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| Saturday 18th November 2006 | ||
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| The new discoveries today were all typical November fare; a Dusky Warbler
at Sladesbridge, Cornwall, American Golden Plover on the Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire,
White-rumped Sandpiper at Cantley, Norfolk and Ferruginous Ducks in Staffordshire and Co Armagh. The main highlight was the Black-eared Kite that continued to delight a large audience at Holbeach Marsh, Lincolnshire with the two Red-breasted Geese remaining up the coast at Saltfleet. The Dusky Warbler remained at Spurn, East Yorkshire as did the Woodchat Shrike at Soar, Devon whilst the Siberian Stonechat was seen again at Goonhilly Downs, Cornwall. The elusive Little Bunting put in another at Benacre, Suffolk and the late Purple Heron continued to show well at Latimer, Buckinghamshire. |
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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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| Friday 17th November 2006 | ||
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| New rarities were few and far between but included a Lesser Scaup on North Uist,
Western Isles and an adult Black Kite reported over North Walsham, Norfolk. The Black-eared Kite at Holbeach Marsh, Lincolnshire continued to perform, although luck was often required to obtain good views of it. Other remaining rarities included the Dusky Warbler at Spurn Point, East Yorkshire, Red-breasted Geese in Lincolnshire, Purple Heron in Buckinghamshire, Gyr on St Kilda, Western Isles, Cattle Egret on the Otter Estuary, Devon and Spotted Sandpiper on the Hayle Estuary, Cornwall. The debated female Aythya - previously suspected as being a Redhead - remained on the Loch of Spiggie, Shetland but is now believed to be a hybrid Ring-necked Duck x Pochard. Reports of the reappearance of the Long-billed Murrelet in Dawlish, Devon raised the hopes of those unable to make it until Wednesday, but information received later this evening suggests that they may refer to a Guillemot. |
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| - Simon Mitchell and Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 16th November 2006 | ||
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| The Black-eared Kite proved to be a popular attraction today, as many
took the opportunity to study this eastern form of Black Kite. The best new
rarity was a white morph Gyr, but unfortunately it was found on St Kilda
rather than a more accessible location.
In Shetland the probable female Redhead remained on Loch of Spiggie; this bird is thought by some to be the same individual that was on Barra, Western Isles during the winter of 2003/04 and Tiree, Argyll for the winter of 2005/06. Otherwise it was a quiet day, but several of the long-staying rarities, such as the two Red-breasted Geese, Glossy Ibis, Cattle Egret and Dusky Warbler remained at their respective sites. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 15th November 2006 | ||
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| The main news of the day broke late, when the Black Kite at Holbeach
St Matthew, Lincolnshire was re-identifed as a Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans
lineatus). The form lineatus is the Eastern Palearctic counterpart of
Black Kite, and is the first British record of the form. It is currently
treated as a separate species by some authorities (Sibley and Monroe and Dutch
Birding Association) though not by the BOU.
There was disappointment for some when the Long-billed Murrelet could not be relocated off Dawlish, Devon although high winds and choppy seas may have allowed the bird to avoid detection. The other main news of the day involved a promising-looking female probable Redhead at Loch of Spiggie, Shetland. Other long-staying rarities included the Red-breasted Geese in Lincolnshire various, Long-billed Dowitchers, the Cattle Egret in Devon, the Glossy Ibis in Lancs, the King Eider in Aberdeenshire and a Dusky Warbler at Spurn. |
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| - Simon Mitchell and Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 14th November 2006 | ||
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| The Long-billed Murrelet continued to entertain the (decreasing)
crowds at Dawlish, but otherwise it was a largely uneventful day. The only 'new'
rarity was a female Ferruginous Duck at Pine Lake, Lancashire, but even
this was probably a bird previously seen at nearby Leighton Moss a few weeks
earlier. Bizarrely the bird was joined by an escaped drake Ferruginous that has
been in the area for some time.
In Dorset, county listers must have cringed when the Red-breasted Goose that had been associating with Dark-bellied Brent Geese decided to leave it's Branta companions and join Mallards and Mute Swans at Abbotsbury Swannery. If it does turn out to be an escape, it had certainly done an excellent (and somewhat worrying) job of appearing wild. Elsewhere the Bufflehead remained on Unst, the Black Kite was still in Lincolnshire, Dusky Warbler remained elusive at Spurn and the Bonaparte's Gull was still at Saltburn; this bird is thought to be the same adult that spent much of the autumn at Newbiggin, Northumberland. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Monday 13th November 2006 | ||
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The headlines continued to be created by the presence of the Long-billed Murrelet, which showed well off Dawlish seafront throughout the day. New rarities included a Red-rumped Swallow at Portland, Dorset, Bonaparte's Gull at Saltburn, Cleveland and Lesser Scaup on Tiree. In Buckinghamshire, a juvenile Purple Heron at Latimer was a truly remarkable find. The Black Kite continued it's stay near Holbeach, Lincolnshire and on Shetland the drake Bufflehead remained on Unst. In County Down the Barrow's Goldeneye was still at Quoile Pondage. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 12th November 2006 | ||
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The sensational Long-billed Murrelet continued to draw those who had a nervous day yesterday unable to reach Dawlish in time. In excess of 800 people were present this morning as the bird performed spectacularly once again, showing down to ten yards from the shore. No doubt this bird will long be remembered by all who manage to see it during its stay. In the immediate area the Long-billed Dowitcher and Spotted Sandpiper at Upper Tamar Lake, together with the Cattle Egret at the Otter Estuary NR proved popular sideshows. Despite being somewhat overshadowed by the crippling Alcid in Devon the best new bird of the day was a drake Bufflehead on Unst, Shetland. Other new birds included a Red-rumped Swallow which was sadly taken by a Sparrowhawk just 20 minutes after being found in Angus, an American Golden Plover in County Kerry and a Siberian Stonechat in Cornwall. This scattering combined with a movement of Pine Grosbeaks in Norway prove there yet be more to come from the end of the autumn. The relocated Black Kite in Lincolnshire was once again popular, as were the Red-breasted Geese in Lincolnshire and Dorset. Also seen again was the Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent and the Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall. A good scattering of early winter scarcities included a few Green-winged Teals, American Wigeon, Ring-necked Ducks and Great Grey Shrikes. |
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| - Simon Mitchell, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 11th November 2006 | ||
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Many British birders may have said a little prayer before they went to bed last night, wishing for the rediscovery of the Long-billed Murrelet present earlier in the week off Dawlish Warren. If they did, then it certainly worked, as at 9am their prayers were answered when the Mega Alert sounded and news that the bird was off Dawlish town hit the pager. Everyone who could then descended on Dawlish, to twitch what will surely go down in history as one of the greatest rarities ever to grace our shores. Considering the magnitude of what was happening in the southwest, all other news was largely irrelevant. However, those who chose not to visit Dawlish had Red-breasted Geese in Lincolnshire and Dorset, Spotted Sandpiper and Long-billed Dowitcher together at Upper Tamar Lake, Devon, Glossy Ibis in Lancashire and Dusky Warbler at Spurn 'to go at'. However, probably the best non-Murrelet related event was the rediscovery of the Black Kite at Holbeach Marsh in Lincolnshire. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Friday 10th November 2006 | ||
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| The big news of the day was of Britain's first Long-billed Murrelet
which was belatedly identified from photographs. The bird had been on the
sea all afternoon off Dawlish, Devon last Tuesday (7th November), when it was
reported as a Little Auk. Photographs of it were subsequently posted on
the Dawlish Warren website www.dawlishwarren.co.uk
and Dick Filby's attention was drawn to them early this afternoon a
Mega Alert swiftly followed. Although the bird has not been seen since
Tuesday it has not been extensively searched for, so hopefully coverage this
weekend will result in its relocation.
Other good birds reported today included an adult Ring-billed Gull at Carsington Water, Derbyshire and a Great White Egret over Walthamstow Reservoirs, London. Rarities lingering from recent days included the Cattle Egret in Devon, Red-breasted Geese in Lincolnshire and Dorset, Long-billed Dowitchers in Kent and Devon and the Spotted Sandpipers in Devon and Cornwall. In Lancs the Glossy Ibis is still at Fluke Hall, whilst in Ireland there is still a Forster's Tern in Co.Louth and a White-rumped Sandpiper in Co.Wicklow. |
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| - Simon Mitchell, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 9th November 2006 | ||
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| A Dusky Warbler was trapped and ringed on Spurn Point, East Yorkshire this afternoon and in Kent a male Penduline Tit was at Grove Ferry. Kent also produced a possible Whistling Swan at Elmley RSPB before it flew off towards Capel Fleet and a White Pelican flew over Folkestone.
In Suffolk the Marbled Duck remained at Minsmere RSPB as did the Dusky Warbler in Lowestoft. On the Western Isles, yesterday's Snowy Owl was still on Lewis. Other long-stayers included the Red-breasted Geese in Lincolnshire, Glossy Ibis in Lancashire and Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall. In Dorset the adult Red-breasted Goose continued its stay on The Fleet. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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