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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Sunday 28th September 2008  
  A Bobolink on Foula, Shetland and White's Thrush on Inishbofin, Co Galway were today's two standout finds. A Booted Warbler on Lundy, Devon, was equally unavailable to the masses, but mainland discoveries included a Radde's Warbler on Great Ormes Head, Conwy and a Glossy Ibis on Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire.

Other highlights consisted of the Aquatic Warbler at Slapton Ley, Devon (the same bird trapped and ringed at the site on 20th September), Stilt Sandpiper and Rustic Bunting in Cumbria, Lesser Grey Shrike and Greenish Warbler in Norfolk, Radde's Warblers in Suffolk and Norfolk, Red-footed Falcon in East Yorkshire and Hudsonian Whimbrel on Isles of Scilly.

The most notable scarcities were a Woodchat Shrike and Richard's Pipit in Norfolk, Hoopoe on Isle of Man, Ortolan Bunting on Bardsey Island and a couple of Little Buntings together on Isles of Scilly.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 27th September 2008  
  A Rustic Bunting on Walney Island, Cumbria and Western Bonelli's Warbler on Mainland Shetland were today's headline discoveries, but a Greenish Warbler in East Norfolk, Red-footed Falcon at Saltburn, Cleveland, Bee-eater at Lavernock Point, Glamorgan and Radde's Warbler at Foulness Island, Essex were also super finds.

Lingering rarities included a Lesser Grey Shrike, Blyth's Reed and Radde's Warblers in Norfolk, Dusky Warbler in Kent, Red-footed Falcon in East Yorkshire, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset (another was discovered in Leicestershire), Radde's Warbler in Suffolk, Stilt Sandpiper in Cumbria, White-winged Black Tern in Greater Manchester, Arctic Warbler on Out Skerries and Hudsonian Whimbrel on Isles of Scilly.

In Dorset a probable Audouin's Gull was on the sea off St Aldhelm's Head before flying east. Yellow-browed Warblers continued to filter through to the west coast, two Buff-breasted Sandpipers were at St Fergus, Aberdeenshire and at least nine Great Grey Shrikes, twelve Red-backed Shrikes, two Barred Warblers, two Wrynecks, a handful of Marsh Warblers and a Hoopoe were also logged.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 26th September 2008  
  Despite the disappearance of yesterdays four mega Asian passerines - Brown Shrike, Brown Flycatcher, Siberian Thrush and Sykes's Warbler - it was another great day along the east coast with Norfolk alone hosting Blyth's Reed Warbler at West Runton, Lesser Grey Shrike at Weybourne, Siberian Stonechat at Stiffkey, Radde's Warbler at Holkham and both Radde's Warbler and Red-throated Pipit at Burnham Overy Dunes. Further Radde's Warblers were in East Yorkshire at Flamborough Head, Suffolk at Shingle Street and in Kent at Sandwich Bay. Elsewhere in Kent a Booted Warbler was at Margate briefly and a Dusky Warbler at St Margaret's at Cliffe. The Red-flanked Bluetail remained on North Ronaldsay, Orkney Isles with, on the Shetland Isles, Siberian Stonechat on Fair Isle and both Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and Blyth's Reed Warbler on Foula. A Greenish Warbler was seen at South Gare, Cleveland.

Other rarities comprised the Stilt Sandpiper in Cumbria, Hudsonian Whimbrel on the Isles of Scilly, Snowy Owl on the Western Isles, Black Duck in County Donegal, Lesser Yellowlegs in County Wexford, White-billed Diver on the Orkney Isles, Red-footed Falcon in East Yorkshire, White-winged Black Tern in Greater Manchester, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset and single Great White Egrets in Ceredigion, Essex, Hampshire and Suffolk.

