Daily News Summaries
This page gives you access to all of RBA's daily news summaries (since April 13, 2006), 10 days at a time. The most recent are shown, or you can select a specific date to show (along with the previous 10 days). Prior to April 13, 2006 you can find weekly reviews, located in articles.
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Thursday 8th March 2007  
  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.
Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 7th March 2007  
  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.
Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 6th March 2007  
  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.
Pete Hayman, RBA
Monday 5th March 2007  
  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.
Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 4th March 2007  
  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.
Pete Hayman, RBA
Thursday 1st March 2007  
  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.
Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 28th February 2007  
  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.
Chris Batty, RBA
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