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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Tuesday 17th March 2009  
  A Penduline Tit at Rye Harbour NR, Sussex was a new arrival, but unfortunately it was only seen briefly. Elsewhere, lingering rarities included the Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan, two King Eiders in County Sligo with another bird in Fife and single Lesser Scaups in Nottinghamshire and Glamorgan.

Great White Egrets were on the Ouse Washes RSPB, Cambridgeshire and at North Warren RSPB, Suffolk, and Cattle Egrets were present in Cheshire, Suffolk, Pembrokeshire, Devon, Cornwall (13), County Waterford (4) and County Cork (6).
-  Will Soar, RBA
Monday 16th March 2009  
  In Devon, the male Penduline Tit was seen again, near Paignton. In the same county, the American Herring Gull was again on the rocks at the mouth of the Otter Estuary this evening. It appears to have finally got itself into a routine, appearing there for the last four evenings. In Glamorgan, the Bonaparte's Gull remained in Cardiff, with single Lesser Scaups there, Holme Pierrepont, Nottinghamshire and Lough Ennel, County Westmeath.

In Norfolk, the Black-bellied Dipper returned to its favoured ford at Hunworth, whilst King Eiders remained in County Sligo and Fife. Great White Egrets were in Devon and Cambridgeshire, and Cattle Egrets were in Cheshire, Suffolk, Cornwall, Devon, Pembrokeshire and on the Isles of Scilly.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 15th March 2009  
  Another new Gyr was found today, once again a juvenile white morph, this time on The Mullet, County Mayo. Still on the raptor theme, a Black Kite was reported from Blubberhouses, North Yorkshire at midday.

American Herring Gulls were seen in Devon and County Galway, with the Forster's Tern also in the latter county. The adult Bonaparte's Gull remained in Cardiff, Glamorgan, as did the Lesser Scaup. The Long-billed Dowitcher in County Louth was seen again, as was the King Eider in Fife.

Cattle Egrets remained in County Cork, Pembrokeshire, Isle of Wight, Isle of Man, Suffolk and Devon, and the Great White Egret was seen again in Clyde.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 14th March 2009  
  The first Alpine Swift of the year was over Portland, Dorset today. Large numbers of other migrants were seen throughout southern England, including Sand Martins, Wheatears, Garganeys and Little Ringed Plovers, and smaller numbers of Swallows, House Martins and Willow Warblers.

The Forster's Tern was seen off Doorus Pier, County Galway, the Bonaparte's Gull remained in Cardiff, Glamorgan, as did the Lesser Scaup, with the long staying bird still at Holme Pierrepont, Nottinghamshire. The first-winter American Herring Gull put in another appearance on the Otter Estuary, Devon, whilst the Black-bellied Dipper returned to Letheringsett, Norfolk, briefly.

A Great White Egret was at Back Saltholme Pool, Cleveland, and Cattle Egrets remained in Suffolk, Pembrokeshire, Devon, Cornwall, County Waterford and on the Isle of Wight and Isle of Man.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 13th March 2009  
  A Glossy Ibis was found in County Wexford today, when it was seen flying into a heronry at Tacumshin.

Elsewhere, lingering rarities included the American Herring Gull in Devon, Gyr on the Isles of Scilly, Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan and Penduline Tit in Devon. Snowy Owls were seen in Cornwall, on Amalveor Downs again, and on Orkney, near Dounby. Single Lesser Scaups were in Glamorgan and Nottinghamshire, and the Black-bellied Dipper remained in Norfolk.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 12th March 2009  
  Rarities today comprised the Penduline Tit still in Devon, Bonaparte's Gull and Lesser Scaup together in Glamorgan, Black-bellied Dipper still in Norfolk, Great White Egret in Clyde, and Cattle Egrets in Cornwall (2), Devon (5), Pembrokeshire, Scilly, and Suffolk.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 11th March 2009  
  A Black Kite lingered to the east of Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire this afternoon before flying south. In Glamorgan both the Bonaparte's Gull and Lesser Scaup remained in Cardiff, the Lesser Scaup was still in Nottinghamshire, the American Herring Gull lingered in Galway, a Penduline Tit reappeared in Paignton, Devon and four Cattle Egrets and a Great White Egret were recorded.

Elsewhere the Black-bellied Dipper lingered in Norfolk, a White Stork alighted on a Didsbury roof, Greater Manchester, the drake American Wigeon remained on Mainland Orkney and a total of eight Great Grey Shrikes were reported.

Late news from Monday related to the presence of the long-staying Snowy Owl in Cornwall, which is still near Zennor.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 10th March 2009  
  The highlight of the day was the earliest ever arrival of a Caspian Tern to the British Isles, it was watched briefly at Duncannon, County Wexford in the early afternoon. From Cornwall news arrived of a Gyr at Porthcothan, reported to have been present in the area for several days.

Lingering rarities comprised both Bonaparte's Gull and Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan, King Eider in Fife, Lesser Scaup in Nottinghamshire and Great White Egret in Clyde with Cattle Egrets in Cornwall (2), Devon, Pembrokeshire, Suffolk and Wiltshire.

Scarcities included eight Great Grey Shrikes, three Ring-billed Gulls, two each of American Wigeon, Surf Scoter, Rough-legged Buzzard, Caspian Gull and Kumlien's Gull and singles of Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Snow Goose and Green-winged Teal.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 9th March 2009  
  Rarities today included the American Herring Gull again in Devon, Bonaparte's Gull and Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan, King Eider in Fife, Lesser Scaup in Nottinghamshire, Small Canada Goose in Argyll, Black-bellied Dipper in Norfolk and Great White Egret in Clyde.

Cattle Egret reported totaled eight birds in five counties comprising four in Devon and singles in Pembrokeshire, Suffolk, Wiltshire and the Isle of Man.

Scarcities included eleven Great Grey Shrikes, four Ring-billed Gulls, three Ring-necked Ducks, two each of Rough-legged Buzzard, Caspian Gull and Green-winged Teal and singles of American Wigeon, Lesser Snow Goose and Kumlien's Gull.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 8th March 2009  
  Four Penduline Tits were discovered in the Ingrebourne Valley, London, but the birds were only on show until mid morning. In Glamorgan the Cardiff area produced both an adult Bonaparte's Gull and the lingering Lesser Scaup, whilst in Ireland highlights included the Ivory Gull at Baltimore and an American Herring Gull in Castletown Bearhaven in Co Cork and a flyover white morph Gyr at Nimmo's Pier, Co Galway.

Elsewhere lingering rarities included Red-breasted Goose in West Sussex, Lesser Scaup in Nottinghamshire and King Eider in Fife. Great White Egrets remained in Clyde and Suffolk and at least 13 Cattle Egrets were logged. Twelve Great Grey Shrikes, three Green-winged Teals, two Rough-legged Buzzards, a Grey Phalarope and a Lesser Snow Goose were also recorded.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA