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 14th September 2023  
 

Notable seabirds today included the Red-footed Booby still on the Isles of Scilly, the Brown Booby still in Cleveland, and totals of two Sabine's Gulls, eight Long-tailed Skuas, 13 Great Shearwaters, and 248 Cory's Shearwaters.

Otherwise rarities comprised the Roller still on the Western Isles, Forster's Tern still in Dorset, Western Bonelli's Warbler and Black-winged Stilt both still in County Cork, Citrine Wagtail in Cornwall, Blue-winged Teal in East Yorkshire, Long-billed Dowitchers in Norfolk and the Orkney Isles, Lesser Yellowlegs in Cumbria, and King Eider in Lothian.

Scarcities included Little Bunting and Red-breasted Flycatcher (Shetland Isles), American Golden Plover (Lancashire), Purple Heron (Cornwall), Spotted Crake (Dorset), Yellow-browed Warbler (Oxfordshire), two each of Woodchat Shrike, Red-backed Shrike, and Lapland Bunting, three of Melodious Warbler, Barred Warbler, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, and Hoopoe, five Dotterel, seven Pectoral Sandpipers, 10 of Common Rosefinch and Glossy Ibis, and 14 Wrynecks.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 13th September 2023  
 

Notable seabirds today included the Red-footed Booby still off the Isles of Scilly, the Brown Booby still in Cleveland, Forster's Tern still in Dorset, a Fea's Petrel species in Lincolnshire passing Sandilands, and totals of 10 Sabine's Gulls, 48 Long-tailed Skuas, 1,614 Cory's Shearwaters, and 2,007 Great Shearwaters.

Otherwise rarities comprised a Roller on the Western Isles on Vatersay, the Aquatic Warbler still in West Susssex, and Alpine Swift briefly on Scilly over St Agnes, Citrine Wagtail in Cornwall, and Lesser Yellowlegs still in Cumbria.

Scarcities included Red-breasted Flycatcher and Temminck's Stint (Norfolk), Icterine Warbler (South Yorkshire), Melodious Warbler (Cornwall), Ortolan Bunting (London), Woodchat Shrike (Scilly), American Golden Plover (Argyll), Yellow-browed Warbler (Anglesey), two Red-backed Shrikes, three of Barred Warbler, Hoopoe, and Dotterel, four Buff-breasted Sandpipers, five Common Rosefinches, eight Glossy Ibises, 10 Pectoral Sandpipers, and 11 Wrynecks.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 12th September 2023  
 

Notable seabirds today included the Red-footed Booby still off the Isles of Scilly, Brown Booby still in Cleveland, a Fea's Petrel species passing Cleveland and then County Durham, and totals of five Sabine's Gulls, 22 Long-tailed Skuas, 309 Great Shearwaters, and 4,700 Cory's Shearwaters.

Rare waders comprised the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper still in Angus, Lesser Yellowlegs in Cumbria, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, two each of both Temminck's Stint and Dotterel, four Buff-breasted Sandpipers, and nine Pectoral Sandpipers.

Elsewhere rarities comprised the Aquatic Warbler still in West Sussex, Western Bonelli's Warbler on Scilly, Forster's Tern still in Dorset, Citrine Wagtail in Cornwall, two Blue-winged Teals together in East Yorkshire, and a Red-rumped Swallow new in Dorset at Hartland Moor.

Otherwise scarcities included Spotted Crake (Derbyshire), Night Heron (County Durham), Common Rosefinch (Shetland Isles), two of Melodious Warbler and Red-backed Shrike, three of Purple Heron, Rose-coloured Starling, and Lapland Bunting, five Hoopoes, six Barred Warblers, eight Glossy Ibises, and 15 Wrynecks.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 11th September 2023  
 

Discoveries today included Western Bonelli's Warblers in County Antrim on Rathlin Island and on the Isles of Scilly on St Mary's, an Aquatic Warbler in Cornwall at Nanjizal, a Red-footed Falcon in Kent at Bough Beech Reservoir, a Ferruginous Duck in Norfolk at Cantley, and Red-rumped Swallows in both Norfolk (2) and East Yorkshire.

Notable seabirds included the Red-footed Booby still off Scilly, the Brown Booby still in Cleveland with another passing Kelling, Norfolk, the Forster's Tern still in Dorset, and totals of five Long-tailed Skuas, 15 Sabine's Gulls, 594 Cory's Shearwaters, and 1,639 Great Shearwaters.

Rare waders comprised the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper still in Angus, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Cork, Long-billed Dowitchers in Norfolk and Orkney Isles, Lesser Yellowlegs in County Cork and Cumbria, Temminck's Stint in Cleveland, three American Golden Plovers, six Buff-breasted Sandpipers, and 12 Pectoral Sandpipers.

