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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Monday 21st April 2008  
  The male BLACK LARK remained in Winterton North Dunes, Norfolk for its second day, but it was only available until 7.02am when it disappeared and was not seen again. A Hoopoe and Wryneck were little consolation to those who arrived too late.

In Lancashire the Ross's Gull continued to show extremely well in Lytham St Anne's and the long-staying Glossy Ibis was also still just a few miles up the road at Warton Bank. In Devon the Little Crake remained at Exminster Marshes RSPB, the Franklin's Gull again roosted at Draycote Water, Warwickshire and Lesser Yellowlegs in West Sussex and Cambridgeshire, Bonaparte's Gull on South Uist, White-billed Diver on Lewis, King Eider in Devon, Spotted Sandpiper in Glamorgan and several Cattle Egrets were all still available.

Black Kites were observed in Warwickshire, Suffolk, Cheshire and Norfolk

In Ireland the Subalpine Warbler remained in Co Wexford, a Bonaparte's Gull was in Co Kerry and a Long-billed Dowitcher was located in Co Clare.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 20th April 2008  
  The easterly winds of the last few days finally produced the goods today, with a superb male BLACK LARK in Norfolk, in Winterton North Dunes. Present from mid afternoon, it showed well, and was even heard to sing briefly. On Fair Isle, Shetland, another mega lark, in the form of a Calandra Lark, was present this afternoon.

In Ireland, a male Subalpine Warbler was found at Hook Head, County Wexford, with a Red-breasted Flycatcher in County Cork, at Old Head of Kinsale. Black Kites were reported today in Devon, Dorset, Surrey, Suffolk and Norfolk, and a Red-rumped Swallow was seen briefly on Portland, Dorset.

The male Little Crake was seen again in Devon, at Exminster Marshes RSPB, and the adult Ross's Gull was still at Lytham St.Anne's, Lancashire, showing very well. The second-summer Franklin's Gull returned to roost at Draycote Water, Warwickshire, and Bonaparte's Gulls' were seen on the Western Isles and in Highland.

Lesser Yellowlegs' remained in Cambridgeshire and Sussex and up to 42 Cattle Egrets were seen around the country.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 19th April 2008  
  New rarities today included a Lesser Yellowlegs in Cambridgeshire, which showed well from late morning near Earith, at the Berry Fen RSPB reserve, an Alpine Swift on the Western Isles, which flew north over Grimsay, and a Lesser Scaup at Siblyback Reservoir, Cornwall. Another Lesser Yellowlegs remained in West Sussex, at Sidlesham Ferry Pool.

Elsewhere, the adult Ross's Gull continued to perform in Lancashire, usually showing very well along the beach at Lytham St.Anne's. The second summer Franklin's Gull returned to Draycote Water, Warwickshire, to roost this evening, and the adult Bonaparte's Gull was seen again in Thurso, Highland.

The first Pallas's Warbler for Gloucestershire was a good find today, with several Hoopoes also being seen. There are still very good numbers of Ring Ouzels across the country, with flocks of up to 22 reported.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 18th April 2008  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Lesser Yellowlegs at Sidlesham Ferry, West Sussex. Although in Lancashire the Ross's Gull made an equally popular reappearance at Lytham.

Lingering rarities included the Franklin's Gull in Warwickshire, Snowy Owl in County Mayo, American Herring Gull in County Galway, Spotted Sandpiper in Glamorgan, single King Eiders in Ayrshire and the Orkney Isles and both Bonaparte's Gull and two White-billed Divers in the Western Isles. Cattle Egret reports comprised eight in Cornwall, two in Gloucestershire and one in Ceredigion.

Scarce migrants were represented by a Pallas's Warbler still in Northumberland, Wryneck in Pembrokeshire, Dotterel in County Wexford and single Hoopoes in each of Cornwall, County Cork, County Wexford, Dorset, Pembrokeshire, Suffolk and the Isles of Scilly.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 17th April 2008  
  The most notable discovery today was the relocation of the Ross's Gull in Lancashire, this time in fields at Lytham Moss, but again it did not linger for long. It had also been seen briefly at Fairhaven Lake, also in Lancashire, on Tuesday. The Franklin's Gull was seen again in the roost at Draycote Water in Warwickshire, and in Ireland, a Long-billed Dowitcher was found in County Tipperary.

Amongst other rarities, the Little Crake again performed in Devon, the Spotted Sandpiper remained in Glamorgan, the Lesser Scaup was still in Forth and there were White-billed Divers at Loch Ewe in Highland and on North Ronaldsay in the Orkny Islands, with the latter location also holding a King Eider.

With easterly winds, much of the country, and inland counties in particular, saw arrivals and movements of common migrants, with Ring Ouzels most notable (including 26 together at Ivinghoe in Buckinghamshire) but also species such as Redstart, Yellow Wagtail, Grasshopper Warbler, Nightingale and Garganey putting in appearances at many sites. Amongst these came six Hoopoes: two in Cornwall, two on Cape Clear Island (County Cork) and singles on the Scillies and in Devon. A Wryneck was found on Ramsey Island in Pembrokeshire and two Dotterels were on Islay (Argyll).
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Wednesday 16th April 2008  
  An adult Franklin's Gull visited Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve, Warwickshire for a short period mid afternoon before roosting at Draycote Water later in the evening. Black Kites were observed in Northamptonshire (at Thrapston), Hampshire (at Keyhaven Marshes) and Norfolk (at Stiffkey) and in Highland two White-billed Divers were found on Loch Ewe. A drake King Eider was off the west side of North Ronaldsay, Orkney.

In Flintshire the drake Baikal Teal remained on the pond at Hawarden High School and on Isles of Scilly the Wilson's Snipe found in October last year reappeared on St Mary's. Elsewhere long stayers included the Glossy Ibis in Lancashire and Spotted Sandpiper in Glamorgan.

A good showing of Ring Ouzels, Redstarts and the odd Pied Flycatcher kept local patchers entertained.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 15th April 2008  
  An adult White-tailed Eagle was watched for a few minutes as it drifted over Seaforth LWT, Merseyside late afternoon. Other new rarities included a White-billed Diver off North Ronaldsay, Orkney, and a Black Kite yesterday over Ramsgate, Kent. Another Black Kite was seen over Hickling, Norfolk.

The male Little Crake remained at Exminster Marshes RSPB, Devon, showing down to just 10 feet. Also in Devon, the King Eider was seen again in the Bideford area, and the drake Lesser Scaup was still in Cornwall, at Dozmary Pool.

Twenty-eight Cattle Egrets were seen, with Great White Egrets on Shetland and in Suffolk. A Ross's Goose was found in Perth and Kinross, near the Vane Farm RSPB on Loch Leven.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Monday 14th April 2008  
  The male Little Crake remained at Exminster Marshes RSPB, Devon, showing very well for much of the day. In nearby Cornwall, a drake Lesser Scaup was present for its second day at Dozmary Pool, Bodmin Moor, with the three Black-winged Stilts still at Windmill Farm Nature Reserve, Lizard.

Both Spotted Sandpipers were seen again today, in Glamorgan and Forth, and Cattle Egrets were in London, Ceredigion, Sussex (three), Devon (ten), Dorset and Cornwall (six). A Red-breasted Goose, of unknown origin, was seen late afternoon in Northumberland, in the Druridge Pools NR/ Cresswell Pond NWT area.

Summer migrants continued to arrive, although winter visitors such as Rough-legged Buzzard and Waxwing were still present also. The Pallas's Warbler was still singing in Northumberland, at Swallow Pond NR.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 13th April 2008  
  A female Penduline Tit was trapped and ringed in the Wiltshire section of the Cotswold Water Park this morning, but it failed to show later in the day. In Devon the stunning male Little Crake continued to attract the crowds to Exminster Marshes RSPB, and the King Eider, Falcated Duck and eleven Cattle Egrets also remained in the same county. Elsewhere Cattle Egrets remained in London, Essex, Norfolk and at least sixteen were still in Cornwall.

Other rarities included Spotted Sandpiper in Forth, three Black-winged Stilts in Cornwall and several Lesser Scaups, and scarcities came in the form of Hoopoes in Dorset and Gloucestershire, Pallas's Warblers in Northumberland and Dorset, Purple Heron in Cornwall and Night Heron on Fair Isle.

A Grey-bellied Brant was amongst Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Killough harbour, Co Down and a Dotterel was noted at Tacumshin, Co Wexford.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 12th April 2008  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of several rarities, most notably the Little Crake in Devon - which showed well to all-comers at Exminster Marshes - with both King Eider and Falcated Duck still present in the same county. The Black Duck was seen again in Pembrokeshire as were the three Black-winged Stilts in Cornwall, Spotted Sandpiper in Glamorgan, Glossy Ibis in Lancashire, American Herring Gull in County Galway, Richardson's Canada Goose in County Sligo, single Lesser Scaups in both Forth and Somerset and Great White Egrets in both the Shetland Isles and Suffolk.

Mobile Black Kites were noted in Angus, Norfolk and Suffolk, with perhaps two individuals in the latter counties.

Notable scarcities included a Pallas's Warbler in Northumberland, Purple Heron in Cornwall, Hoopoe in Gloucestershire, Wryneck in West Sussex and single Night Herons in both County Cork and the Shetland Isles.

Cattle Egret reports comprised five in both Devon and County Waterford with singles in each of Ceredigion, Cheshire, Dorset, Essex, London and Norfolk.
-  Chris Batty, RBA