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| Thursday 8th March 2007 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the discovery of a male Desert Wheatear well inland at Irlam, Greater Manchester.
Desert Wheatear is one of the last vagrants to arrive in the autumn and
is also one of the first vagrants to arrive in spring - although it is much more infrequent at this season, this being only the tenth
such record for the British Isles. However, in this instance it was disappointing that news of this exciting find was not released earlier in the day. Although neither the Great Spotted Cuckoo in Kent nor the Gyr in Cornwall could be located many other rarities remained on show including the Pacific Diver in Pembrokeshire, White-billed Diver, Spotted Sandpiper and Dusky Warbler in Cornwall, White-tailed Eagle in Aberdeenshire, Cattle Egret in Devon and Long-billed Dowitchers on Anglesey and in Kent. |
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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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| Wednesday 7th March 2007 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was a Great Spotted Cuckoo at Dungeness, Kent. First glimpsed yesterday, this classic early spring rarity showed into the afternoon but remained elusive throughout. Cornwall continued to support an impressive line-up of rarities with the white morph Gyr at Stepper Point, Dusky Warbler at Newquay and both White-billed Diver and Spotted Sandpiper on the Hayle Estuary. Elsewhere, the Pacific Diver remained in Wales as did the Long-billed Dowitcher in Ireland with, Barrow's Goldeneye, Snowy Owl, presumed vagrant White-tailed Eagle and three Lesser Scaups all still present in Scotland. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 6th March 2007 | ||
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| In south Wales, the Glaucous-winged Gull failed to put in an
appearance all day in the Ferryside area of Carmarthenshire, much to the
disappointment of many, as it continued to prove difficult to pin down. Nearby,
in Pembrokeshire, the Pacific Diver did prove more obliging as it
continued it's stay at Llys-y-Fran Reservoir. Cornwall continued to host some
top quality birds, with the Gyr seen again at dawn at Stepper Point, the Franklin's
Gull again at Hayle along with the White-billed Diver and Spotted
Sandpiper and at Newquay the Dusky Warbler was still in residence. In
Ireland a new adult Bonaparte's Gull was at Blennerville in County Kerry
and the Long-billed Dowitcher remained at Dundalk Docks in County Louth.
Following recent arrivals of some early summer migrants, there were reports of House Martins in Norfolk and Dorset and double figures of Sand Martins in Devon. |
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| - Pete Hayman, RBA | ||
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| Monday 5th March 2007 | ||
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| The Glaucous-winged Gull on the Tywi Estuary, Carmarthenshire was, once again, the highlight of the day for a select few. Present again near Ferryside for less than an hour in the late morning before departing to the south, it continues to frustrate many would-be twitchers. Elsewhere, the Pacific Diver remained at Llys-y-Fran Reservoir, Pembrokeshire as did the Barrow's Goldeneye at Loch Venachar, Forth and the Black-eared Kite near Snettisham, Norfolk. In Cornwall the white morph Gyr continued to use Stepper Point as a roost site and both the White-billed Diver and Spotted Sandpiper remained on the Hayle Estuary. Other lingering rarities included the Snowy Owl on the Western Isles, Cattle Egret in Devon and Lesser Scaups in both Dumfries and Galloway and Perth and Kinross. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 4th March 2007 | ||
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| For many birders it was a wet, dismal day in south Wales as the Glaucous-winged
Gull was only seen very briefly near Ferryside in Carmarthenshire late in
the afternoon. The Pacific Diver did remain on view, however, not far
away at Llys-y-Fran Reservoir, in Pembrokeshire. Cornwall also still had many
attractions, with the Gyr near Padstow, and the White-billed Diver
at Hayle, topping the list. However, there was no sign today of yesterday's Franklin's
Gull at Hayle, but the Spotted Sandpiper was still to be seen, with
the American Wigeon still near Wadebridge and the Yellow-browed
Warbler still in Penzance. In Devon, both the Cattle Egret at
Otterton and the Surf Scoter at Beer remained. Other long-stayers
included the Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth and Lesser Scaups in
Dumfries & Galloway and Perth & Kinross. A White-tailed Eagle
continued to entertain in Aberdeenshire as did a Lesser Snow Goose in
Lancashire.
An American Golden Plover was a new find near Sleaford in Lincolnshire, with the only other new bird today being a possible Bonaparte's Gull near Nimmo's Pier in Galway, in Ireland. |
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| - Pete Hayman, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 3rd March 2007 | ||
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| Today's highlight has again been the 3rd winter Glaucous-winged Gull
in Carmarthenshire showing only occasionally for brief periods this afternoon.
However, the Pacific Diver was far more obliging across the county border
in Pembrokeshire and may have been some consolation for visiting birders who did
not manage to catch a glimpse of the elusive gull.
Elsewhere, the Gyr was still around Stepper Point, though proving far more elusive than yesterday. Also in Cornwall the Franklin's Gull was again on the Hayle Estuary alongside the White-billed Diver and Spotted Sandpiper. The Dusky Warbler was also seen today in Newquay. Away from Cornwall, a Penduline Tit was seen again at Rainham Marshes, London. In Scotland, a White-billed Diver was again off Lewis where the Snowy Owl was also seen again, as was the Bonaparte's Gull in Angus and the untagged White-tailed Eagle at the Loch of Strathbeg. The Barrow's Goldeneye in Forth, Lesser Scaup in Dumfries & Galloway and the Black-throated Thrush in Argyll were also still present. In Ireland the Barrow's Goldeneye was seen again in Co.Down, the Forster's Tern and 4th winter American Herring Gull were both seen in Galway today |
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| - Keith Langdon, RBA | ||
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| Friday 2nd March 2007 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the relocation of the 3rd winter Glaucous-winged
Gull on the estuary at Ferryside in Carmarthenshire. This bird has not
been seen since it was initially discovered and subsequently ringed on 15th
& 16th of December on Gloucester Landfill Site. The bird was present until
3pm when it flew west as the rising tide started to cover the exposed mud. With
luck this tantalizingly elusive bird will be seen again tomorrow and please the
many observers who are sure to make the trip to Wales.
Elsewhere Cornwall remains the place to be with a 1st winter Franklin's Gull being found on the Hayle Estuary where the White-billed Diver and long-staying Spotted Sandpiper remained today. Also in Cornwall the immature white morph Gyr was near Wadebridge this morning, then showing well this evening back at Stepper Point where it went to roost and the Dusky Warbler was still in Newquay. In Scotland in Argyll the Black-throated Thrush continued to be seen on & off on Bute, the Barrow's Goldeneye was again on Loch Venachar, Forth and in Dumfries & Galloway the Lesser Scaup was still at Caerlaverock WWT. Also, the Long-billed Dowitcher was still in the docks at Dundalk, Co.Louth, Forster's Tern still at Nimmo's Pier, Gallway and the Ferruginous Duck was still at New Hythe GPs, Kent. |
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| - Keith Langdon, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 1st March 2007 | ||
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| Cornwall remains the birding county of choice with the elusive immature white
Gyr still present by the Camel Estuary near Padstow. Only seen at dawn and dusk today this elusive bird is presumably using Stepper Point primarily as a roost site and feeding elsewhere. Elsewhere in the county the
White-billed Diver, Spotted Sandpiper and probable Central Asian Lesser Whitethroat all showed well at the Hayle Estuary, the
Dusky Warbler remained in Newquay and what was thought to be the Pacific Diver
was watched distantly in Mount's Bay. Major rarities elsewhere comprised the Pacific Diver still at Llys-y-Fran Reservoir, Pembrokeshire, Barrow's Goldeneye at Loch Venachar, Forth and Black-eared Kite at Snettisham, Norfolk. In Scotland Black-throated Thrush, Snowy Owl, White-tailed Eagle and Lesser Scaup were all seen again whilst Ireland continued to host Forster's Tern, American Herring Gull and Long-billed Dowitcher. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 28th February 2007 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the reappearance of the confiding White-billed Diver
on the Hayle Estuary, Cornwall. The bird remained with a small group of Great Northern Divers throughout the day and showed very well. Supporting cast at this site included the wintering
Spotted Sandpiper and Lesser Whitethroat, the latter thought probably to be of Central Asian
form halimodendri. Elsewhere, the Barrow's Goldeneye remained in Forth as did the Black-eared Kite in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gull in Angus, Lesser Scaup in Dumfries and Galloway, Long-billed Dowitchers in Kent and Co Louth and both Forster's Tern and American Herring Gull in Co Galway. The Glossy Ibis reappeared at Ballam, Lancashire and the Laughing Gull in Devon relocated to Seaton. Despite adverse weather, Sand Martins pushed north as far as Cumbria and a Little Ringed Plover arrived in Greater Manchester. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 27th February 2007 | ||
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| Long-staying rarities were represented by the 1st-winter Laughing Gull
and Cattle Egret in Devon, Black-eared Kite in Norfolk, Spotted
Sandpiper in Cornwall, Pacific Diver in Pembrokeshire and Lesser
Scaup in Dumfries and Galloway. New discoveries included an American
Wigeon at Freiston Shore RSPB, Lincolnshire and Rough-legged Buzzard
in East Yorkshire, whilst the unseasonal Temminck's Stint remained at
Slimbridge WWT, Gloucestershire. In Co Galway the Forster's Tern
headlined the expected spectacle at Nimmo's Pier.
Ospreys are beginning to trickle into southern counties and a Sand Martin has already reached as far north as Lancashire. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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