand Plover in County Wexford, Black-winged Pratincole in County Donegal, Lesser Yellowlegs in Angus, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, Black-winged Stilt in County Waterford, Stejneger's Scoter and King Eider in Lothian, Forster's Tern in Dorset and single Bonaparte's Gulls in Kent and County Dublin.

Scarcity highlights included a Short-toed Lark, a Rose-coloured Starling, an Icterine Warbler, a Marsh Warbler, two Woodchat Shrikes, three Wrynecks, four Common Rosefinches, seven Red-backed Shrikes, ten Barred Warblers, a Surf Scoter, a Buff-breasted Sandpiper, a Red-necked Phalarope, a Temminck's Stint, two American Golden Plovers, five Pectoral Sandpipers, a Spotted Crake, three Honey Buzzards, three Glossy Ibises, a Leach's Petrel, ten Long-tailed Skuas, up to 17 Pomarine Skuas, a Glaucous Gull, five Sabine's Gulls, 57 Great Shearwaters, 218 Balearic Shearwaters and over 1,400 Cory's Shearwaters.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 31st August 2023  
  A Western Bonelli's Warbler was found at Holkham Pines, Norfolk, and a Black-winged Stilt was at Lisselan, County Waterford.

Lingering rarities still present included the Red-footed Booby and a Wilson's Petrel in Scilly, Western Rufous Turtle Dove in Western Isles, Greater Sand Plover in County Wexford, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, Stejneger's Scoter in Lothian, two Blue-winged Teals in Yorkshire, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Bonaparte's Gulls in Kent, County Down and County Dublin and Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in Cornwall.

Scarcity highlights included a Short-toed Lark, a Rose-coloured Starling, a Marsh Warbler, two Red-backed Shrikes, three Common Rosefinches, five Wrynecks, seven Barred Warblers, a Red-necked Phalarope, two American Golden Plovers, four Pectoral Sandpipers, a Spotted Crake, four Glossy Ibises, three Honey Buzzards, seven Pomarine Skuas, around 11 Long-tailed Skuas, around 120 Balearic Shearwaters and over 1,800 each of Great Shearwater and Cory's Shearwater.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 30th August 2023  
 

Discoveries today included the first Aquatic Warbler of the year - in Suffolk at Landguard - a Booted Warbler on the Shetland Isles on Fair Isle, a Broad-billed Sandpiper in Northumberland at Holy Island, and a Greenish Warbler at sea off Aberdeenshire.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were Red-footed Booby on the Isles of Scilly, Stejneger's Scoter, King Eider, and two Surf Scoters all together in Lothian, Greater Sand Plover in County Wexford, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Black Stork in Lincolnshire, Blue-winged Teal in East Yorkshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in Cornwall, Bonaparte's Gulls in both County Cork and County Dublin, and four Black-winged Stilts together in South Yorkshire.

Scarcities included Short-toed Lark (Pembrokeshire), Melodious Warbler (Cornwall), Corncrake (East Yorkshire), Rose-coloured Starling and Wryneck (Shetland), two each of Woodchat Shrike, Red-backed Shrike, Sabine's Gull, and Hoopoe, three of American Golden Plover and Glossy Ibis, four of Barred Warbler and Long-tailed Skua, five Great Shearwaters, six Pectoral Sandpipers, and a total of 180 Cory's Shearwaters.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 29th August 2023  
 

Notable seabirds today comprised the Red-footed Booby, a Scopoli's Shearwater, and two Wilson's Petrels all at sea off the Isles of Scilly where the Brown Booby was reported again, whilst around the whole of Britain and Ireland four Sabine's Gulls, five Long-tailed Skuas, 74 Great Shearwaters, and a total of 1,000 Cory's Shearwaters were logged.

Elsewhere rarities comprised Stejneger's Scoter, King Eider, and Surf Scoter all still together in Lothian, Western Rufous Turtle Dove still on the Western Isles, Greater Sand Plover in County Wexford, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Pacific Golden Plover in Northumberland, Blue-winged Teal in East Yorkshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gulls in both County Dublin and Kent, Greenish Warbler on the Shetland Isles, Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in Cornwall, and Caspian Terns in both Lincolnshire and Norfolk.

Scarcities included Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Western Isles), Woodchat Shrike (Scilly), Icterine Warbler (Cornwall), Rose-coloured Starling (Shetland), Hoopoe (Devon), Red-necked Phalarope (Suffolk), American Wigeon (County Londonderry), two Common Rosefinches, three each of American Golden Plover, Barred Warbler, and Wryneck, four Pectoral Sandpipers, five Red-backed Shrikes, and 10 Glossy Ibises.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 28th August 2023  
  Amazingly, an adult Brown Booby was discovered on Bishop Rock lighthouse in Scilly, on the ledge below the Red-footed Booby!

Lingering rarities still present included the Western Rufous Turtle Dove in Western Isles, Greater Sand Plover in County Wexford, Black-winged Pratincole in County Donegal, Long-billed Dowitchers in Norfolk and Orkney, four Black-winged Stilts in Yorkshire, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Stejneger's Scoter in Lothian, Blue-winged Teal in Yorkshire, Black Storks in Lincolnshire and Hampshire, Bonaparte's Gulls in Kent, County Cork, County Down and County Dublin and a Greenish Warbler in Shetland.

Scarcity highlights included a Woodchat Shrike, a Short-toed Lark, a Common Rosefinch, an Icterine Warbler, two Barred Warblers, two Rose-coloured Starlings, three Hoopoes, five Wrynecks, seven Red-backed Shrikes, a Surf Scoter, five Honey Buzzards, eight Glossy Ibises, a Ring-billed Gull, a Glaucous Gull, four Sabine's Gulls, a Red-necked Phalarope, two American Golden Plovers, three Pectoral Sandpipers, six Pomarine Skuas, seven Long-tailed Skuas, a Leach's Petrel, 167 Balearic Shearwaters, over 1,000 Great Shearwaters and over 3,200 Cory's Shearwaters.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 27th August 2023  
 

The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Western Rufous Turtle Dove on the Western Isles on South Uist, with other new rarities including an Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in Cornwall at Sennen, a Lesser Yellowlegs in Angus at Montrose Basin, and an Alpine Swift briefly in East Sussex at Wilmington.

Seabirds included the Red-footed Booby and a Scopoli's Shearwater at sea off the Isles of Scilly, a Wilson's Petrel passing County Clare, seven Sabine's Gulls, 14 Long-tailed Skuas, 117 Great Shearwaters, and a total of 1,021 Cory's Shearwaters.

Otherwise, rarities included the Stejneger's Scoter and King Eider still together in Lothian, Greater Sand Plover still in County Wexford, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Black-winged Pratincole in County Donegal, Black Storks in Hampshre and Lincolnshire, Blue-winged Teal in East Yorkshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, Greenish Warblers on the Shetland Isles (2) and East Yorkshire, Bonaparte's Gulls in County Cork (2), County Down, and Kent, and four Black-winged Stilts together in South Yorkshire.

Scarcities included Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Western Isles), Woodchat Shrike (Scilly), Melodious Warbler (Devon), Serin and Marsh Warbler (Dorset), American Golden Plover Norfolk), Rose-coloured Starling and Common Rosefinch (Shetland), Red-necked Phalarope (Suffolk), Dotterel (Cornwall), Surf Scoter (Lothian), two each of both Icterine Warbler and Hoopoe, three of Wryneck and Glossy Ibis, four of Barred Warbler, Red-backed Shrike, and Pectoral Sandpiper.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 26th August 2023  
 

Discoveries today included an Arctic Warbler on the Shetland Isles on Whalsay with now four Greenish Warblers around that archipelago, with a further Greenish Warbler still in East Yorkshire at Flamborough Head.

Rarities elsewhere comprised both Red-footed Booby and Scopoli's Shearwater off the Isles of Scilly, Stejneger's Scoter and King Eider still together in Lothian, Greater Sand Plover still in County Wexford, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Black-winged Pratincole in County Donegal, Black Storks in both Hampshire and Lincolnshire, Blue-winged Teal in East Yorkshire, Long-billed Dowitchers in Norfolk and the Orkney Isles, Lesser Yellowlegs in Pembrokeshire, White-rumped Sandpiper in Northumberland, four Black-winged Stilts together in South Yorkshire, and Bonaparte's Gulls in County Cork (2), County Down, and Kent.

Scarcities included Short-toed Lark (Pembrokeshire), Melodious Warbler (Dorset), White-winged Black Tern (Kent), Rose-coloured Starling, Marsh Warbler, Icterine Warbler and Common Rosefinch (Shetland), Purple Heron (Glamorgan), Night Heron (Devon), Spotted Crake (Lincolnshire), Red-necked Phalarope (Suffolk), Dotterel (Shropshire), two each of Woodchat Shrike, American Golden Plover, and Pectoral Sandpiper, five Barred Warblers, seven of Wryneck and Long-tailed Skua, eight Glossy Ibises, 12 of Red-backed Shrike and Sabine's Gull, 147 Great Shearwaters, and a total of 1,078 Cory's Shearwaters.
-  Chris Batty, RBA