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| Saturday 14th June 2025 | ||
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| A superb highlight today came in the form of a Bridled Tern that flew briefly over the scrape at Minsmere RSPB in Suffolk before heading out to sea, a rare visitor and major find for mid-June.
Other new arrivals included a Desert Wheatear showing well late in the evening at Keynsham in Somerset, a singing Blyth's Reed Warbler in the observatory garden on Bardsey Island in Gwynedd, a Black Kite over Beccles in Suffolk, and a Caspian Tern at Hockwold Washes, Lakenheath RSPB on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. Continuing rarities included Black-winged Pratincole in Shetland, Bonaparte's Gull in Cornwall, Least Tern in Co. Dublin, Broad-billed Sandpiper in Aberdeenshire, Western Sandpiper in Ayrshire, Greenish Warbler and Great Reed Warbler in Shetland, Iberian Chiffchaff in Fife, Great Reed Warbler in East Yorkshire, and American Black Tern in Northumberland. |
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| - Ben Clark, 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 13th June 2025 | ||
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| Following negative news in Aberdeenshire this morning, the Bridled Tern was relocated on Coquet Island in Northumberland later in the day, so it is presumably the returning bird from last year. In Shetland this afternoon a Black-winged Pratincole was found at Setter Marsh on Mainland. In East Yorkshire a Pallid Swift flew south past The Warren at Spurn, while new Greenish Warblers were found on North Ronaldsay, Orkney, and Fair Isle, Shetland. In Suffolk, a Caspian Tern was found at Hen Reedbeds near Blythburgh and there were two reports of Black Kite in Somerset.
Lingering rarities included the Western Sandpiper which was still frequenting Maidens Harbour in Ayrshire, Broad-billed Sandpiper in Aberdeenshire, Pallid Harrier in Shetland, American Black Tern in Northumberland, Iberian Chiffchaff in Fife and Great Reed Warbler in East Yorkshire. |
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| - Pete Hayman, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 12th June 2025 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Bridled Tern in Aberdeenshire at Ythan Estuary, whilst a Gull-billed Tern was new in the Western Isles on North Uist, and a Great Reed Warbler arrived on Fair Isle, Shetland.
Elsewhere, the Stilt Sandpiper in Northern Ireland relocated to Lough Beg, County Londonderry, the Western Sandpiper was still in Ayrshire, Broad-billed Sandpiper still in Aberdeenshire, Iberian Chiffchaff in Fife, Bonaparte's Gull in Cornwall, American Black Tern in Northumberland, and territorial Great Reed Warblers in both Cambridgeshire and East Yorkshire. Late news concerned a Snowy Owl reported on Tuesday in Orkney on Eday, but the report of a Black Scoter in Borders yesterday was erroneous. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 11th June 2025 | ||
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| An exceptional day for discoveries with a Western Orphean Warbler in song in Kent at Cliffe, Stilt Sandpiper in County Antrim at Portmore Lough, Broad-billed Sandpiper in Aberdeenshire on the Ythan Estuary, Eastern Subalpine Warbler in Lincolnshire trapped at Gibraltar Point, Black Scoter reported in Borders at Coldingham, Squacco Heron briefly in Cambridgeshire at Reach, Pallid Harrier in Shetland on Unst, and a Red-footed Falcon at Golden Green, Kent.
Continuing rarities confirmed as still present were the Iberian Chiffchaff in Fife, Great Reed Warbler in East Yorkshire, American Black Tern in Northumberland, and Red-footed Falcon in Lincolnshire. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 10th June 2025 | ||
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| An outstanding day for mega rarities with the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater confirmed in Argyll on Iona, the Song Sparrow reappearing in East Yorkshire at Flamborough Head, and a dark morph Eleonora's Falcon briefly in Norfolk at Walcott.
