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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Wednesday 21st June 2006  
  A Gull-billed Tern flew west past Worthing, West Sussex this morning, possibly the same bird that was logged past here on 11th June. A Black-winged Stilt flew over Samlesbury, Lancashire early evening; the pair at Martin Mere WWT were last reported on Monday. In Ireland 2 Wilson's Petrels past Brandon Head were the first of the 'season' away from a Scilly pelagic.

The adult Whiskered Tern made another brief appearance at Gibraltar Point NNR, Lincolnshire, where the Lesser Yellowlegs also remained. The Great Reed Warbler continued to sing in Angus and in Oxfordshire, the Scops Owl was still at Thrupp. A report of a possible White-tailed Eagle in Cambridgeshire was an intriguing, if somewhat bizarre June record.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 20th June 2006  
  Lincolnshire enjoyed a fantastic day, which began with the finding of a Purple Heron at Huttoft Bank Pit just prior to midday. A Black Stork flew SE over Welton, near Alford at 6pm, and later in the evening observers at Gibraltar Point NNR hoping to connect with the stork located a Whiskered Tern.

In Oxfordshire the Scops Owl made a few daylight appearances, the Bee-eater remained on Yell, Shetland and in Angus the Great Reed Warbler continued to sing at Loch of Kinnordy RSPB. In Ireland, the first couple of Cory's Shearwaters of the summer appeared off the south coast, with singles past Ballycotton and Cape Clear during the morning.

Yesterday evening an adult Laughing Gull was on Unst at Loch of Cliff before roosting at Burra Firth.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 19th June 2006  
  Highlight of the day was the discovery of a Snowy Owl in coastal northwest Scotland at Scourie. Although at a typical latitude for British records of Snowy Owl if this bird chose to linger it would become the first twitchable Snowy Owl on the Scottish mainland in a decade.

Elsewhere, a White-winged Black Tern put in a brief appearance at Snettisham, Norfolk before heading out over The Wash. On Shetland the Bee-eater, first reported last Wednesday, was relocated on Yell and showed into the evening. In East Yorkshire three Common Cranes near Aldbrough were notable.

Belated confirmation was received that the first-summer harrier present at Whixall Moss, Shropshire for more than a week was a Montagu's Harrier - not a Pallid (or Hen) Harrier as previously suspected.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 18th June 2006  
  Sunday began with exciting news of a Squacco Heron at Shapwick Heath NNR; after roosting overnight it was on show until 5.10am, when it flew towards Meare Heath. Unfortunately there was no further sign of the bird by dusk. Six miles south of the St.Mary's, Scilly an outstanding total of 8 Wilson's Petrels were seen from a pelagic in the evening. However, the rest of the day was comparatively quiet, with the only notable finds being a male Red-backed Shrike at Burnham Overy Dunes, Norfolk and Marsh Warbler at Reighton Sands, North Yorkshire. The singing Scops Owl continued to show on and off during the night in Thrupp, Oxfordshire.

Late news for Friday related to a White-winged Black Tern on Harris, Western Isles.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 17th June 2006  
  Two Red-footed Falcons created Saturday's headline news; an adult male was between St.Ishmael's and Sandyhaven Pill, Pembrokeshire and in Nottinghamshire a first-summer was at Budby Common late in the evening. A Bee-eater over Bockhill Monument, Kent provided a little early morning excitement but elsewhere proceedings were rather static; the crowds once again flocked to the Scops Owl in Thrupp, Oxfordshire and other long-stayers included the Lesser Yellowlegs in Lincolnshire, Great Reed Warbler in Angus and King Eider in Ayrshire.

Three flocks of Common Scoter were found inland today; an impressive 25 at Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire, 12 at Bough Beech Reservoir, Kent and 9 at Houghton Green Flash, Cheshire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 16th June 2006  
  A pelagic three miles southwest of Bishop Rock, Scilly produced a Wilson's Petrel this evening and in Cornwall a Black Kite flew south over Trethorne at 3.30pm. The Oxfordshire Scops Owl continued to entertain the crowds in Thrupp during the hours of darkness, and not too far away the Bedfordshire Red-footed Falcon was still present at Marston Vale Millennium Country Park, but only until midday. In Scotland the Great Reed Warbler remained at Loch of Kinnordy RSPB, Angus. 

Late news from yesterday came in the form of a probable River Warbler on Fair Isle, Shetland. A twitchable River Warbler would no doubt prove incredibly popular, as it has been a whole decade since one was available to the masses.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Thursday 15th June 2006  
  A Great Reed Warbler at Sandwich Bay, Kent was the best new rarity found today, where it showed on and off until at least early evening. At least 2 Bee-eaters were heard as they flew over Titchfield Haven, Hampshire, and a Black Kite flew east over Sennen, Cornwall.

The Scops Owl performed another late-night show in Thrupp, Oxfordshire, and the Marsh Sandpiper remained at Dungeness RSPB, Kent. Other long-stayers included the first-summer male Red-footed Falcon at Marston Vale Millennium County Park, Bedfordshire and Lesser Yellowlegs at Gibraltar Point NNR, Lincolnshire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 14th June 2006  
  In Thrupp, Oxfordshire the Scops Owl continued singing for over an hour after dawn and resumed well before dusk. Although in the main elusive the bird was glimpsed on occasion and showed well at least once today.

A Marsh Sandpiper at Dungeness, Kent was perhaps the same bird as that seen at Reculver, Kent briefly last Sunday. Found on Denge Marsh during the morning the bird became elusive during the afternoon.

Elsewhere, in Co Wexford the Night Heron showed again at Tacumshin whilst on Shetland a small arrival of late drift migrants included a Marsh Warbler and a Red-backed Shrike on Unst and Red-backed Shrikes on both Whalsay and Mainland at Virkie.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 13th June 2006  
  The major news release tonight was of a singing male Scops Owl just outside Kidlington, Oxfordshire. The bird has been on territory at Thrupp for at least three weeks when it was first noticed by inquisitive residents. There is a similar record of a singing Scops Owl in southern England, at Dummer, Hampshire - 45 miles to the south of Kidlington - from 12th May until 14th July 1980. If the current bird remains until mid July it will certainly prove to be a popular attraction, although - as was the case with the Dummer bird - gaining an acceptable view may prove very difficult.

Highlights elsewhere included a lingering Purple Heron at Old Moor, South Yorkshire and a Red-necked Phalarope at Eyebrook Reservoir, Leicestershire. In Scotland the singing Great Reed Warbler at Loch of Kinnordy, Angus showed only briefly whilst on Shetland a female Red-footed Falcon was located at Fladdabister.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 12th June 2006  
  Shetland hogged the rarities today with the outstanding highlight being a Paddyfield Warbler at Skaw on Whalsay. Elsewhere in the archipelago a Red-footed Falcon paused briefly at Collafirth and on Fair Isle Short-toed Lark, an Icterine Warbler and two Common Rosefinches were all logged.

Meanwhile, the Lesser Yellowlegs lingered at Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire and the Red-footed Falcon remained at Marston Vale, Bedfordshire video clip 1 video clip 2 (video from Stewartby Lake Country Park). A Red-breasted Flycatcher and a Serin at Portland Bill, Dorset, and a fine Red-backed Shrike at Elmley, Kent were the best of the rest from around England.
-  Chris Batty, RBA