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| Friday 21st July 2006 | ||
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An adult White-winged Black Tern was found on North Bull Island, County Dublin and was later relocated at Sandymount Strand. Elsewhere in Ireland the first-summer American Black Tern was still at Lady's Island Lake, County Wexford until midday at least, and a Great Shearwater flew past Cape Clear Island, County Cork. Rarities across the Irish Sea included the Lesser Yellowlegs in Lincolnshire, Laughing Gull in East Sussex, Ferruginous Duck in Fife, and in Borders the ultra-elusive Black Stork made another brief appearance near Houndwood. A Wilson's Petrel was seen off a Scilly pelagic in the evening and a Great White Egret was reported near Maldon at Howell's Farm, Essex. However, perhaps the most important news of the day involved the Pine Grosbeak in Hertfordshire. Unfortunately, the bird was bred in captivity in 2004, and escaped from an aviary in Essex on 23rd June. By writing to 'Cage and Aviary Birds' magazine, the finder of the grosbeak was able to locate the owner of the bird, who states that it is in fact a female that has been fed in a way that changes the plumage to look like a male bird. |
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| - Stuart Piner, 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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| Thursday 20th July 2006 | ||
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| The first-summer American Black Tern remained at Lady's Island Lake,
County Wexford but there was no news on the bird after early morning. In
Lincolnshire the Lesser Yellowlegs returned to Gibraltar Point NNR after
a 26 day absence and the adult Caspian Tern put in another brief
appearance at Hickling Broad NWT, Norfolk. Other rarities around the British
Isles included the Laughing Gull at Arlington Reservoir, East Sussex,
Ferruginous Duck at Loch Gelly, Fife, Great White Egret at
Sturminster Marshall Gravel Pits, Dorset and Pine Grosbeak in Harlow,
Hertfordshire.
A probable Roller was reported flying over the road in Thatcham, Berkshire, seen from a moving car; a twitchable Roller would be extremely popular, as it was as long ago as 2001 that one was available to the masses. An adult female Red-necked Phalarope was a nice find at Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk, as was an adult drake Surf Scoter in Druridge Bay, Northumberland. Late news from yesterday involved a probable Pacific Golden Plover at Yantlet Creek, Kent during the evening. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 19th July 2006 | ||
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| The only new rarity was a White-winged Black Tern reported flying out
to sea over Minster (Kent), but the Caspian Tern which visited Breydon
Water on Saturday stayed true to form for the species by putting in a brief
appearance at Hickling Broad in the evening. Elsewhere, the Black Stork
remained near Grantshouse (Borders), the Red-footed Falcon continued to
be seen at Moor Green Lakes (Berks), the first-summer Laughing Gull
remained at Arlington Reservoir (E.Sussex) and the Pine Grosbeak continued
to attract visitors to Gilston Park (Herts).
The rarest bird was again the first-summer American Black Tern (form surinamensis) at Lady's Island Lake (Co.Wexford), with at least one Black Tern remaining at the same site. Three belated reports referred to yesterday and involved a report of a Black Stork at Amberley (West Sussex) and Alpine Swifts over Harrogate (N.Yorks) and Crossgat (Co.Down). |
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| - Andy Symes, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 18th July 2006 | ||
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| The main news today concerned the 'firming up' of the identification of the
first-summer American Black Tern (form surinamensis) at Lady's
Island Lake, Co.Wexford. After finally obtaining good views of the bird, Killian
Mullarney is 'confident that it has good enough credentials to be considered a
definite surinamensis'. This is the first American Black Tern to be
identified in first-summer plumage in Britain and Ireland. The three previous
records, two in Ireland and one in Somerset, all relate to autumn juveniles.
A Bee-eater flew west over Pitcox, Lothian late afternoon, and was the only new rarity found today. The extremely elusive Squacco Heron put in another appearance at Shapwick Heath NNR, Somerset and the far from confiding Black Stork was seen again near Grantshouse, Borders. The Pine Grosbeak was still showing well at Gilston Park, Hertfordshire, whilst in Fife the drake Ferruginous Duck remained at Loch Gelly. In Berkshire, the first-summer female Red-footed Falcon was still at Moor Green Lakes LNR and two Wilson's Petrels were observed from an afternoon pelagic off Scilly. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Monday 17th July 2006 | ||
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| In London an adult Great White Egret was located at Rainham Marshes
RSPB this afternoon before moving to Berwick Reservoir, just to the northeast,
in the evening. Also in London a Caspian Tern was reported from the
Wetland Centre briefly. In Co. Wexford the probable American Black Tern remained
at Lady's Island Lake throughout the day and was seen to go to roost. In Scilly,
a Wilson's Petrel was seen between Bishop's Rock and Rosevean.
The Pine Grosbeak remained in Hertfordshire, as did the Red-footed Falcon in Berkshire, Laughing Gull in East Sussex and Ferruginous Duck in Fife. The Black Stork was seen again in Borders and the drake King Eider reappeared in Ayrshire. |
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| - Richard Moores, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 16th July 2006 | ||
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| Top finds today included a drake Ferruginous Duck at Loch Gelly, Fife and a male Red-footed
Falcon at Abberton Reservoir, Essex, but it was the male Pine
Grosbeak at Gilston Park, Hertfordshire that continued to create the
headlines.
Lady's Island Lake, Co.Wexford hosted a possible first-summer American Black Tern. The identification of this bird is still in question, but if it does prove to be of Nearctic origin, it is a truly remarkable July record. Elsewhere, the first-summer female Red-footed Falcon was still at Moor Green Lakes, Berkshire and in Hampshire the unringed Great White Egret was seen at Blashford Lakes HWT. The long-staying first-summer Black Stork was still in the Houndwood area, Borders but actually connecting with it was easier said than done, as it remained incredibly elusive in the Eye Water valley. The first-summer Laughing Gull returned to Arlington Reservoir, East Sussex early evening. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 15th July 2006 | ||
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| Find of the day was a Caspian Tern at Breydon Water, Norfolk, present
for a couple of hours on and off during the afternoon. In Berkshire a
first-summer female Red-footed Falcon was located at Moor Green Lakes Nature Reserve and in Hertfordshire,
the male Pine Grosbeak continued to attract plenty of attention as the
weekend crowds descended on Gilston Park.
The first-summer Black Stork remained in the Houndwood area, Borders, but was typically elusive and two Great White Egrets were again at Blashford Lakes HWT, Hampshire. Other reports included the first-summer Laughing Gull still at Arlington Reservoir and the Squacco Heron again at Shapwick Heath, Somerset. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Friday 14th July 2006 | ||
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| The news was dominated by the continued presence of the male Pine Grosbeak
at Gilston Park in Hertfordshire. Although sometimes elusive, the bird generally
showed well at times to many observers.
Elsewhere a drake King Eider was found off Wester Quarff in Mainland Shetland, while the Black Stork in Angus and Laughing Gull in East Sussex remained in residence. The colour-ringed Great White Egret showed up again at Blashford Lakes (Hants) but there was no sign today of the Stilt Sandpiper in Conwy. |
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| - Richard Moores, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 13th July 2006 | ||
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| The story of the day concerned the male Pine Grosbeak that was
remarkably relocated across the Essex border in south Hertfordshire. Frequenting
the small hamlet of Gilston Park, the bird had been present at the site since
last Saturday (the same day it departed from Essex) and seen by only a handful
of birders since. Searches during the evening failed to find the bird so only
time will tell if it will continue to give its would-be observers the
run-around.
In Scotland the Black Stork was seen again by the Eye Water (Borders) but it is still very mobile and elusive, while an adult Rose-coloured Starling was on Unst (Shetland) briefly. Elsewhere, the Stilt Sandpiper remained at Conwy RSPB reserve, the Laughing Gull was still at Arlington Reservoir (E.Sussex) and a Wilson's Petrel was again noted from a pelagic south of Scilly. |
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| - Richard Moores, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 12th July 2006 | ||
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| Conwy RSPB continued to host the first-summer Stilt Sandpiper and the
first-summer Laughing Gull remained at Arlington Reservoir, East Sussex.
Another Laughing Gull was found yesterday about 120 miles northeast of
Aberdeen at the Buchan Alpha oil platform.
A probable ringtail Pallid Harrier on the Merseyside /Lancashire border was seen at both Marshside RSPB and near Martin Mere WWT. If genuine, this would be the first for the Lancashire and North Merseyside recording area. Two Wilson's Petrels were observed from a pelagic off Scilly this evening. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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