Elsewhere lingering rarities comprised the Yellow Warbler still on the Shetland Isles, Black Duck and Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in County Mayo, Aquatic Warbler in West Sussex, Western Bonelli's Warbler in County Cork, Blue-winged Teal in East Yorkshire, and Citrine Wagtail in Cornwall.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 10th September 2023  
 

The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in Angus at Montrose Basin whilst other rare waders comprised a Spotted Sandpiper new in Glamorgan at Swanbridge, Baird's Sandpiper on the Western Isles, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Cork, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, Lesser Yellowlegs in County Cork and Cumbria, Temminck's Stint in Cleveland, four each of both Buff-breasted Sandpiper and American Golden Plover, and seven Pectoral Sandpipers.

Seabirds included the Red-footed Booby still on the Isles of Scilly, Brown Booby in Cleveland, Double-crested Cormorant still in County Leitrim, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Wilson's Petrel in County Mayo, and around island totals of four Sabine's Gulls, six Long-tailed Skuas, 2,109 Cory's Shearwaters, 12,102 Great Shearwaters.

Other rarities comprised the Yellow Warbler still on the Shetland Isles, Aquatic Warbler new in West Sussex at Beeding Brooks, Western Bonelli's Warbler still in County Cork, a Bonelli's Warbler species in Devon on Lundy, Citrine Wagtail in Cornwall, and Blue-winged Teal in East Yorkshire.

Scarcities included White-spotted Bluethroat (Gloucestershire), Marsh Warbler (County Cork), Icterine Warbler (County Clare), American Wigeon (Argyll), Lapland Bunting (Scilly), Yellow-browed Warbler (Shetland), Night Heron (County Durham), Spotted Crake (Derbyshire), Ring-billed Gull County Kerry), two each of Melodious Warbler, Ortolan Bunting, Purple Heron, and Corncrake, three Common Rosefinches, four of Rose-coloured Starling and Hoopoe, seven of Red-backed Shrike and, Glossy Ibis, nine Barred Warblers, and a total of 37 Wrynecks.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 9th September 2023  
  New discoveries today included a Savi's Warbler at Sandwich Bay, Kent, a Western Bonelli's Warbler at Three Castles Head, County Cork, a Red-rumped Swallow at Wimborne, Dorset, a Bee-eater near Stansted, Kent, a Pallid Harrier at Otmoor, Oxfordshire, a Kentish Plover at Tacumshin, County Wexford and a Wilson's Petrel passed Bridges of Ross, County Clare.

Lingering rarities included the Brown Booby in Cleveland, Yellow Warbler in Shetland, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Citrine Wagtail in Cornwall, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs and Wilson's Petrel in County Cork, Lesser Yellowlegs in Angus, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk and Blue-winged Teal in Yorkshire.

Scarcity highlights included an Ortolan Bunting, a Short-toed Lark, a Melodious Warbler, an Icterine Warbler, a Marsh Warbler, a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Rose-coloured Starling, a Woodchat Shrike, two Lapland Buntings, three Barred Warblers, six Red-backed Shrikes, six Hoopoes, seven Common Rosefinches, 33 Wrynecks, a Temminck's Stint, a Red-necked Phalarope, two Grey Phalaropes, four Buff-breasted Sandpipers, four American Golden Plovers, five Dotterel, eight Pectoral Sandpipers, three Honey Buzzards, a Purple Heron, eight Glossy Ibises, a Spotted Crake, an American Wigeon, a Glaucous Gull, two Sabine's Gulls, two Leach's Petrels, four Pomarine Skuas, 81 Balearic Shearwaters, around 900 Cory's Shearwaters and over 1,700 Great Shearwaters.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 8th September 2023  
  New discoveries today included a Lesser Grey Shrike at South Galson, Western Isles, a Lesser Yellowlegs at Rosscarbery, County Cork, a Citrine Wagtail at Bakkasetter, Shetland and a Red-footed Falcon at Graveney Marshes, Kent.

Lingering rarities still present today included the Brown Booby at South Gare, Cleveland, Red-footed Booby in Scilly, Yellow Warbler on Foula, Shetland, Western Bonelli's Warbler and Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Cork, Lesser Yellowlegs in Angus, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, Pallid Harriers in Shetland and on Isle of Wight and Ferruginous Duck in Warwickshire.

