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| Sunday 24th September 2023 | ||
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Nearctic landbirds continue to be discovered with a new Magnolia Warbler today in Glamorgan at Baglan and Cliff Swallows in County Cork at both Lough Aderra and Lough Clubir, whilst lingering from previous days were both the Magnolia Warbler and Alder Flycatcher in Pembrokeshire at St Govan's Head and Skokholm respectively, Tennessee Warbler and Baltimore Oriole together in County Galway on Inishbofin, Tennessee Warbler and three Red-eyed Vireos together on the Western Isles on Barra, tyrant flycatcher species in Gwynedd at Cilan Head, and Red-eyed Vireo in Dorset on Portland. Discoveries elsewhere included a Whiskered Tern in Kent at Tonbridge, a Lesser Yellowlegs in Norfolk at Buckenham Marshes, an Alpine Swift in Cleveland and North Gare, and on the Shetland Isles an Arctic Warbler on Yell and Blyth's Reed Warblers on Bressay and Out Skerries, with another still on Fair Isle. Other lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Brown Booby in Cleveland, Double-crested Cormorant in County Leitrim, Turkestan Shrike, Lanceolated Warbler, Pallid Harrier, and Citrine Wagtail on Shetland, at least one American Buff-bellied Pipit on the Western Isles, Paddyfield Warbler in County Waterford, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Black Stork, Lesser Yellowlegs, and White-rumped Sandpiper all together in Lincolnshire, Baird's Sandpiper in Argyll, Red-footed Falcon in Northumberland, King Eider in Lothian, and further Pallid Harriers in both Essex and Norfolk. |
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| - Chris Batty, 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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| Saturday 23rd September 2023 | ||
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Another extraordinary day for Nearctic landbirds was headlined by the first British record of Canada Warbler; in Pembrokeshire at St Govan's Head - less than three miles from the continuing Magnolia Warbler - and discovered by the same observer! Elsewhere in Wales in Pembrokeshire the Bay-breasted Warbler remained on Ramsey as did the Alder Flycatcher on Skokholm whilst in Gwynedd a tyrant flycatcher species was at Cilan Head and a new Black-and-white Warbler on Bardsey. In Scotland the second British record of Philadelphia Vireo was found on the Western Isles on Barra alongside the lingering Tennessee Warbler and four Red-eyed Vireos there with another Red-eyed Vireo on South Uist, and in Highland an Ovenbird on Rhum. In Ireland the second national Tennessee Warbler joined the remaining Baltimore Oriole on Inishbofin, County Galway, and another Baltimore Oriole was still on Rathlin Island, County Antrim. In England a Northern Parula arrived on St Martin's, Isles of Scilly, and Red-eyed Vireos were in Devon on Lundy and Dorset on Portland. Other discoveries today included on the Shetland Isles a Turkestan Shrike on Fair Isle with a Blyth's Reed Warbler there and other Blyth's Reed Warblers around the islands on Mainland (2) and Unst, an Eastern Yellow Wagtail in Norfolk at Salthouse, a Spotted Sandpiper in County Dublin at Howth, now two American Buff-bellied Pipits together on St Kilda, Western Isles, Pallid Harrier and Red-footed Falcon briefly in Kent, Red-rumped Swallows reported in Pembrokeshire and South Yorkshire, and now two Lesser Yellowlegs together at Tacumshin, County Wexford. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Brown Booby in Cleveland, Stejneger's Scoter and King Eider together in Lothian, Double-crested Cormorant in County Leitrim, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Paddyfield Warbler in County Waterford, Black Stork, Lesser Yellowlegs, and White-rumped Sandpiper all together in Lincolnshire, Baird's Sandpiper in Argyll, Iberian Chiffchaff and Long-billed Dowitcher in County Cork, Pallid Harriers in Essex, Isle of Wight, and Shetland, Red-footed Falcon in Northumberland, Citrine Wagtail on Shetland, Greenish Warbler on the Orkney Isles, and Lesser Yellowlegs in Pembrokeshire. Significant late news from yesterday concerned a Bobolink reported in Glamorgan at Nash Point, and a Greenish Warbler in Aberdeenshire at Cruden Bay. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Friday 22nd September 2023 | ||
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| In Glamorgan, a Cliff Swallow was found at Sker Point, with another at Tacumshin, County Wexford, a Baltimore Oriole on Rathlin Island, County Antrim and Red-eyed Vireos at Nanquidno Valley, Cornwall, Prawle Point and two on Lundy, both Devon and another two on Clare Island, County Mayo. Lingering American passerines included the Bay-breasted Warbler, Magnolia Warbler and Alder Flycatcher in Pembrokeshire, Baltimore Oriole and Red-eyed Vireo in County Galway, Cliff Swallow in County Clare, American Buff-bellied Pipit and two Red-eyed Vireos in Western Isles and another Red-eyed Vireo in Scilly.
Other new discoveries today included an Iberian Chiffchaff at Mizen Head, County Cork, a Lesser Yellowlegs at Gann Estuary, Pembrokeshire, a Semipalmated Sandpiper at Tacumshin, County Wexford, a Baird's Sandpiper on Tiree, Argyll, a White-rumped Sandpiper at Frampton Marsh, Lincolnshire and two Blyth's Reed Warblers and a Rustic Bunting in Shetland. Other lingerers included the Brown Booby in Cleveland, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Pallid Harriers in Isle of Wight, Essex and Shetland, Paddyfield Warbler in County Waterford, Lanceolated Warbler, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Arctic Warbler and Citrine Wagtail in Shetland, Greenish Warbler in Orkney, Red-footed Falcon in Northumberland, Long-billed Dowitchers in Norfolk and Orkney, Lesser Yellowlegs and Black Stork in Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in County Wexford, Bonaparte's Gull in County Cork and Ferruginous Duck in Warwickshire. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 21st September 2023 | ||
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A truly incredible record-breaking day for Nearctic landbirds in Britain and Ireland with 23 individuals of nine species seen: in Pembrokeshire the second Bay-breasted Warbler for Britain on Ramsey Island, the Magnolia Warbler still at St Govan's Head, and a tyrant flycatcher species (presumed to be an Alder Flycatcher) and a Bobolink together on Skokholm, on the Western Isles a Tennessee Warbler and two Red-eyed Vireos on Barra, in Gwynedd a Black-and-white Warbler on Bardsey, on the Isles of Scilly a Black-and-white Warbler and Red-eyed Vireo on Tresco with a Cliff Swallow and another Red-eyed Vireo on St Mary's, in County Galway a Baltimore Oriole and a Red-eyed Vireo on Inishbofin, in County Clare two Cliff Swallows together at Kilbaha, further Cliff Swallows in County Cork at both Garinish Point and Glengarriff, and other Red-eyed Vireos in Cornwall (Sennen Cove), Devon (Lundy), Glamorgan (Sker), County Kerry (Skellig Michael), and County Mayo (Achill Island). On the Shetland Isles both Lanceolated Warbler and Blyth's Reed Warbler were on Fair Isle, Arctic Warbler new on Yell at West Sandwick, and on Mainland a Pallid Harrier at Tingwall and Citrine Wagtails at both Lerwick and Spiggie. Other discoveries included an American Buff-bellied Pipit on the Western Isles on St Kilda, a Pallid Harrier in Essex at East Tilbury, a Blue-winged Teal in Clyde at Frankfield Loch, and a Lesser Yellowlegs at Tacumshin, County Wexford. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Brown Booby in Cleveland, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Paddyfield Warbler in County Waterford, Baird's Sandpiper on the Wirral, Blue-winged Teal and Lesser Yellowlegs together in Lincolnshire, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, and Bonaparte's Gull in County Cork, Semipalmated Sandpiper on the Western Isles, Red-footed Falcon in Northumberland, Red-flanked Bluetail in East Yorkshire, Blyth's Reed Warbler on the Orkney Isles, King Eider in Lothian, Lesser Yellowlegs in County Donegal, Bonaparte's Gull in County Down, and Ferruginous Duck in Warwickshire. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 20th September 2023 | ||
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Today was an unprecedented day for North American landbirds with utmost quality amongst the six individuals discovered. In Pembrokeshire a Magnolia Warbler at St Govan's Head and a tyrant flyatcher species - probably an Alder Flycatcher - on Skokholm were both firsts for Wales, in County Kerry the first Irish Blackburnian Warbler was on Skellig Michael with the second Irish Cliff Swallow in County Clare at Kilbaha, a further Cliff Swallow was new on the Isles of Scilly on St Mary's, along with the Cliff Swallow found yesterday still present in Kent at North Foreland, and in Devon a Red-eyed Vireo arrived on Lundy. There have now been 10 Nearctic landbirds of seven species located in Britain and Ireland so far this this month. Discoveries elsewhere included a Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler on the Shetland Isles on Foula, a Baird's Sandpiper on the Wirral at Hoylake, a Fea's Petrel species in County Kerry passing Brandon Point, Blue-winged Teal in Lincolnshire at Frampton Marsh, Lesser Yellowlegs in Pembrokeshire on Skokholm briefly, Greenish Warbler on the Orkney Isles on North Ronaldsay, and at least two Wilson's Petrels seen from land in Cornwall. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Brown Booby in Cleveland, Black-headed Bunting in County Waterford, Western Bonelli's Warbler in County Cork, Pallid Harrier in Essex, Red-flanked Bluetail in East Yorkshire, Red-footed Falcon in Northumberland, Semipalmated Sandpipers in both County Cork and the Western Isles, Long-billed Dowitchers in County Cork and Norfolk, Blyth's Reed Warblers on Orkney and Shetland, King Eider in Lothian, Bonaparte's Gull in County Down, and Lesser Yellowlegs in County Cork, County Donegal, and Lincolnshire. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 19th September 2023 | ||
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The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Cliff Swallow in Kent at North Foreland with a Red-eyed Vireo on the Isles of Scilly on Bryher becoming the fourth Nearctic landbird to be discovered in Britain this autumn. On the Shetland Isles Lanceolated Warbler, Blyth's Reed Warbler, and Arctic Warbler were on Fair Isle, Red-throated Pipit and Marsh Warbler together on Mainland at Quendale, Arctic Warbler and Red-breasted Flycatcher on Unst, Buff-breasted Sandpiper on Foula, American Golden Plover and Wryneck on Whalsay, two Bluethroats, three Little Buntings, seven of both Common Rosefinch and Yellow-browed Warbler, and a total of 10 Barred Warblers. Rarities elsewhere comprised Brown Boobies still in both Cleveland and Lothian, Black-headed Bunting still in County Waterford, Fea's Petrel species in County Cork passing Cape Clear and Galley Head, Baird's Sandpiper and Semipalmated Sandpiper on the Western Isles, Red-footed Falcon in Northumberland at Eglingham Moor, Pallid Harrier still in Essex, Blyth's Reed Warbler on the Orkney Isles, Blue-winged Teal in East Yorkshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in County Cork and Norfolk, Lesser Yellowlegs in County Cork and Co.Donegal, King Eider in Lothian, and Bonaparte's Gull in County Down. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Monday 18th September 2023 | ||
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Rarities discovered today comprised Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler, Lanceolated Warbler, Red-flanked Bluetail, Greenish Warbler, Blyth's Reed Warbler, and two Arctic Warblers on the Shetland Isles, Lanceolated Warbler, Arctic Warbler, and Blyth's Reed Warbler on North Ronaldsay, Orkney Isles, Barolo Shearwater and Squacco Heron in Cornwall, Semipalmated Sandpiper on the Western Isles on Benbecula, Pallid Harrier in Norfolk at Snettisham, and White-rumped Sandpiper and Bonaparte's Gull together in County Clare at Seafield. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were Tennessee Warbler and Baird's Sandpiper on the Western Isles, Brown Boobies in both Cleveland and Lothian, Paddyfield Warbler and Black-headed Bunting together in County Waterford, Pallid Harrier in Essex, Red-flanked Bluetail and two Blue-winged Teals in East Yorkshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, and Lesser Yellowlegs in County Cork, County Donegal, and Gwent. Scarcities included Ortolan Bunting and Woodchat Shrike (Cornwall), Melodious Warbler (County Wexford), Icterine Warbler (Orkney), White-winged Black Tern (Lincolnshire), Spotted Crake (Norfolk), Temminck's Stint (Cleveland), Purple Heron (Cornwall), Glossy Ibis (Kent), Corncrake (County Waterford), two each of American Golden Plover, Bluethroat, and Hoopoe, three of Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Red-breasted Flycatcher, four Dotterel, six of Little Bunting and Pectoral Sandpiper, seven Lapland Buntings, 11 Common Rosefinches, 12 of Barred Warbler and Long-tailed Skua, 14 Wrynecks, 15 Sabine's Gulls, 32 Yellow-browed Warblers, 150 Great Shearwaters, and a total of 320 Cory's Shearwaters. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 17th September 2023 | ||
