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 23rd February 2008  
  The highlight of the day was, once again, the relocation of the pale juvenile Thayer's Gull (or perhaps a hybrid between Thayer's Gull and either Iceland Gull or Kumlien's Gull), this time in North Yorkshire at the Wheldrake Ings evening gull roost.

Lingering rarities still present today comprised the White-crowned Sparrow and two Ross's Geese in Norfolk, Wilson's Snipe on the Isles of Scilly, King Eider and Long-billed Dowitcher in Devon, American Herring Gull in County Galway, Spotted Sandpiper in Glamorgan, Bonaparte's Gull in Aberdeenshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Angus, single Glossy Ibises in both Lancashire and Lincolnshire, Hume's Yellow-browed Warblers in Cleveland and Cornwall (2), Lesser Scaups in County Down, Western Isles and Wiltshire and Great White Egrets in Cambridgeshire, Somerset, Suffolk and Wiltshire.

Cattle Egrets reports totalled thirty birds with 22 in Cornwall, two each in Dorset and West Sussex and singles in Cheshire, Devon, Lancashire and Cambridgeshire; the latter bird relocating to Northamptonshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 22nd February 2008  
  Lingering rarities confirmed as still being present today comprised the White-crowned Sparrow and a Ross's Goose in Norfolk, Wilson's Snipe on the Isles of Scilly, American Herring Gull in County Galway, King Eider in Devon, Great White Egret in Cambridgeshire, single Glossy Ibises in both Lancashire and Lincolnshire and Hume's Yellow-browed Warblers in Cleveland and Cornwall (2).

The most notable fresh discoveries today involved single Great White Egrets at Portesham and Burleston in Dorset and Fingringhoe Wick in Essex.

Cattle Egret reports today concerned seventeen in Cornwall, four in Dorset and two in Devon.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 21st February 2008  
  Devon's first King Eider was a popular attraction near North Burrows Country Park throughout the day. Supporting cast in Devon consisted of the Long-billed Dowitcher at Bowling Green Marsh RSPB, Yellow-browed Warbler in Plymouth and Great Grey Shrike on Dartmoor. Neighbouring Cornwall hosted Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler, the probable Eastern Yellow Wagtail, a rather unseasonal Garden Warbler and a report of five Small Canada Geese flying over the Hayle Estuary was rather intriguing.

Elsewhere the White-crowned Sparrow was still on show in Norfolk, the Barrow's Goldeneye remained in Co Down and the Glossy Ibis was still in Lincolnshire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 20th February 2008  
  The highlight of today was the continued presence of the first-winter drake King Eider in Devon, which showed well all day. Other scarce wildfowl included two Lesser Scaups, one at Draycote Water, Warwickshire, with another drake reappearing at Stourhead NT, Wiltshire.

Other lingering rarities included the White-crowned Sparrow in Norfolk, Spotted Sandpiper in Glamorgan, three Hume's Yellow-browed Warblers in Cornwall and Cleveland, Glossy Ibis in Lincolnshire and still good numbers of the scarcer egrets. The Black-bellied Dipper remained in East Yorkshire, and an apparent Dark-breasted Barn Owl was seen again in Wiltshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 19th February 2008  
  The highlight of the day was the confirmation of the presence of a 1st-winter drake King Eider at Appledore in Devon - the first for the county. A Spotted Crake at Shoreham, West Sussex, was an unexpected February discovery, especially on a rocky beach.

Lingering rarities included the White-crowned Sparrow, three Hume's Yellow-browed Warblers, two Spotted Sandpipers, Wilson's Snipe and Barrow's Goldeneye.

The Yellow Wagtail, thought to be of an eastern form was still near Saltash, Cornwall - the same site continued to host a Richard's Pipit.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 18th February 2008  
  The highlight of the day was the Thayer's Gull (or perhaps a hybrid) still in Derbyshire, although it was only seen briefly at Duckmanton.

Elsewhere, lingering rarities confirmed as still present today were the White-cronwed Sparrow in Norfolk, Wilson's Snipe on the Isles of Scilly, American Herring Gull in County Galway, Glossy Ibis in Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Angus, Richardson's Canada Goose in County Mayo, Ross's Goose in Cumbria, Lesser Scaup in Warwickshire, Great White Egrets in both Merseyside and Powys and Hume's Yellow-browed Warblers in Cleveland and Cornwall (two).

Cattle Egret reports comprised eleven in Cornwall, five in both County Cork and Somerset, three in Devon and singles in Cheshire, Cumbria, Dorset, Lincolnshire and Wiltshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 17th February 2008  
  In Derbyshire the juvenile gull, either a Thayer's Gull or a hybrid, remained in the Poolsbrook Country Park area for its second day. This is the same individual that lingered in the Stanton Harcourt area of Oxfordshire between 4th December 2007-8th January 2008.

Cumbria's first twitchable Cattle Egret was located just northwest of Carlisle - apparently the bird was present in the area for its fifth day. At least 54 Cattle Egrets were spread around Britain and Ireland today.

Lingering highlights included the White-crowned Sparrow in Norfolk, Glossy Ibises in Lincolnshire and Lancashire, Hume's Yellow-browed Warblers in Cornwall (2) and Cleveland, Wilson's Snipe on Isles of Scilly, Spotted Sandpiper in Forth, Red-breasted and Ross's Geese in Cumbria and Franklin's Gull in Somerset.

The top birds in Ireland included Black Duck in Co Kerry, American Herring Gull in Co Galway and the American Buff-bellied Pipit in Co Cork.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 16th February 2008  
  In Cumbria a Red-breasted Goose was discovered with Barnacle and Pink-footed Geese near Drumburgh - unfortunately the Ross's Goose that had recently been residing in the same fields could not be found.  In Suffolk a couple of adult Red-breasted Geese were with Dark-bellied Brent Geese at Trimley - worryingly one of the pair sported a yellow ring.

Popular rarities included the White-crowned Sparrow in Norfolk and Glossy Ibises in Lincolnshire and Lancashire. Hume's Yellow-browed Warblers lingered in Cleveland and Cornwall (2), the Spotted Sandpiper reappeared at Kinneil Lagoon, Forth and the long-staying Spotted Sandpiper also remained in Glamorgan. A Wilson's Snipe was still present on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, the Franklin's Gull made another brief appearance at Chew Valley Lake, Somerset and a Lesser Yellowlegs was still in Angus. Six Great White and at least 38 Cattle Egrets were logged and in Derbyshire a possible juvenile Thayer's Gull visited Poolsbrook Country Park.

In Ireland highlights included American Buff-bellied Pipit, American Herring Gull, Forsters Tern and Lesser Yellowlegs.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 15th February 2008  
  New discoveries came in the form of a couple of Red-breasted Geese with Dark-bellied Brent Geese at Chelmondiston, Suffolk and a Snowy Owl in Co Galway near Spiddal.

Lingering rarities included two 2nd-winter Glossy Ibises (in Lancashire and Lincolnshire), Franklin's Gull in Somerset, three Hume's Yellow-browed Warblers (two in Cornwall and one in Cleveland), the White-crowned Sparrow in Norfolk, Wilson's Snipe on Isles of Scilly and Cattle Egrets were still present in excellent numbers.

As well as the aforementioned Snowy Owl Ireland also continued to host the American Buff-bellied Pipit in Co Cork and American Herring Gull in Co Galway.

A Night Heron in Lancashire showed a facial pattern consistent with the American form hoactli.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Thursday 14th February 2008  
  Two White-billed Divers were reported from Lewis, Western Isles, off Port Skigersta. The Franklin's Gull roosted again at Chew Valley lake, Somerset, with other lingering rarities including the White-crowned Sparrow at Cley, Norfolk, Wilson's Snipe on St.Mary's, Isles of Scilly, Glossy Ibises in Lincolnshire and Lancashire and Lesser Scaup at Draycote Water, Warwickshire.

The possible eastern Yellow Wagtail  was seen again in Cornwall, at Lower Trevollard Farm, with a Richard's Pipit at the same site and two Hume's Yellow-browed Warblers remaining in the county. A Night Heron remained in Lancashire, at Mere Sands Wood LWT.
-  Will Soar, RBA