Scarcity highlgihts incldued an Ortolan Bunting, a Golden Oriole, a Yellow-browed Warbler, an Icterine Warbler, two Melodious Warblers, three Hoopoes, four Red-backed Shrikes, seven Common Rosefinches, nine Barred Warblers, 37 Wrynecks, a Red-necked Phalarope, a Temminck's Stint, two American Golden Plovers, three Dotterel, three Pectoral Sandpipers, four Buff-breasted Sandpipers, a Montagu's Harrier, six Honey Buzzards, a Spotted Crake, five Glossy Ibises, six Pomarine Skuas, ten Long-tailed Skuas, 173 Balearic Shearwaters, c350 Cory's Shearwaters, around 1,180 Great Shearwaters, a Leach's Petrel, five Sabine's Gulls and an Iceland Gull.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 7th September 2023  
 

Seabird highlights today comprised the Brown Booby still in Cleveland, the Red-footed Booby still of the Isles of Scilly, two Long-tailed Skuas, 12 Great Shearwaters, and a total of 258 Cory's Shearwaters.

From the west were the Yellow Warbler still on the Shetland Isles, a Baird's Sandpiper new on the Western Isles on Barra, Spotted Sandpiper still in Fife, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Cork, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, Lesser Yellowlegs in Angus, Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in County Mayo, five Buff-breasted Sandpipers, and six each of American Golden Plover and Pectoral Sandpiper.

Of eastern origin were a Booted Warbler new in County Cork at Crookhaven, a Red-throated Pipit in Cornwall at Pendeen, Pallid Harrier on the Isle of Wight at Shorwell, Citrine Wagtail on the Orkney Isles on North Ronaldsay, Little Bunting and Yellow-browed Warbler on Shetland, Golden Oriole on the Isle of Wight, two Rose-coloured Starlings, three of Ortolan Bunting and Barred Warbler, four Icterine Warblers, five Red-backed Shrikes, 13 Common Rosefinches, and 22 Wrynecks.

And visitors from the south were a Western Bonelli's Warbler still in County Cork, Short-toed Lark in Pembrokeshire, Woodchat Shrike on the Isles of Scilly, two Hoopoes, four Purple Herons, and five Glossy Ibises.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 6th September 2023  
 

Rarities discovered today comprised a Short-toed Treecreeper in Kent at Langdon Bay, a Spotted Sandpiper in Fife on the Isle of May, Bonelli's Warbler species both in County Cork on Cape Clear and in Cornwall at Morvah, a Citrine Wagtail on the Orkney Isles on North Ronaldsay, and Black Kites briefly in Gwynedd and Wiltshire.

Seabirds were headlined by the Brown Booby relocating from North Yorkshire to Cleveland where it roosted at Seal Sands and another Brown Booby still between Fife and Lothian. The Red-footed Booby remains off the Isles of Scilly with national totals of nine Long-tailed Skuas, 18 Great Shearwaters, and 315 Cory's Shearwaters.

Nearctic waders today were a Semipalmated Sandpiper still in County Cork, Long-billed Dowitchers in both Norfolk and Orkney, three American Golden Plovers, four Pectoral Sandpipers, and six Buff-breasted Sandpipers.

Other rarities confirmed as still present were the Yellow Warbler on the Shetland Isles, two Blue-winged Teals together in East Yorkshire, King Eider in Lothian, Ferruginous Duck in Warwickshire, and Bonaparte's Gulls in both County Cork and Kent.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 5th September 2023  
 

The highlight of the day was a Yellow Warbler on the Shetland Isles on Foula; the first since 2017 and the first Nearctic landbird of the autumn.

Discoveries elsewhere included a Pallid Harrier in East Sussex at Cuckmere Haven, an Arctic Warbler on Shetland at Exnaboe, and in Cornwall a Booted Warbler at Porth Joke, a Western Bonelli's Warbler at Porthgwarra, and a Kentish Plover on the Hayle Estuary.

Notable seabirds today were the Red-footed Booby still off the Isles of Scilly, a Brown Booby still lingering in North Yorkshire with another again in Fife at Kinghorn, a Fea's Petrel species on the Orkney Isles passing North Ronaldsay, four Sabine's Gulls, 31 Great Shearwaters, and a total of 357 Cory's Shearwaters.

Nearctic waders comprised a Semipalmated Sandpiper new in County Cork at Owenahincha, a Lesser Yellowlegs again in Angus at Montrose, Long-billed Dowitcher still in Norfolk, three American Golden Plovers, eight Buff-breasted Sandpipers, and nine Pectoral Sandpipers.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Stejneger's Scoter and Surf Scoter together in Lothian, Blue-winged Teal in East Yorkshire, Bonaparte's Gull in County Dublin, Ferruginous Duck in Warwickshire, and Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in County Mayo.
-  Chris Batty, RBA