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The highlight of the day was the joint discovery of a Paddyfield Warbler and a Black-headed Bunting together in County Waterford at Brownstown Head. Other rare and scarce birds from the east included a Booted Warbler on the Isles of Scilly on St Mary's, Red-flanked Bluetails in East Yorkshire at Easington and on the Shetland Isles on Fair Isle, Pallid Harriers in Essex and Highland, Rose-coloured Starling in Devon, Bluethroat and two each of both Blyth's Reed Warbler and Arctic Warbler on Shetland, five Common Rosefinches, six Red-breasted Flycatchers, 11 Wrynecks, 17 Barred Warblers, and a total of 22 Yellow-browed Warblers. Rarities elsewhere included the Tennessee Warbler still on the Western Isles, Brown Boobies still in both Cleveland and Lothian, a Caspian Tern briefly in Northumberland on Holy Island, and a Ferruginous Duck still in Norfolk at Cantley. Notable waders comprised Long-billed Dowitchers in County Cork and Norfolk, Lesser Yellowlegs in County Cork, County Donegal, Gwent, and Norfolk, three American Golden Plovers, four Dotterel, six Buff-breasted Sandpipers, and 11 Pectoral Sandpipers. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 16th September 2023 | ||
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| The first Upland Sandpiper for Yorkshire flew south over the Spurn area this morning. The immature Brown Booby was relocated off Hound Point, Lothian, whilst other new discoveries included a Wilson's Phalarope at Kilbaha, County Clare, single Lesser Yellowlegs' at Blanket Nook, County Donegal and Titchwell, Norfolk, a Bonaparte's Gull on Sherkin Island, County Cork, a Tawny Pipit at Happisburgh, Norfolk, a Blyth's Reed Warbler on Fair Isle, Shetland and both a Rustic Bunting and a Blyth's Reed Warbler on North Ronaldsay, Orkney.
Lingering rarities still present included the Tennessee Warbler in Western Isles, Brown Booby in Cleveland, Arctic Warbler in Shetland, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Lesser Yellowlegs and Long-billed Dowitcher in County Cork, Black-winged Pratincole in County Donegal, Lesser Yellowlegs in Gwent, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk and Blue-winged Teal in Yorkshire. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Friday 15th September 2023 | ||
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| A Tennessee Warbler was discovered on Hirta, St Kilda, Western Isles this morning, the second record for the island. A Fea's Petrel species flew north past Longhoughton Steel and Beadnell, both Northumberland.
Other new discoveries today included an Arctic Warbler on Fair Isle, Shetland, a Greenish Warbler on Great Saltee Island, County Wexford, a Lesser Yellowlegs at Goldcliff Pools, Gwent and a Pallid Harrier over East Lomond, Fife. Lingering rarities included the Brown Booby in Cleveland, Red-footed Booby in Scilly, Double-crested Cormorant in County Leitrim, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Black Duck and Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in County Mayo, Blue-winged Teal in Yorkshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, Black Stork in Lincolnshire and Citrine Wagtail in Cornwall. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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