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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Saturday 3rd November 2007  
  To the delight of weekend twitchers the Mourning Dove on North Uist, Western Isles, remained on show throughout Saturday. Across the Irish Sea, Ireland's first Mourning Dove also stayed put on Inishbofin, Co Galway.

In Cornwall a Red-flanked Bluetail was discovered in Cot Valley and the American Buff-bellied Pipit was still near Trevescan, whilst a Dusky Warbler and a probable Desert Lesser Whitethroat were both available at Porthcurno. A Glossy Ibis left Chew Valley Lake, Somerset early morning and was later seen at Catcott Lows NR and Shapwick Heath NNR. A party of four Cattle Egrets flew over Lytchett Bay, Dorset mid morning, before a singleton was seen at nearby Hole's Bay early afternoon. An American Golden Plover was located amongst Golden Plovers at Holt Fen, Cambridgeshire and on North Uist, a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll made a brief appearance at Oban Trumisgarry, whilst both the Great White Egret and a couple of Ring-necked Ducks were all still available as supporting cast to the mega-dove.

Other lingering rarities included Lesser Scaups in Wiltshire and Berkshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Devon, Spotted and White-rumped Sandpipers in Glamorgan and Killdeer on Shetland.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 2nd November 2007  
  The highlight today was astonishingly another Mourning Dove in County Galway on Inishboffin the first record for Ireland.  Yesterdays individual also remained on North Uist all day.  Two new American Buff-bellied Pipits were also found today, one in Cornwall just east of Land's End and the other in County Wexford at Carnsore Point.  A third was still present in County Cork.

The only other new rarity today was a Glossy Ibis at Chew Vally Lake, another Glossy Ibis was still present in Merseyside at Marshside RSPB.

Other rarities still in the country today included Great White Egrets at Leighton Moss in Lancashire and another on North Uist.  American Golden Plovers remained at Aberlady Bay in Lothian and on the Ythan Estuary in Aberdeenshire. In Glamorgan the Spotted Sandpiper was still on Lisvane Reservoir and White-rumped Sandpiper still at Kenfig Pool. The Wilson's Snipe was still on Scilly on St Mary's and a Dusky Warbler remained in Cornwall at Porthcurno.  In East Anglia the Lesser Yellowlegs was still in Suffolk at Minsmere while Ross's Goose and Great White Egret were both still at Holkham in Norfolk.
-  Keith Langdon, RBA
Thursday 1st November 2007  
  The highlight of the day was without doubt the discovery of a Mourning Dove on North Uist, Western Isles. The third record for the British Isles and remarkably less then three miles from the site of the last record, in 1999. Found early in the afternoon it later transpired that a farmer may have seen the bird at the same location on Tuesday.

Elsewhere, in Cornwall a Blyth's Pipit flew south over Nanjizal Valley and a Dusky Warbler showed well at Porthcurno. In Gloucestershire an American Golden Plover was reported at Slimbridge.

Lingering rarities comprised, in Ireland, American Buff-bellied Pipits in both County Clare and County Cork and Long-billed Dowitcher in County Derry, in Scotland Pine Bunting and Killdeer on the Shetland Isles and American Golden Plover in Aberdeenshire, in England Black Kite in Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Suffolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in Devon, Lesser Scaup in Berkshire and at least one Wilson's Snipe on the Isles of Scilly, and in Wales Spotted Sandpiper and White-rumped Sandpiper both in Glamorgan.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 31st October 2007  
  Once again, American Buff-bellied Pipits proved to be the highlight of the day with two (apparently new) birds discovered in Ireland, at Ballycotton in County Cork and Clahane in County Clare. Elsewhere, an American Golden Plover was a new arrival in The Shetland Isles at Esha Ness.

Two Ross's Geese relocated to Borders whilst other Scottish rarities consisted of American Golden Plovers in both Aberdeenshire and Lothian. In Wales both the Spotted Sandpiper and White-rumped Sandpiper remained in Glamorgan and in England the Lesser Scaup showed in Berkshire, as did the Long-billed Dowitcher in Devon, Black Kite in Lincolnshire and Great White Egrets in both Hampshire and Lancashire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 30th October 2007  
  New discoveries today comprised a Laughing Gull on St Mary's Isles of Scilly, Lesser Yellowlegs at Minsmere, Suffolk and Lesser Scaup at Woolhampton, Berkshire. In Kent a Black Kite flew over Coldharbour and in Oxfordshire a Great White Egret flew south over South Moreton. In Ireland two Arctic Redpolls were found on The Mullet, Co Mayo and a further four remained at Kilcredaun, County Clare.

Lingering rarities included a Wilson's Snipe on the Isles of Scilly, Black Kite in Lincolnshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Devon, American Golden Plover in Lothian, both Spotted Sandpiper and White-rumped Sandpier in Glamorgan and a Great White Egret and two Ross's Geese in Norfolk.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 29th October 2007  
  Three of the four new rarities located today were in Ireland, with four Arctic Redpolls in County Clare at Loop Head, Forster's Tern in County Louth at Cruisetown and an adult Bonaparte's Gull in County Waterford at Ardmore Bay for its second day. Elsewhere, a White-rumped Sandpiper showed very well at Kenfig Pool, Galmorgan, although the bird unfortunately had a damaged eye and a limp. Nearby, the Spotted Sandpiper was still present at Lisvane Reservoir, near Cardiff.

Lingering Great White Egrets included two still in Norfolk at Stiffkey and Wells, North Uist at Lochmaddy, Hampshire at Mockbeggar Lake, Lancashire at Leighton Moss and one in Suffolk which flew over Blythburgh. Also in Norfolk, the Olive-backed Pipit remained in Wells Woods, but was even more elusive than yesterday, being seen just twice during the day.

The first winter male Rose-breasted Grosbeak continued its stay on St.Agnes, Scilly, although the lack of birders now on the islands means fewer people are available to locate this mobile bird. Also on St.Agnes, the Dusky Warbler was seen at Troy Town.

American Golden Plovers were seen in Lothian and Dumfries and Galloway, and the juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher was still at Bowling Green Marsh, Devon. Seawatching produced the goods on the Western Isles, with several Grey Phalaropes and Leach's Petrels being reported, along with a few Sabine's Gulls and Pomarine Skuas. Little Auks were around the coast, but still in rather small numbers.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 28th October 2007  
  Two Red-rumped Swallows were discovered today - one in the south, on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly and one in the north, at Port Nis, Lewis, Western Isles.

In Norfolk the Olive-backed Pipit was still in Wells Woods, but remained extremely elusive, showing briefly on the odd occasion during the morning. Dusky Warblers could be found at Spurn, East Yorkshire, Reculver, Kent, and St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, where the elusive Rose-breasted Grosbeak made another late afternoon appearance near the Post Office.

The male Pine Bunting, male Subalpine Warbler and Bluethroat all remained on Fair Isle, whilst American Golden Plovers were still at Aberlady Bay, Lothian, Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, between Kilnsea and Easington, East Yorkshire and a new bird was discovered on The Lizard, Cornwall.

In Devon the Long-billed Dowitcher was still at Bowling Green Marsh RSPB, the Spotted Sandpiper was still at Lisvane Reservoir, the White-winged Black Tern continued to come and go at Loch of Skene, Aberdeenshire, a Ferruginous Duck remained at Chew Valley Lake, Somerset and the long-staying Killdeer was still on Mainland Shetland.

Ireland continued to host a Red-rumped Swallow on Tory Island, Co Donegal.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 27th October 2007  
  A Blyth's Pipit was new in on Fair Isle, Shetland where it joined the male Pine Bunting. An Olive-backed Pipit was seen briefly in Wells Woods, Norfolk. Birders looking for yesterday's Laughing Gull at Fidwell Fen, Cambridgeshire had consolation in the form of a flyover Great White Egret, while two Great White Egrets remained out on the saltmarsh at Wells, Norfolk. Other new finds included a brief Red-throated Pipit on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, Red-rumped Swallow on Tory Island, County Donegal and a Dusky Warbler on the Lizard in Cornwall.

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak put in a frustratingly brief appearance on St Agnes while a Wilson's Snipe remained on nearby St Mary's. Other lingering rarities included Glossy Ibis in Merseyside, Ross's Geese in Norfolk and Lothian, Lesser Scaups in Somerset, Wiltshire and County Donegal, Black Kite in Lincolnshire, Spotted Sandpiper in Glamorgan, American Golden Plovers in Carmarthernshire and Lothian, Long-billed Dowitcher in Devon, the late White-winged Black Tern in Aberdeenshire and Dusky Warblers in East Yorkshire, Kent and Scilly.

A scatter of Great Grey Shrikes, Rough-legged Buzzards, Pallas's and Yellow-browed Warblers and Lapland Buntings provided interest along the east coast.
-  Andy Symes, RBA
Friday 26th October 2007  
  Both the male Pine Bunting on Fair Isle and the male Rose-breasted Grosbeak on Scilly remained, although the grosbeak continued to be mobile and elusive. A Laughing Gull was reported from Essex, and one roosted in Cambridgeshire this evening.

A Dusky Warbler was on St.Agnes, Scilly, and another American Golden Plover joined the one on South Uist. Two Great White Egrets continued to show in the mirky gloom of Wells-Stiffkey saltmarsh, Norfolk, with another flying over Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk.

Dusky Warblers remained at Spurn, Yorkshire and Reculver, Kent, and the Spotted Sandpiper was still at Llanishen Reservoir, Glamorgan. The Long-billed Dowitcher showed distantly at Bowling Green Marsh, Devon and several Pallas's Warblers and Rough-legged Buzzards were seen around the country.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 25th October 2007  
  A male Pine Bunting made landfall on Fair Isle, Shetland this afternoon, but the Rose-breasted Grosbeak on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly was a considerably more popular attraction - the bird remained on show on and off throughout the day. Elsewhere Dusky Warblers were discovered at Bishopstone Glen, Kent and Spurn Point, East Yorkshire.

Lingering rarities included Spotted Sandpiper in Glamorgan, Long-billed Dowitcher in Devon, American Golden Plovers in Lothian and Dumfries and Galloway, a couple of Ross's Geese in Lothian and a singleton in Norfolk, Wilson's Snipe on Isles of Scilly, Killdeer on Shetland and White-winged Black Tern in Aberdeenshire

Ten Pallas's Warblers were reported, as where five Richard's Pipits, a Bluethroat, four Barred Warblers and a couple of Rough-legged Buzzards.

In Ireland a Night Heron was on Cape Clear Island.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA