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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Friday 23rd November 2007  
  In Pembrokeshire, the Pechora Pipit showed well, but very briefly, only a few times today. It appears as though it may have changed its habits, and possibly moved into another area where it spends the majority of its time. A dilemma for the weekend birders!

A female King Eider was located just before midday, off Girdle Ness, Aberdeenshire, to add to the on-going list of rarities this site has had this autumn. The Cattle Egrets that arrived in Cornwall in the last few days continued to be seen in horse and cattle fields, but no new birds were found. The Lesser Yellowlegs was seen again in Angus, at Montrose Basin, the Ferruginous Duck remained at Theale GPs, Berkshire and the Great White Egret was still at Blashford lakes, Hampshire.

Another fairly good sea-watching day, with good numbers of Little Auks being seen from many east coast locations, along with a few Pomarine Skuas, two Leach's Petrels and a Grey Phalarope. Two Pallas's Warblers were seen, in North Yorkshire and Borders, both showing well. A Serin lingered at Portland Bill for its second day, although it was only seen briefly.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 22nd November 2007  
  Once again the Pechora Pipit in Pembrokeshire stole the limelight by showing well all day. Other lingering rarities included a Wilson's Snipe and Cattle Egret on the Isles of Scilly, three Penduline Tits in Suffolk, five Cattle Egrets in Cornwall, Spotted Sandpiper in Glamorgan, Ferruginous Duck in Berkshire, Richardson's Canada Goose in Dumfries and Galloway, Ross's Goose in Norfolk and Great White Egrets in both Hampshire and Lancashire.

An American Golden Plover was a new discovery at Killag, County Wexford as was a Pallas's Warbler at Filey, North Yorkshire.

Little Auks were again in evidence with singles in Highland and Norfolk, two in Lothian and a massive 1,172 passing Sumburgh Head, Shetland Isles.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 21st November 2007  
  The superb Pechora Pipit remained at Goodwick Moor, Pembrokeshire, showing very well on and off throughout the day. Everything else was somewhat overshadowed by this Mainland Mega, but Cattle Egrets continued to turn up at various sites in Cornwall, including Falmouth, Drift and Carnon Downs. On Isles of Scilly, the Cattle Egret remained on St Mary's, where a Wilson's Snipe also reappeared.

In Suffolk three Penduline Tits remained at Dingle Marshes and in Dumfries and Galloway the Red-breasted Goose was again with Barnacle Geese at Caerlaverock WWT.

A Pallas's Warbler at Marsden, Co Durham proved that there are still birds to be found on the east coast.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 20th November 2007  
  The highlight of the day was the confirmation of a Pechora Pipit at Goodwick Moor, Pembrokeshire. Suspected late yesterday afternoon the identity was confirmed early this morning and the bird showed well throughout the day. Elsewhere in Wales a male Desert Wheatear was discovered at Towyn, Conwy.

A Cattle Egret at the Otter Estuary, Devon may be a returning individual, as might the Great White Egret at Dingle Marshes, Suffolk; the latter joining three Penduline Tits that remain at this site.

Other lingering rarities comprise single Glossy Ibises in both Devon and Lancashire, a Cattle Egret in Cornwall and a Great White Egret on the Western Isles.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 19th November 2007  
  The wheatear species, either a Pied or Black-eared, remained at Northam Burrows Country Park, Devon, for at least its third day - this individual is certainly proving to be an identification nightmare!

In neighbouring Cornwall three Cattle Egrets were discovered in the Sennen area, whilst on Isles of Scilly the Cattle Egret remained on St Mary's. In Devon, the juvenile Glossy Ibis was still present at West Alvington.

In Suffolk four Penduline Tits continued to perform at Dingle Marshes, the Ferruginous Duck was still at Theale GPs, Berkshire and the long-staying Spotted Sandpiper remained on show at Lisvane Reservoir, Glamorgan.

An intriguing record concerned a possible Pechora Pipit seen in Pembrokeshire - many will be hoping that this one 'firms up' tomorrow.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 18th November 2007  
  A Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler was found in Conwy, at Penrhyn Bay this morning, proving that this autumn isn't over yet! A Glossy Ibis appeared in Devon, at West Alvington, at the same site that one was present a few months back.

Two Cattle Egrets were found, both in the southwest, with one on Scilly, which roosted on St.Mary's, and one in Cornwall briefly on The Lizard. The juvenile American Golden Plover reappeared at Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire, and the Great White Egret on the Western Isles has relocated to Benbecula.

Late news concerning either a Pied or a Black-eared Wheatear on Friday in Devon was released, after an incorrectly labelled photograph was found on a website.

Other lingering rarities today included Penduline Tits in Suffolk, Lesser Scaup in Somerset, Spotted Sandpiper in Glamorgan, Ferruginous Duck in Berkshire, and the Forsters Tern in County Louth.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 17th November 2007  
  Another first winter Penduline Tit was discovered today, this time in Cornwall, at Marazion Marsh, in the same area as the long staying Yellow-browed Warbler. The four Penduline Tits still showed very well at Dingle Marshes, Suffolk, for much of the day, although they can go missing for long periods.

Lancashire's Great White Egret was discovered in nearby Cumbria today, at Beetham, before flying back towards Leighton Moss RSPB. A new King Eider was found off Fetlar, Shetland, and the Lesser Scaup remained on the same island.

Other rarities seen today included the Spotted Sandpiper in Glamorgan, which reappeared at Llanishen Reservoir, White-billed Diver off Selsey Bill, Sussex, Lesser Yellowlegs in Angus, Lesser Scaup in Somerset at Blagdon Lake, and the female Ferruginous Duck at Theale GPs, Berkshire. The second winter Laughing Gull returned to Countess Wear, Devon, where it showed very well within the compound.

Elsewhere, Great Grey Shrikes continued to entertain, with most birds likely to settle down to winter here. The adult Pomarine Skua showed well again between Salthouse and Cley, in the draining fields north of the A149.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 16th November 2007  
  The four Penduline Tits were still at Dingle Marshes, Suffolk, although they were fairly mobile, not being seen after 12.30pm. The American Golden Plover was seen again at Waxham, Norfolk and the adult White-billed Diver was seen off Selsey Bill late morning.

A Blyth's Pipit flew over Land's End and Sennen, but was not relocated afterwards. The Red-breasted Goose was seen briefly at Caerlaverock, Dumfries and Galloway, but remains tricky to pick out of the mobile Barnacle Goose flocks.

Bonaparte's Gull and Lesser Yellowlegs remained in Angus, with Lesser Scaup and Ferruginous Duck in Berkshire, and a couple of Great White Egrets around the country. Several Great Grey Shrikes were found today, and will hopefully remain for the winter.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 15th November 2007  
  Scotland hosted a fine selection of rarities, included Red-breasted Goose at Caerlaverock WWT, Dumfries and Galloway, Bonaparte's Gull at Fishtown of Usan and Lesser Yellowlegs at Montrose Basin, Angus.

In Suffolk the four Penduline Tits remained at Dingle Marshes and in neighbouring Essex an immature White-tailed Eagle was once again reported near Braintree. Elsewhere the long-staying 1st-winter Mourning Dove remained on Inishbofin, Co Galway, the Black Scoter was off Llanfairfechan, Conwy, the Glossy Ibis remained in Somerset and in Berkshire the Lesser Scaup was still at Woolhampton Gravel Pits and a female Ferruginous Duck was unearthed at Theale Gravel Pits.

Pallas's Warblers were at Spurn, East Yorkshire and Berry Head, Devon and the odd inland Pomarine Skua and a scattering of Little Auks continued to linger.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 14th November 2007  
  The party of four Penduline Tits remained at Dingle Marshes, Suffolk, where they showed on and off throughout the day. On Shetland the female Lesser Scaup was still on Fetlar and White-billed Divers were in Bluemull Sound and South Nesting Bay.

Back on the Mainland, the Bonaparte's Gull and Lesser Yellowlegs were both still in Angus, the American Buff-bellied Pipit made another appearance near Land's End, Cornwall and the adult drake Lesser Scaup was still in Berkshire. In Cleveland the Long-billed Dowitcher appeared at Seaton Snook and elsewhere the White-billed Diver was again logged off Selsey Bill, West Sussex, Glossy Ibises were still in Somerset and Lancashire (the latter returning to Warton Marsh) and on Islay, Argyll, three Richardson's Canada Geese were amongst the Barnacle Geese.

Pomarine Skuas and Little Auks were still moving off the east and south coast, with the odd individual making it to inland locations.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA