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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Sunday 7th January 2007  
  Although no new rarities were found it was still a busy day around the country. In Norfolk the Black-eared Kite was still seen occasionally just south of Snettisham RSPB and nearby the intermediate morph Lesser Snow Goose was still at Holkham. Bucephala were well represented with both Barrow's Goldeneyes remaining in Forth and Country Antrim and both Buffleheads still present in County Antrim and Shetland.

The Lesser Yellowlegs in County Cork was reported for the first time since the new year, as was the White-rumped Sandpiper there. Other rarities included the wintering Ferruginous Duck in Kent and the Falcated Duck, Cattle Egret and Spotted Sandpiper all continuing to be seen in the South-west. Photos of an apparent Whistling Swan seen recently in Norfolk emerged and may fuel debate on yesterdays possible sighting in Lincolnshire.
-  Simon Mitchell, RBA
Saturday 6th January 2007  
  An exciting winters day today with the discovery of Ireland's 2nd ever Bufflehead in County Clare, a Bonaparte's Gull found in Devon (although it may be the same bird that was seen nearby in early December) and a Whistling Swan reported in Lincolnshire. 

Both Barrow's Goldeneyes (Forth and Co.Down) were still available for year lists this weekend, as was the Black-eared Kite in Norfolk and the recently found Lesser Scaup in Oxfordshire which proved a popular draw. Other lingering rarities included the white Gyr in Shetland, drake King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Ross's Gull in Argyll, the ever-elusive Black Scoter in Conwy, Ferruginous Duck in Kent, Cattle Egret in Devon and Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall. 

There was plenty for gull enthusiasts too look at with at least a Glaucous, Iceland Caspian or Mediterranean Gull at many gull roosts as dedicated local patch workers continue to hope to strike it lucky after the news of the disappearing Glaucous-winged Gull in December.
-  Simon Mitchell, RBA
Friday 5th January 2007  
  Despite there being no new rarities today, long-staying rarities continued to keep birders across the country occupied.

The rarest of the long-staying birds were the two Barrow's Goldeneyes in Forth and County Down as well as the Black-eared Kite cruising around northwest Norfolk. Other popular birds included the Ross's Gull in Argyll, the Blue-winged Teal in County Down and the Red-throated Pipit in County Dublin. It emerged that the Ivory Gull which graced the Ayr area over the Christmas period had sadly succumbed to a roundworm infection, its weight having decreased from the usual 550g to 350g.

Other wintering rarities which continued to perform well included the Great White Egret in Hampshire, the Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent and the Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall.
-  Simon Mitchell, RBA
Thursday 4th January 2007  
  Today there were two new rarities both being Lesser Scaups, a first-winter drake at Sonning Eye GPs in Oxfordshire appearing alongside a Scaup and in Co. Antrim the returning drake arrived again at Portmore Lough RSPB. The Black Scoter in Conwy was also seen today a little down the coast at Penmaenmawr.

Around the country most of the recent long-staying rarities were recorded today, the Ross’s Gull in Ayrshire again showing well as did the Bonaparte's Gulls in Angus and Co. Cork. The drake Barrow’s Goldeneye in Forth was only seen very briefly this morning though the drake in Co. Down continued to show well. Also, the Spotted Sandpiper on the Hayle Estuary was again present.
-  Keith Langdon, RBA
Wednesday 3rd January 2007  
  Sensational belated news concerned a third-winter Glaucous-winged Gull present at Hempsted, Gloucestershire on both the 15th and 16th December. Initially photographed on a landfill site and then, remarkably, trapped there in a cannon net during routine gull ringing activities the following day. Unfortunately the news was not released until today but although the bird has been looked for since it seems quite likely that it may still be present in the general vicinity. This is first British and second or third Western Palearctic record of this species.

The juvenile Ivory Gull in Ayrshire was again relocated inland near Irvine but unfortunately appeared in ill health and was taken into care. Elsewhere the Black-eared Kite continued to roam Norfolk (today revisiting Snettisham), the Ross’s Gull remained in Argyll as did the Penduline Tit in London, the Bonaparte’s Gull in Angus and the Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 2nd January 2007  
  Today's only new rarity was a drake King Eider off Sandwick, Shetland, but there were still plenty of long-stayers to keep year listers busy. In Argyll the beautiful first-winter Ross's Gull continued to show very well at Loch Caolisport and in Angus the Bonaparte's Gull was also still on show. Scotland continued to host the drake Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth and southwest England held both the Falcated Duck in Devon and Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall.

In Ireland the Red-throated Pipit in Co Dublin, Barrow's Goldeneye and Lesser Scaup in Co Down and Ferruginous Duck in Co Armagh all stayed put.

A scattering of small flocks of Tundra Bean Geese continued their stay in the south and east and in Ceredigion the Richard's Pipit was still near Aberystwyth.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 1st January 2007  
  The first day of the new year started well with 24 rarities reported from around the British Isles including a brief Ross's Gull at Landguard, Suffolk and a White-billed Diver in Dunmanus Bay, Co Cork. Major rarities included the Black-eared Kite in Norfolk, Snowy Owl on Western Isles, Ross's Gull in Argyll, two Red-breasted Geese in Lincolnshire and Barrow's Goldeneyes in both Co Down and Forth. Of the rest, a Penduline Tit in Norfolk, Red-throated Pipit in Co Dublin, King Eider in Aberdeenshire and the Falcated Duck in Devon were most notable.

Whilst the seven Ring-necked Ducks, four American Wigeons and five Ring-billed Gulls reported are standard January fare, Sabine's Gull, Manx Shearwaters, Garden Warbler, Turtle Dove and Garganey certainly are not.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 31st December 2006  
  The final day of the year brought reports of many over wintering rarities, including the Black-eared Kite in Norfolk, Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth, Ross's Gull in Argyll, Bonaparte's Gull in Angus, Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall, Red-throated Pipit in Co Dublin and Falcated Duck in Devon.

A new Yellow-browed Warbler was discovered at Nanjizal, Cornwall - one of at least ten so far this winter - and a storm-blown Grey Phalarope arrived at Topsham, Devon. The Rose-coloured Starling was seen again at Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 30th December 2006  
  The Black-eared Kite around Cley, Norfolk and the Barrow’s Goldeneye at Callander, Forth headlined the cast of long-staying rarities. 

Elsewhere, notable winter passerines included the Red-throated Pipit in Co Dublin, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Aberdeenshire and single Yellow-browed Warblers in Cornwall, Hampshire, Glamorgan and Somerset.

Several North American vagrants remained with Bonaparte's Gulls in Angus and the Isles of Scilly, Lesser Scaups in Co Down and Western Isles, Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall, Lesser Yellowlegs in Co Cork and Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 29th December 2006  
  The only new rarity discovered on a busy winter day was an American Golden Plover at Blennerville, Co Kerry. Elsewhere in Ireland both the Red-throated Pipit and Blue-winged Teal remained in Co Dublin.

In Scotland long-staying rarities comprised the Ross's Gull in Argyll, Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth and Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Aberdeenshire. In England the Black-eared Kite spent the day between Cley and Morston, Norfolk, the Penduline Tit showed again briefly in London, the two Red-breasted Geese remained in Lincolnshire as did the Spotted Sandpiper in Cornwall.

Of several Caspian Gulls reported, a first-winter in Lothian - found in Belhaven Bay yesterday and present there again this afternoon - will represent the first documented record for Scotland when accepted.
-  Chris Batty, RBA