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| Monday 24th August 2009 | ||
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| Headline discoveries today comprised an Alpine Swift in Devon and
White-winged Black Terns in Kent and Isle of Wight (2). The Wilson's
Phalarope previously at Martin Mere WWT (Lancashire) relocated to nearby
Marshside RSPB (Merseyside) and lingering goodies included Citrine Wagtail
in Cleveland, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian and Isles of Scilly,
Semipalmated Sandpiper in Northumberland, Ferruginous Duck in Fife,
Cattle Egret in Hampshire, Great White Egrets in Powys, Kent,
Somerset and Hampshire and Red-footed Falcon in Norfolk.
An Ortolan Bunting on Farne Islands caused great excitement this afternoon when it was misidentified as a Yellow-breasted Bunting. Other scarcities included Red-backed Shrike in Norfolk, Icterine Warblers in East Yorkshire and Shetland, Spotted Crakes in Hampshire, Cornwall and Kent, Barred Warbler on Orkney, Pectoral Sandpipers in Norfolk, Northamptonshire and Shetland, Ring-necked Duck in Staffordshire and a drake Surf Scoter in Moray. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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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 23rd August 2009 | ||
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| A juvenile Citrine Wagtail at Saltholme Pools RSPB (Cleveland) was
today's star discovery. Elsewhere new rarities comprised a White-winged Black
Tern in Kent and a Great Reed Warbler on Isles of Scilly (where the
Lesser Yellowlegs also remained and at least 8 Wilson's Petrels
were logged from a pelagic).
Lingering rarities included Semipalmated Sandpiper in Northumberland, Wilson's Phalarope in Lancashire, Ferruginous Duck in Fife, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian, Cattle Egret in Hampshire and Great White Egrets in Kent, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire (2). Intriguing reports came in the form of a possible Bridled Tern south past Spurn, East Yorkshire and a possible Little Whimbrel seen in a high tide Curlew roost in Gwent; the previous two Little Whimbrels were found on 30th August (Glamorgan, 1982) and on 24th August (Norfolk, 1985), so the date and location would certainly be appropriate. Late news from yesterday involved a Fea's Petrel seen from a pelagic in Lyme Bay, Dorset. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 22nd August 2009 | ||
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| Two Aquatic Warblers were trapped and ringed this morning, one at
Titchfield Haven NNR (Hampshire) and the other at Newport Wetlands (Gwent). A
Caspian Tern visited the Swords Estuary (Co Dublin) and lingering rarities
included Wilson's Phalarope in Lancashire, Red-footed Falcon in
Norfolk, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian and Isles of Scilly, Ferruginous
Duck in Fife and Snowy Owl in Co Mayo. A Cattle Egret remained
in Hampshire and four Great White Egrets were logged, including two
together in Cambridgeshire.
Scarcities comprised Pectoral Sandpipers in Shetland, Co Wexford, Co Derry and Northamptonshire, a brace of Spotted Crakes in Kent and another in South Yorkshire, Ring-necked Ducks in Staffordshire and Fife, Sabine's Gull in Worcestershire, Ortolan Bunting in Devon, three Icterine Warblers and a Common Rosefinch on Shetland, Melodious Warbler in East Sussex, Wryneck on Isles of Scilly, Buff-breasted Sandpiper in Co Wexford and Ring-billed Gull in London. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Friday 21st August 2009 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the arrival of a Wilson's Phalarope at Martin Mere, Lancashire. Elsewhere, lingering rarities comprised the
Semipalmated Sandpiper still in Northumberland, a Cattle Egret in Hampshire,
Lesser Yellowlegs in both Lothian and the Isles of Scilly and single Great White
Egrets in Kent, Somerset and Suffolk. West coast seawatchers enjoyed another good day with pride of place taken by two Wilson's Petrels passing Pendeen Watch, Cornwall. Supporting cast included Cory's Shearwaters from County Cork and County Galway, Great Shearwaters off County Clare, County Cork, County Mayo (9), Cornwall (5) and the Isles of Scilly, 47 Balearic Shearwaters recorded in six counties and sixteen Sabine's Gulls and a Long-tailed Skua passing the Bridges of Ross, County Clare. Terrestrial scarcities included a Melodious Warbler in Gwynedd, Icterine Warbler on the Shetland Isles, Buff-breasted Sandpiper in County Wexford, Sabine's Gull and Wryneck in Worcestershire and Spotted Crakes in both Kent and South Yorkshire (2). |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 20th August 2009 | ||
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| Seawatching provided the days highlights with a Little Shearwater and five
Wilson's Petrels passing the Bridges of Ross, County Clare, and a Wilson's Petrel - along with what was most probably a
Madeiran Petrel - seen from Pendeen Watch, Cornwall. Supporting cast to
the rarities included nine Cory's Shearwaters (including six off Cornwall), nine
Great Shearwaters (including four off Cornwall), ten Long-tailed Skuas (all off County Clare, twenty
Sabine's Gulls (nineteen off County Clare), Leach's Petrel and a total of 29
Balearic Shearwaters seen from seven counties. Other rarities comprised the Snowy Owl still in County Mayo, single Semipalmated Sandpipers in both Northumberland and the Western Isles, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian and the Isles of Scilly and Great White Egrets still in both Kent and Somerset. Notable scarcities included a Melodious Warbler in Gwynedd, a Sabine's Gull in Worcestershire, Spotted Crakes in both Kent and South Yorkshire and Common Rosefinch and Pectoral Sandpiper together on the Shetland Isles. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 19th August 2009 | ||
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| The re-identification of the Little Stint at Cresswell Pond NWT,
Northumberland, today resulted in a county tick for many, as it is only the
second Semipalmated Sandpiper for the county. The adult bird continued to
show very well all day, although it was initially very mobile between the pond
and the beach.
The record Wilson's Petrel year continued, with at least five, possibly seven, off the Bridges of Ross, County Clare. Lingering rarities included the Greenish Warbler on Fair Isle, Shetland, Lesser Yellowlegs on the Isles of Scilly, Ferruginous Duck in Fife, Great White Egrets in Kent, Somerset and Cambridgeshire and a new Cattle Egret was discovered at Keyhaven, Hampshire. An Ortolan Bunting was seen briefly in Essex. Scarcities today included Spotted Crake, Icterine Warbler and Buff-breasted Sandpiper. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 18th August 2009 | ||
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| In Norfolk, the first-summer male Red-footed Falcon was seen at
Hickling Broad NWT until early afternoon only. Three Wilson's Petrels
were seen off the Isles of Scilly and another was off the Bridges of Ross,
County Clare.
Other lingering rarities included Greenish Warbler on Fair Isle, Shetland, Lesser Yellowlegs' in Lothian and on the Isles of Scilly, two Great White Egrets in Cambridgeshire, with others in Somerset and Kent, and late news concerned a possible Yelkouan's Shearwater off Gwennap Head, Cornwall, yesterday. Scarce species recorded today included Spotted Crake, two Melodious Warblers, Icterine Warbler, Common Rosefinch, Red-backed Shrike, Ring-necked Duck, Ring-billed Gull and, once again, good numbers of quality seabirds. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Monday 17th August 2009 | ||
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| New rarities discovered today included a Greenish Warbler on Fair
Isle, Shetland, a Red-footed Falcon at Hickling, Norfolk and two more
Wilson's Petrels at Bridges of Ross, County Clare.
Longer staying rarities reported today included single Lesser Yellowlegs' in Lothian and on the Isles of Scilly, single Ferruginous Ducks in Somerset and Fife and single Great White Egrets in Kent, Somerset and Cambridgeshire. Scarcities seen included Red-backed Shrike, Melodious Warbler, Barred Warbler, two Buff-breasted Sandpipers, two Ring-billed Gulls and a Ring-necked Duck. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 16th August 2009 | ||
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| Two Wilson's Petrels were seen today, with single birds off the Isles
of Scilly and off Annagh Head, County Mayo. Also in County Mayo, the adult
female Snowy Owl was seen on Termon Hill, whilst in County Cork a
Black Kite lingered near Lissagriffin Lake for two hours yesterday.
Great White Egrets continued their stay in Kent, Somerset and Cambridgeshire (2), and the Lesser Yellowlegs and Ferruginous Duck remained on the Isles of Scilly and in Somerset respectively. Scarcities included Spotted Crake, Melodious Warbler (2), Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper (2), Red-backed Shrike, Common Rosefinch, Barred Warbler (2), Night Heron, Ring-necked Duck and good numbers of seabirds. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 15th August 2009 | ||
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| Eight Wilson's Petrels were logged from pelagics in Southwest England
today - six off Isles of Scilly and two off Cornwall. The Lesser Yellowlegs
also remained on Scilly, where a Melodious Warbler was also seen.
Four Great White Egrets (including two in Cambridgeshire), the Snowy Owl in Co Mayo, a Red-backed Shrike in Wiltshire (for its second day), Wryneck on Shetland, Bluethroat in Dorset, Spotted Crake in Worcestershire and Pectoral Sandpiper on Orkney were all recorded. The Lesser Yellowlegs remained in Lothian and Ferruginous Ducks lingered in Somerset and Fife. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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