Scarce landbirds included 86 Yellow-browed Warblers, nine Red-breasted Flycatchers, seven Red-backed Shrikes, five Great Grey Shrikes, four each of Barred Warbler, Wryneck and Lapland Bunting, three each of Little Bunting and Common Rosefinch, two each of Rose-coloured Starling, Bluethroat, Marsh Warbler and Richard's Pipit along with single Tawny Pipit and Serin.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 25th September 2008  
  An excellent day headlined by several extremely rare eastern vagrants along the coast between the Northern Isles and East Anglia. The highlight for many was the lingering Brown Shrike that showed all day at Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire. The Shetland Isles hosted Siberian Thrush, Arctic Warbler and Brown Flycatcher on Fair Isle (albeit only briefly in the case of the latter), Sykes's Warbler at Sumburgh, Red-flanked Bluetail, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and Blyth's Reed Warbler on Foula and, on the Out Skerries, what was probably a Thick-billed Warbler was seen fleetingly.

In Lincolnshire a Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler was seen briefly at Donna Nook, in Norfolk a Lesser Grey Shrike, Siberian Stonechat and two Radde's Warblers were seen and on the Orkney Isles a Red-flanked Bluetail was found on North Ronaldsay.

Rarities elsewhere comprised the Stilt Sandpiper in Cumbria, Hudsonian Whimbrel on the Isles of Scilly, Red-footed Falcon in East Yorkshire, Baird’s Sandpiper in County Kerry, American Golden Plover on the Western Isles, Red-throated Pipit in Cornwall, White-winged Black Tern in Greater Manchester, Black Kite in Hampshire, Cattle Egret in Somerset, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset and single Great White Egrets in both Hampshire and Suffolk.

Scarce landbirds included 86 Yellow-browed Warblers, 20 Red-breasted Flycatchers, ten Lapland Buntings, nine Great Grey Shrikes, seven Red-backed Shrikes, four Rose-coloured Starlings, three each of Bluethroat, Rose-coloured Starling, Barred Warbler and Wryneck, two Richard's Pipits and single Ortolan Bunting, Marsh Warbler and Hoopoe.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 24th September 2008  
  After a fairly quiet morning, the afternoon produced some top quality eastern vagrants. Firstly, a first-winter Brown Flycatcher was found on Fair Isle, Shetland, and performed very well until this evening. Also on the island was a Red-flanked Bluetail, and around forty Yellow-browed Warblers. Keeping with the 'brown' theme, a superb adult Brown Shrike was found at Flamborough Head, Yorkshire. The first for Mainland Britain, it is hoped that it will become the first truly twitchable Brown Shrike for Britain.

Other new birds found mid to late afternoon includes two Blyth's Reed Warblers on Mainland Shetland, together with two American Golden Plovers, an Olive-backed Pipit at Spurn, Yorkshire, a Rustic Bunting at Landguard Nature Reserve, Suffolk and a Lesser Grey Shrike, Siberian Stonechat and Radde's Warbler in Norfolk. Also in Norfolk was the first Melodious Warbler for the county for 51 years.

Belated news for yesterday concerned a female Common Yellowthroat, which boarded the MV Aurora soon after leaving the United States, and was still present on the ship when it docked in Southampton, Hampshire yesterday evening.

The Stilt Sandpiper remained in Cumbria, as did Eastern Olivaceous Warbler on Shetland, Red-footed Falcon and Glossy Ibis in Yorkshire and White-billed Diver on Orkney. Good numbers of scarce migrants were found down the east coast, with Red-breasted Flycatchers, Common Rosefinches and Wrynecks all being found, together with a large arrival of Yellow-browed Warblers.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 23rd September 2008  
  Today's highlights came from the Shetland Isles where an Eastern Olivaceous Warbler was found on Foula and, on Fair Isle, a Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler, two Lanceolated Warblers and a Red-throated Pipit were discovered. Elsewhere, a Long-billed Dowitcher arrived in County Clare, a Ferruginous Duck in Buckinghamshire, a Red-footed Falcon in Dumfries and Galloway and a Lesser Scaup in Perth and Kinross.

The Stilt Sandpiper remained in Cumbria as did the Hudsonian Whimbrel on the Isles of Scilly, White-billed Diver on the Orkney Isles, Glossy Ibis in West Yorkshire, Red-footed Falcon in East Yorkshire and single Great White Egrets in both Hampshire and Suffolk.

Scarce migrants comprised 21 Yellow-browed Warblers, four Red-breasted Flycatchers, three Barred Warblers, two each of Rose-coloured Starling, Richard's Pipit, Wryneck and Lapland Bunting and single Tawny Pipit, Melodious Warbler, Marsh Warbler and Red-backed Shrike.

Seawatching was rewarding between East Yorkshire and Kent with a few Long-tailed Skuas, Sabine's Gulls and Leach's Petrels and exceptional numbers of Great Skuas, including county maximums of 328 in Norfolk and 267 in Kent.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 22nd September 2008  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Stilt Sandpiper at Campfield Marsh, Cumbria, the first county record. On the Shetland Isles a Thrush Nightingale was found at Pool of Virkie and in Somerset a Ferruginous Duck was located at Barrow Gurney.

Lingering rarities included the Hudsonian Whimbrel on the Isles of Scilly, Baird's Sandpiper in County Cork, Red-footed Falcon in East Yorkshire, Great White Egret in Suffolk and three Cattle Egrets in Somerset. The White-billed Diver remained on the Orkney Isles but the Cretzschmar's Bunting could not be found on North Ronaldsay.

Scarce migrant landbirds comprised ten Wrynecks, nine Yellow-browed Warblers, seven Red-backed Shrikes, two each of Melodious Warbler, Rose-coloured Starling, Red-breasted Flycatcher and Barred Warbler as well as single Tawny Pipit, Short-toed Lark and Hoopoe.

Significant news received from yesterday concerned a brief Crag Martin at Beeding Hill, West Sussex and at least fourteen Wilson's Petrels seen from a pelagic off County Kerry.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 21st September 2008  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the North Ronaldsay Cretzschmar's Bunting, much to the delight of those who didn't make it onto the island yesterday. New discoveries included a Black-headed Bunting on Barra and Wilson's Phalarope on South Uist, Western Isles and Red-footed Falcon at Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk.

Long-stayers came in the form of Hudsonian Whimbrel on Isles of Scilly (where a Richard's Pipit and two Short-toed Larks were also available), White-billed Diver on Mainland Orkney, Cattle Egret in Carmarthenshire, Red-footed Falcon in East Yorkshire, Glossy Ibis in West Yorkshire, Wilson's Phalarope in Lincolnshire and Citrine Wagtail in Co Derry.

A scattering of scarcities on the east coast (especially on Shetland, where the Paddyfield Warbler also remained on Mainland) and the continued Honey Buzzard passage resulted in an exciting September day in many parts of the country.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 20th September 2008  
  On Orkney, the male Cretzschmar's Bunting remained on North Ronaldsay, and showed well to those lucky enough to make it onto the island. Nearby, a Paddyfield Warbler arrived on Shetland, found at the Virkie Willows this evening. At the other end of the country, an Aquatic Warbler was trapped and ringed at Slapton Ley, Devon, whilst in the east, an Isabelline Wheatear was reported from Salthouse, Norfolk.

The Greater Sand Plover relocated today, found further south at Dunbar, Lothian, although it disappeared after mid afternoon. Single Red-footed Falcons were seen in Hampshire, Cambridgeshire and Yorkshire, and the Wilson's Phalarope was still at Alkborough Flats, Lincolnshire. In Ireland, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper and White-rumped Sandpiper were all seen, along with the long staying Snowy Owl.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 19th September 2008  
  In a completely unexpected twist to the Autumn, a male Cretzchmar's Bunting was found on North Ronaldsay, Orkney. Still present this evening, it showed very well in a garden at Sangar. This is the first Autumn record of this species, with the other three occurring in May or June.

Everything else paled into insignificance, although a Red-throated Pipit on Foula, Shetland and an Aquatic Warbler at Steart NR, Somerset were still quality rarities. Two new White-rumped Sandpipers were found in Ireland, in County Derry and County Kerry, and a Great White Egret flew over Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk.

The Greater Sand Plover remained on the Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire, although it couldn't be located this afternoon. The Wilson's Phalarope was still at Alkborough Flats, Lincolnshire, a Red-footed Falcon was again at Tophill Low NR, Yorkshire, the Lanceolated Warbler remained on Fair Isle, Shetland and the adult Glossy Ibis returned to New Swillington Ings, Yorkshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA