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.


Tuesday 16th October 2007

	News of three Great White Egrets was released today, with one in Essex, one in Yorkshire, seen from a train, and one reported from yesterday in Lincolnshire at Grainthorpe Haven. A Blyth's Pipit was identified on Tresco, Isles of Scilly, which showed well. On the Wirral, a Radde's Warbler showed very well in the afternoon, posing for some excellent photos. Late news broadcast today concerned a Red-eyed Vireo in County Kerry on Sunday, Dusky Warbler yesterday on Foula, Shetland, Radde's Warbler on Sunday in County Cork with a Grey-cheeked Thrush and Greenish Warbler in the same county yesterday. Seawatching in the north produced some excellent counts of Grey Phalaropes and Pomarine Skuas, with a Sabine's Gull also putting in an appearance. The Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler remained in Norfolk, Blackpoll Warbler on Scilly, along with Penduline Tit, Grey-cheeked Thrush and Wilson's Snipe, White-billed Diver in Sussex and Great White Egrets in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Lancashire.
- Will Soar, RBA


Monday 15th October 2007

	In Norfolk a Lesser Grey Shrike was found at Dersingham Bog, in Highland a Red-footed Falcon flew over Tarbat Ness and in Dumfries and Galloway a Richardson's Canada Goose arrived at Caerlaverock. Late news from County Cork concerned a Red-rumped Swallow yesterday at Mizen Head. Lingering rarities comprised the White-billed Diver in West Sussex, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Pembrokeshire, Glossy Ibis in Merseyside, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Norfolk, Cattle Egret in Devon, Lesser Yellowlegs in County Cork, Great White Egret in Leicestershire and American Golden Plover in East Yorkshire. On the Isles of Scilly a brief Lesser Yellowlegs was a new arrival on St Mary's where the Wilson's Snipe remained along with Grey-cheeked Thrush, two Blackpoll Warblers, Rustic Bunting, Little Bunting, Woodchat Shrike, two Short-toed Larks, two Lapland Buntings and a Grey Phalarope. The Blyth's Reed Warbler showed again on Bryher whilst on St Agnes the Rose-coloured Starling was still present. At least seven Yellow-browed Warblers remained around the archipelago.
- Chris Batty, RBA


Sunday 14th October 2007

	Foula continued its excellent run of birds this autumn with three more Olive-backed Pipits, along with Common Rosefinch and a few Yellow-browed Warblers. Elsewhere on Shetland, two more Arctic Redpolls were reported, and a Rustic Bunting was at Sumburgh briefly. The Red-flanked Bluetail remained at Scatness, and Pechora Pipit and Blyth's Reed Warblers both continued to show. At the other end of the country, a Rustic Bunting was on St.Mary's, Scilly, a Raddes Warbler was on Western Rocks and the Penduline Tit was heard to fly over the Great Pool, Tresco. The Blackpoll Warbler was less mobile today, showing well on the Garrison for much of the day. In Pembrokeshire, a Semipalmated Sandpiper was found on the Gann Estuary, and four American Golden Plovers were seen around the country. The Baird's Sandpiper in Perth and Kinross remained in an area with no access on Loch Leven, but the White-billed Diver in Sussex continued to show well off Selsey Bill.
- Will Soar, RBA


Saturday 13th October 2007

	Shetland again produced a selection of quality birds with White's Thrush and Red-flanked Bluetail joining Pechora Pipit, Paddyfield Warbler, Blyth's Reed Warbler and Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on south Mainland, while Unst produced two Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls and a Blyth's Reed Warbler. Two White-billed Divers flew past Whitburn, County Durham, and one was then seen passing Hartlepool Headland in Cleveland, while another remained on the sea off Selsey Bill. Other new reports included a Great White Egret at Pitsford Reservoir, Northants, American Golden Plover at Kilnsea/Easington, East Yorkshire, Ferruginous Duck at Martham, Norfolk, Greenish Warbler joining Blyth's Reed Warbler at Mizen Head, County Cork, Red-throated Pipit over St Agnes, Scilly, Richardson's Canada Goose on Islay, Argyll and White-winged Black Tern at Rutland Water, Leicestershire. The ever-increasing numbers of birders on Scilly were able to enjoy the probable Wilson's Snipe, Grey-cheeked Thrush and two Blackpoll Warblers on St Mary's and the Blyth's Reed Warbler on Bryher among typical October scarcities such as Red-breasted Flycatcher, Woodchat Shrike, Yellow-browed Warblers and Lapland Buntings. Belated news concerned a Least Sandpiper yesterday on the Isle of Lewis (a potential first record for the Western Isles) which could not be relocated this afternoon, and a probable American Robin well described by a non-birder in Welwyn, Hertfordshire, last Sunday.
- Andy Symes, RBA


Friday 12th October 2007

	An interesting day, with up to 23 new rarities being found across the country. Most significant was the relocation of Oxfordshire's American Buff-bellied Pipit, which was found at Port Meadow late afternoon. Two Cattle Egrets were found, one on the Kent/East Sussex border, and one in Somerset at Chew Valley Lake, which was probably the same bird that was reported as a Great White Egret yesterday. On Scilly, rarities included a probable Wilson's Snipe for its second day, a very brief Penduline Tit, another brief Great White Egret, a Grey-cheeked Thrush, a Blyth's Reed Warbler and a flyover Red-throated Pipit. The Blackpoll Warbler remained on St.Mary's, but continued to be very mobile. Shetland hosted a Pechora Pipit on Mainland at Toab, with three Dusky Warblers, Olive-backed Pipit, Arctic Redpoll and Lesser Yellowlegs also on the islands, with Pallas's Warblers, Red-breasted Flycatchers and Yellow-browed Warblers with them. In Argyll, a Marsh Sandpiper was reported from South Uist, a Baird's Sandpiper was on Loch Levan, Perth and Kinross, and a Ferruginous Duck was on a private broad briefly in Norfolk. Remaining rarities included White-billed Diver in Sussex, Black Kite in Lincolnshire, Lesser Scaup in Somerset, Dusky Warbler in Yorkshire and Paddyfield Warbler on Shetland.
- Will Soar, RBA


Thursday 11th October 2007

	The highlight of the day was confirmation of Ireland's first Blyth's Reed Warbler at Mizen Head, County Cork. On the Western Isles an American Golden Plover was found on Benbecula. Elsewhere, the White-billed Diver remained at Selsey Bill, West Sussex as did the Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler at Holkham Pines Norfolk, Dusky Warbler at Easington East Yorkshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Glossy Ibis in Merseyside and Great White Egret in Lancashire. On the Isles of Scilly St Agnes saw a Radde's Warbler discovered alongside Common Rosefinch, Richard's Pipit and Lapland Bunting. The Blackpoll Warbler, Woodchat Shrike and Red-breasted Flycatcher all remained on St Mary's whilst further Lapland Buntings were seen on St Martin's and Tresco. Six Yellow-browed Warblers were recorded around the islands. On the Shetland Isles a King Eider remained on Mainland as did a Ring-necked Duck and four Yellow-browed Warblers. The Spotted Sandpiper was seen again on Yell and a Little Bunting was on Out Skerries.
- Chris Batty, RBA


Wednesday 10th October 2007

	Another Blackpoll Warbler was found on St.Mary's, Scilly at Porth Hellick, with the Garrison bird being seen briefly mid morning. The identification of an acrocephalus warbler was confirmed at Barnes, London, today, as yet another Blyth's Reed Warbler. The Buff-bellied Pipit was reported briefly early morning at Farmoor Reservoir, Oxfordshire, with three remaining in Ireland. Other lingering rarities included Blyth's Reed Warblers in Yorkshire and Wirral, Paddyfield Warbler on Shetland, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Norfolk, Dusky Warblers in Yorkshire and Cornwall and a superb adult summer White-billed Diver in Sussex. Yellow-browed Warblers continued to entertain on the east coast, with several birds finding their way inland.
- Will Soar, RBA


Tuesday 9th October 2007

	Another mega for Scilly broke this afternoon in the form of a Blackpoll Warbler on the Garrison which showed very well, eventually, for the assembled masses. Also on Scilly, a Greenish Warbler was reported in the Parsonage, St.Agnes, the Woodchat Shrike remained on St.Mary's, as did a Red-backed Shrike, Barred Warbler and several Yellow-browed Warblers. In Oxfordshire, an American Buff-bellied Pipit remained for its 5th day on the causeway at Farmoor Reservoir, giving excellent views, with another American Buff-bellied Pipit still in County Clare. On Shetland, new rarities included a Paddyfield Warbler, an American Golden Plover, Arctic Redpoll and an Arctic Warbler, with scarce species such as Melodious Warbler and Little Bunting also present. A Dusky Warbler was found in Cornwall, a White-billed Diver off Selsey Bill, Sussex; the Long-billed Dowitcher remained in Kent, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Norfolk, Great White Egrets in Lancashire and Staffordshire, Glossy Ibis in Merseyside, Blyth's Reed Warbler on the Wirral and Lesser Scaup in Somerset.
- Will Soar, RBA


Monday 8th October 2007

	The star find today was another American Buff-bellied Pipit, this time inland at Farmoor Reservoir, Oxfordshire. Elsewhere, a Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler was confirmed at Holkham Norfolk, a Dusky Warbler at Easington East Yorkshire, a Long-billed Dowitcher at Lough Beg County Londonderry and Great White Egrets in Cornwall (two), Dorset and Staffordshire. Lingering rarities included American Buff-bellied Pipits in County Clare and County Cork (two), Blyth's Reed Warblers in East Yorkshire (two) and Wirral, Lesser Grey Shrike in Norfolk, Radde's Warbler in Essex, Dusky Warbler in Nottinghamshire, Black Kite and Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent, Lesser Scaup in Somerset, Marbled Duck in Suffolk and Great White Egrets in both Hampshire and Lancashire. On the Shetland Isles, Whalsay recorded a Citrine Wagtail, Yell the Spotted Sandpiper, Mainland the Killdeer and Unst an Arctic Redpoll. Scarcities recorded around the archipelago today comprised 35 Yellow-browed Warblers, four Common Rosefinches, three Lapland Buntings, two Barred Warblers and singles of Melodious Warbler, Little Bunting, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Bluethroat and Red-backed Shrike. On the Isles of Scilly the Woodchat Shrike remained on St Mary's along with Red-breasted Flycatcher, Barred Warbler and Red-backed Shrike, Tresco continued to host Pectoral Sandpiper and Dotterel, St Martin's a Wryneck and St Agnes a Lapland Bunting. Thirteen Yellow-browed Warblers were scattered around the islands.
- Chris Batty, RBA


Sunday 7th October 2007

	Potentially the biggest bird of the day (in every respect) was a vulture, apparently thought by the observers to be a Griffon Vulture, which spent several hours over the Isle of Wight in the afternoon. Birders on the south coast could do well to keep their eyes on the skies tomorrow. The remarkable autumn for Buff-bellied Pipits continued with two birds at Lissagriffin, County Cork and another at Liscannor, County Clare, along with the remaining Fair Isle bird. Blyth's Reed Warblers stole the show for many on the mainland with a remarkable three in East Yorkshire (at Flamborough, Kilnsea and Easington) and the confirmation of the bird found yesterday at Red Rocks on the Wirral. The first Dusky Warbler of the autumn chose to appear at the remarkable inland location of Netherfield, Nottinghamshire, where it was eventually seen and heard well, but a Greenish Warbler at the equally unusual location of Catford in London could not be relocated. A Radde's Warbler seen again at The Naze, Essex proved popular but was typically elusive, while the best Scilly could muster were Woodchat and Red-backed Shrikes, Barred and Yellow-browed Warblers and a Common Rosefinch. The east coast deluge of Yellow-browed Warblers continued and a few birds even made it inland. A count of nine in County Galway was particularly noteworthy. There was no sign of yesterday's reported Dendroica species on Shetland, but news of Iceland's second ever Yellow-bellied Sapsucker gave renewed hope for those searching for Nearctic vagrants in the southwest, Scilly and Scotland.
- Andy Symes, RBA