Elsewhere rarities comprised the Western Sandpiper still in Ayrshire, Least Tern still in County Dublin, White-throated Sparrow still in Highland, Eastern Subalpine Warbler in Orkney, Iberian Chiffchaff in Fife, Great Reed Warbler in East Yorkshire, American Black Tern in Northumberland, Ferruginous Ducks in both Cambridgeshire and Warwickshire, and a Red-footed Falcon reported in Lincolnshire at Fenton. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Monday 9th June 2025 | ||
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| There was an intriguing report of a probable Blue-cheeked Bee-eater today on the island of Iona, off Mull in Argyll, and a Crag Martin was reported at Marton Mere in Lancashire briefly.
Lingering rarities included the Iberian Chiffchaff in Fife, the Red-footed Falcon in Ceredigion, the Great Reed Warbler in Yorkshire and the American Black Tern in Northumberland, but there was no sign of yesterday's Song Sparrow at Flamborough in East Yorkshire. |
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| - Pete Hayman, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 8th June 2025 | ||
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| The clear highlight of the day was a Song Sparrow photographed and singing at Flamborough Head in East Yorkshire, a superb transatlantic rarity.
Other new arrivals included a Scops Owl trapped in Gully on Fair Isle, along with a Blyth's Reed Warbler ringed at the observatory plantation. Another Blyth's Reed Warbler was discovered yesterday on St Kilda in the Outer Hebrides. A singing Iberian Chiffchaff was also confirmed along the track north of Kinshaldy car park in Fife, while a Black Kite flew northwest over Acres Down in the New Forest, Hampshire. Continuing rarities included the long-staying Western Sandpiper in Ayrshire, the Red-footed Falcon in Ceredigion, a Great Reed Warbler in East Yorkshire, a Ferruginous Duck in Warwickshire, and an American Black Tern in Northumberland. |
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| - Ben Clark, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 7th June 2025 | ||
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| Late news concerned a Gull-billed Tern seen yesterday at Helston Loe Pool in Cornwall.
The fine Eyebrowed Thrush was still present on Yell in Shetland, while the Western Sandpiper remained faithful to Maidens Harbour in Ayrshire. Other continuing highlights included a Red-footed Falcon at Cors Caron NR in Ceredigion near the Bog Hide, an American Black Tern at Long Nanny in Northumberland, a singing Great Reed Warbler at Hornsea Mere in East Yorkshire, and a Ferruginous Duck at Draycote Water in Warwickshire. |
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| - Ben Clark, RBA | ||
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| Friday 6th June 2025 | ||
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| New discoveries today were of a Blyth's Reed Warbler singing on North Uist in the Western Isles and an Eastern Subalpine Warbler trapped and ringed on North Ronaldsay in the Orkneys.
The fine male Eyebrowed Thrush was still to be found on Yell in the Shetlands and the Western Sandpiper was still frequenting Maidens Harbour in Ayrshire. Other lingering rarities included White-rumped Sandpiper and American Black Tern in Northumberland, Ferruginous Ducks in Warwickshire and Cambridgeshire and the Great Reed Warbler in Yorkshire. |
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| - Pete Hayman, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 5th June 2025 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was a White-throated Sparrow singing near Strathy Point in Highland, although in an area with no general access. Elsewhere, a Blyth's Reed Warbler was in song on Bardsey Island, Gwynedd, a Red-footed Falcon was showing well from the boardwalk near the hide at Cors Caron NNR in Ceredigion, and a White-rumped Sandpiper was found in the evening at Grindon Lough in Northumberland.
Continuing rarities confirmed as still present were the Least Tern at Portrane Point in County Dublin, Ferruginous Duck at Draycote Water in Warwickshire, Western Sandpiper at Maidens Harbour in Ayrshire, American Black Tern at Long Nanny in Northumberland, Eyebrowed Thrush at Gutcher on Yell, Shetland, and a Great Reed Warbler at Hornsea Mere in East Yorkshire. |
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| - Ben Clark, RBA | ||
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