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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Wednesday 8th October 2008  
  What a day! The highlight was the discovery of Britain's first ever Empidonax flycatcher, either an Alder or Willow Flycatcher in Cornwall. These two species are often inseparable, even in the hand, but observers believe that the Nanjizal bird is most likely to an Alder Flycatcher. Hearing the bird call may well prove to be the key to securing the identify of this incredible Nearctic vagrant.

The Common Nighthawk put in a brief appearance on The Lizard early afternoon, and in Co Cork the first-winter male Scarlet Tanager showed well throughout the day at Garinish Point. The Little Blue Heron in Co Galway was also still on show and new Nearctic landbird arrivals included a Grey-cheeked Thrush on Portland, Dorset and a Blackpoll Warbler and at least one Red-eyed Vireo on Isles of Scilly. Keeping on the American theme, an incredible flock of fifteen Ring-necked Ducks were observed on Inishmore, Co Galway.

The phenomenal quality of the birds available today resulted in White's Thrushes in Cleveland and on Fair Isle and a Red-headed or Black-headed Bunting in Cornwall being also-rans. A Red-throated Pipit in Cornwall, Siberian Stonechat on Shetland and Lesser Scaup in Berkshire were also discovered and long-stayers included American Buff-bellied Pipit and American Golden Plover on Isles of Scilly, Red-footed Falcon in East Yorkshire, Glossy Ibises in Cambridgeshire and West Yorkshire and Blyth's Reed Warbler in Norfolk.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 7th October 2008  
  The hot news today related to the discovery of a Scarlet Tanager at Garinish Point, Co Cork - the bird was seen briefly early evening but there was no further sign of it by dusk. The last Scarlet Tanager record involved two birds at nearby Firkeel as long ago as October 1985.

In Cornwall a Common Nighthawk was observed flying in off the sea on The Lizard early evening, before being relocated briefly just prior to dusk. There has not been a twitchable Nighthawk for nine years, so if this bird is seen again tomorrow it will no doubt prove to be extremely popular.

In Co Galway the juvenile Little Blue Heron remained on show at Letterfrack and new discoveries back across the Irish Sea included a Wilson's Phalarope at Cley NWT, Norfolk and two American Golden Plovers on Tiree, Argyll. On Isles of Scilly the American Buff-bellied Pipit and American Golden Plover both remained in situ whilst scarcities on the archipelago included Red-breasted Flycatcher, Little Bunting, Wryneck, Red-backed Shrike and Yellow-browed Warblers.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 6th October 2008  
  The highlight of the day was, once again, the continued presence of the Little Blue Heron in Barnaderg Bay, Letterfrack, County Galway. The bird showed well all day before departing to the west at dusk, presumably to roost nearby.

Breaking news from elsewhere included, in Norfolk a Blyth's Reed Warbler at Wells Woods and a Radde's Warbler at Weybourne Camp, in County Wexford a Greenish Warbler at Tacumshane, on the Western Isles an American Golden Plover on Barra and on the Shetland Isles a Citrine Wagtail on Fair Isle and three Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls; two on Unst and one on Yell.

Lingering rarities comprised the Snowy Owl in County Mayo, Broad-billed Sandpiper in Essex, Forster's Tern in County Louth, Red-footed Falcon in East Yorkshire, Siberian Stonechat in Dorset, Cackling Canada Goose in Dumfries and Galloway, Great White Egret in Suffolk and single Glossy Ibises in both Cambridgeshire and West Yorkshire.

On the Isles of Scilly the American Buff-bellied Pipit showed again, an American Golden Plover arrived and, most notably, a Common Nighthawk was found dead. Scarce landbirds recorded around the archipelago included three Yellow-browed Warblers, two each of Little Bunting and Short-toed Lark and single Red-breasted Flycatcher, Red-backed Shrike, Dotterel and Wryneck.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 5th October 2008  
  The main news of the day was the confirmation of the juvenile Little Blue Heron, now present for its twelve day, at Letterfrack, County Galway. This is the fourth record for the Western Palearctic and, of course, the first for Ireland.

The Scottish Isles again produced some good pipits, with a new Red-throated Pipit found on Shetland at Virkie, and the Buff-bellied Pipit on North Ronaldsay, Orkney and Pechora Pipit on North Uist, Western Isles. Also on the Western Isles, a Siberian Stonechat was seen briefly on Lewis, at Eoropaidh. Two Richardson's Canada Geese were identified at Caerlaverock WWT, Dumfries and Galloway, with another two yesterday at Loch Gruinart RSPB, Argyll.

The juvenile Broad-billed Sandpiper was seen a couple of times on Wallasea Island, Essex, and a Subalpine Warbler was found this evening at Nanquidno Valley, Cornwall. Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls remained on Yell and Unst, both Shetland.

Seawatching on the south coast produced good numbers of Long-tailed Skuas, along with a few Leach's Petrels and plenty more Balearic Shearwaters.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 4th October 2008  
  Quality rather than quantity today, with a Pechora Pipit on North Uist, Western Isles, King Eider on Shetland, the returning Forster's Tern in County Louth, with a Long-billed Dowitcher and White-rumped Sandpiper also in Ireland. An unseasonal Broad-billed Sandpiper was identified this evening at Wallasea Island, Essex, and is present for its third day. Two Taverner's Canada Geese were reported from Caerlaverock WWT, joining the Cackling Canada Goose already present with the Barnacle Goose hordes. Further south, a Ross's Goose was found with the Pink-footed Geese at Martin Mere WWT, Lancashire.

Potential megas involved a probable Little Shearwater in Somerset, and a belated report of a probable juvenile Little Blue Heron on 24th September in County Galway.

The American Buff-bellied Pipit remained on North Ronaldsay, Orkney, as did Siberian Stonechat in Devon, Glossy Ibis in Cambridgeshire, Ferruginous Duck in Buckinghamshire and a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on Yell, Shetland.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 3rd October 2008  
  Two American Buff-bellied Pipits were discovered today, at opposite ends of the country. The first record for Orkney was located on North Ronaldsay, with another bird on Bryher, Scilly. Other rare passerines included two new Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls, in County Mayo, Ireland and on Yell, Shetland, with others on Foula and Unst, both Shetland.

Seabird records include reports of Fea's Petrels past Pendeen Watch and St Ives Island, Cornwall, whilst strong north-westerly winds along the east coast produced a couple of Cory's Shearwaters, several Long-tailed Skuas, good numbers of Pomarine Skuas, and a few Leach's Petrels, Storm Petrels, Sabine's Gulls and Balearic Shearwaters. The Leach's Petrel passage continued in the north-west, with around 150 birds seen.

The Glossy Ibis remained on the Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire all day, before roosting again at Fen Drayton Gravel Pits. The Siberian Stonechat was still at Bere Regis, Dorset, the Red-footed Falcon was at Tophill Low, Yorkshire and another Baird's Sandpiper was found in County Kerry at Derrymore Strand.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 2nd October 2008  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler on Foula, Shetland Isles – the fifth record of this species in Britain this autumn. Other birds recorded around the archipelago included ten Yellow-browed Warblers, three Richard's Pipits, two Red-breasted Flycatchers, single Short-toed Lark, Little Bunting, Bluethroat, Ring-necked Duck, Barred Warbler, Honey Buzzard and Lapland Bunting with single Hormenann's Arctic Redpolls remaining on both Fair Isle and Unst.

Rarities elsewhere included the Gull-billed Tern in Argyll, Lesser Yellowlegs on the Western Isles, Rustic Bunting in Cumbria, two Small Canada Geese in Dumfries and Galloway, Siberian Stonechat in Dorset, two Cattle Egrets in Devon, Red-footed Falcon in East Yorkshire, Ferruginous Duck in Buckinghamshire, Glossy Ibises in both Cambridgeshire and West Yorkshire and single Great White Egrets in Essex, Hampshire, Staffordshire and Suffolk.

Many west coast locations enjoyed productive seawatching including five Sabine's Gulls, six Long-tailed Skuas, 25 Grey Phalropes, 30 Pomarine Skuas and over 250 Leach's Petrels scattered across nine counties.

Away from the Shetland Isles, scarce landbirds comprised 17 Yellow-browed Warblers, four Great Grey Shrikes, three each of Red-backed Shrike and Lapland Bunting, two Little Buntings and singles of both Woodchat Shrike and Common Rosefinch.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 1st October 2008  
  Fair Isle continued its excellent run of form, producing a White's Thrush (hot on the heels of last week's Siberian Thrush), Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler and Arctic Redpoll. Elsewhere on Shetland Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls were discovered on Foula and Unst and a Rustic Bunting was unearthed at Voe, Mainland.

Three new Baird's Sandpipers were found, all in Ireland (in Co Kerry, Co Wexford and Co Mayo) and a Citrine Wagtail arrived on Barra - the Citrine Wagtail on North Uist also remained in situ. Lingering rarities included the Gull-billed Tern on Tiree, Glossy Ibis in Cambridgeshire, Stilt Sandpiper and Rustic Bunting in Cumbria and Red-footed Falcon in East Yorkshire.

Seawatching was the highlight of the day for many -  north westerly winds pushed many Leach's Petrels past Merseyside and Wirral, with counts including 120 past Hilbre Island and 107 past Seaforth LWT. Irish headlands also produced the goods, with Kilcummin Head and Portacloy in Co Mayo, Bloody Foreland and Melmore Head in Co Donegal and Bridges of Ross in Co Clare all scoring impressive passages of Pomarine Skuas and Grey Phalaropes, as well as several Leach's Petrels, Long-tailed Skuas and Sabine's Gulls. Back across the Irish Sea, Pendeen Watch and St Ives Island in Cornwall and Strumble Head in Pembrokeshire all produced a great haul of seabirds.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 30th September 2008  
  The first Pechora Pipit of the autumn made landfall on Fetlar, Shetland today, joining an American Golden Plover and Blyth's Reed Warbler which remained on the archipelago. A Spotted Sandpiper was discovered on North Ronaldsay, Orkney and a first-winter Citrine Wagtail was on North Uist, Western Isles.

In Cumbria both the Rustic Bunting and Stilt Sandpiper remained in the county - the Stilt Sandpiper was previously seen on Isle of Man on 17th September, before arriving at Campfield Marsh RSPB on 22nd. Other lingering rarities consisted of the Gull-billed Tern on Tiree, Argyll, Glossy Ibises in Cambridgeshire and West Yorkshire and Great White Egrets in Suffolk and Hampshire.

The best of the rest included a Woodchat Shrike on Orkney, Temminck's Stint in Cornwall, Red-breasted Flycatcher on Isles of Scilly and Common Rosefinch on Shetland as well as fourteen Pectoral Sandpipers, five Great Grey Shrikes and at least thirteen Yellow-browed Warblers dotted around the country. Strong westerly winds pushed fourteen Leach's Petrels past Northwest England watch points.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 29th September 2008  
  The highlight of the day was a Gull-billed Tern on Tiree, Argyll. Elsewhere, brief encounters included a Penduline Tit in Dorset at Hengistbury Head, a Savi's Warbler in Kent at Sandwich Bay and a Red-throated Pipit at Barton-on-Sea, Hampshire.

Lingering rarities included the Stilt Sandpiper in Cumbria, Glossy Ibis in Cambridgeshire, Rustic Bunting in Cumbria, Aquatic Warbler in Devon, Radde's Warbler in Suffolk, Red-footed Falcon in East Yorkshire and American Golden Plover on the Western Isles, whilst single Great White Egrets remained in both Hampshire and Suffolk and Cattle Egrets were seen in Somerset (3) and Devon (2).

On the Shetland Isles a Blyth's Reed Warbler was still present along with an American Golden Plover, seven Yellow-browed Warblers, three Barred Warblers, two Common Rosefinches, a Short-toed Lark and a Ring-necked Duck. On the Isles of Scilly two Little Buntings were seen with six Yellow-browed Warblers, a Short-toed Lark and a Lapland Bunting.

Elsewhere, scarce landbirds were represented by a further 19 Yellow-browed Warblers, seven Red-backed Shrikes, five Great Grey Shrikes, two each of Red-breasted Flycatcher, Richard's Pipit and Wryneck and single Woodchat Shrike, Bluethroat, Icterine Warbler and Common Rosefinch.
-  Chris Batty, RBA