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 13th October 2009  
  The highlight of the day was a claim of a Northern Rough-winged Swallow flying in off the sea at St Finan's Bay, County Kerry, but unfortunately it was not relocated. This is the Western Palearctic record of this species, and the eleventh Nearctic landbird to be discovered in the British Isles this autumn. Elsewhere, other brief encounters included a Booted Warbler in Cornwall at Nanquidno and a Red-throated Pipit at Rainham Marshes, London.

On the Shetland Isles lingering rarities comprised the River Warbler, Red-flanked Bluetail, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Arctic Warbler, Spotted Sandpiper and three Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls with a supporting cast of Red-breasted Flycatcher, Bluethroat, Common Rosefinch, Barred Warbler, Lapland Bunting and three Yellow-browed Warblers.

Meanwhile, on the Isles of Scilly a Little Bunting showed briefly along with a Rose-coloured Starling, Richard's Pipit, two Wrynecks and seven Yellow-browed Warblers.

Other rarities included the Brown Shrike still in Surrey, the American Buff-bellied Pipit in County Clare, Radde's Warbler in Kent, Arctic Warbler in County Cork, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on the Western Isles, Blue-winged Teal in County Dublin, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lancashire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian, White-rumped Sandpiper in Essex, single American Golden Plovers in both Argyll and the Orkney Isles, Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in Oxfordshire, Glossy Ibises in Aberdeenshire, Cambridgeshire, Kent, County Kerry (11) and Northumberland, Cattle Egrets in both Kent and Somerset and Great White Egrets in Cornwall (2), Lancashire (2) and Somerset.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 12th October 2009  
  The highlight of the day was the identification of a Brown Shrike at Staines Moor, Surrey. First found yesterday and believed to be a Red-backed Shrike, the true identity was not confirmed until well into the afternoon today, but the bird remained on site until dusk.

On the Shetland Isles a Red-flanked Bluetail and two Lanceolated Warblers were discovered whilst the Taiga Flycatcher remained along with the River Warbler, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Olive-backed Pipit, Arctic Warbler, Spotted Sandpiper, American Golden Plover, two Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls, four Bluethroats, two each of Little Bunting and Lapland Bunting, a Barred Warbler, Sabine's Gull and Ring-necked Duck and eight Yellow-browed Warblers.

Two Red-throated Pipits headlined on the Isles of Scilly with a supporting cast of nine Yellow-browed Warblers, three Wrynecks, two each of both Red-breasted Flycatcher and Rose-coloured Starling, a Lapland Bunting and a brief Ring-billed Gull.

Elsewhere, a Lanceolated Warbler was found on the Orkney Isles whilst the Blackpoll Warbler and Arctic Warbler remained in County Cork, and likewise the American Buff-bellied Pipit in County Clare, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on the Western Isles, Radde's Warbler in East Yorkshire, two Long-billed Dowitchers together in Lancashire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian, White-rumped Sandpiper in Essex, American Golden Plovers in each of Argyll, County Cork and Fife, Blue-winged Teal in County Dublin, Hooded Merganser in Cleveland, Glossy Ibises in Aberdeenshire, County Wexford, Gwynedd, Kent (3) and Northumberland, Cattle Egrets in Gloucestershire (2) and Kent and single Great White Egrets in Hampshire, Somerset and Suffolk.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 11th October 2009  
  Shetland continued to host a plethora of rarities, including Taiga Flycatcher, Lanceolated Warbler, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Spotted Sandpiper, American Golden Plover and two each of Pechora Pipit, Olive-backed Pipit, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and Arctic Warbler.

At the other end of the British Isles, the best Isles of Scilly could offer was a Red-throated Pipit on St Martin's.

New discoveries away from Shetland comprised Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan (presumably a returning bird), American Golden Plovers in Fife and Wirral, Long-billed Dowitcher in Hampshire and Radde's Warbler in East Yorkshire.

A Blackpoll Warbler arrived a Garinish Point, Co Cork and elsewhere in Ireland an American Buff-bellied Pipit, Forster's Tern, Arctic Warbler and Glossy Ibis were all recorded.

Lingering rarities came in the form of Lesser Yellowlegs in Aberdeenshire, Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in Oxfordshire, Subalpine Warbler in Gwynedd and White-rumped Sandpiper in Essex. Nine Glossy Ibises, five Cattle Egrets and three Great White Egrets were logged.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 10th October 2009  
  A White's Thrush was present on Fair Isle, Shetland briefly, and a Western Bonelli's Warbler was at Bigton, Mainland. Further south, a Subalpine Warbler was on Bardsey Island, Gwynedd, a Red-throated Pipit on the Isles of Scilly, two Arctic Redpolls and an American Golden Plover on the Western Isles and a Glossy Ibis in Suffolk. A Bonelli's warbler species was seen, and heard, briefly on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly.

Late news from yesterday concerned a Little Shearwater in Highland, Paddyfield Warbler on the Isles of Scilly and an Olive-backed Pipit on the Western Isles.

The floodgates were well and truly opened on the east coast today, headlined by five Radde's Warblers from Northumberland to Kent, along with four Red-breasted Flycatchers, Short-toed Lark, Corncrake, Red-backed Shrike, two Barred Warblers and two Shorelarks. At least 92 Yellow-browed Warblers were seen around the country, with the vast majority on the east and south coasts.

Lingering rarities included single Long-billed Dowitchers in Cheshire and on the Isles of Scilly, River Warbler, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll, Olive-backed Pipit and Arctic Warbler on Shetland (with another of the latter in County Cork), Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in Oxfordshire, White-rumped Sandpiper in Essex, Lesser Scaup in Warwickshire, Snowy Owl in County Mayo, Blue-winged Teal in Cleveland and at least eleven Glossy Ibises at seven sites.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 9th October 2009  
  On Shetland, a first-winter Taiga Flycatcher was on Yell, at Gloup. Two Olive-backed Pipits were nearby at Kergord, Mainland, with a juvenile American Golden Plover at Boddam. Two Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls remain on Out Skerries, and the two Arctic Warblers were still at Wester Quarff, Mainland. Another Arctic Warbler was a new arrival on Cape Clear, County Cork, with two American Golden Plovers also on the island.

The tenth Glossy Ibis for Aberdeenshire was at the Loch of Strathbeg RSPB reserve today, and single new Great White Egrets were in Essex and Gwynedd. On Scilly, the Long-billed Dowitcher was still on Tresco, with small numbers of scarcities starting to trickle through the archipelago. Other lingering rarities included Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in Oxfordshire, King Eider in Lincolnshire, Glossy Ibises in Cambridgeshire, Northumberland and Somerset (4), White-rumped Sandpipers in Aberdeenshire and Essex, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cheshire and Lesser Scaup in Warwickshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 8th October 2009  
  New discoveries on Shetland included yet another Pechora Pipit, this time at Scalloway, Mainland and an Olive-backed Pipit at Sullom Plantation, also Mainland. Lingering rarities on Mainland Shetland comprised Pechora Pipit near Dales Voe, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll at Cunningsburgh and two Arctic Warblers at Wester Quarff.

In Nottinghamshire the Steppe Grey Shrike lingered at Lound and in Oxfordshire the adult Azorean Yellow-legged Gull remained near Didcot. Other rarities came in the form of Long-billed Dowitcher on Isles of Scilly, White-rumped Sandpiper in Essex, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian and Snowy Owl on Western Isles. In Ireland Blue-winged Teal (Co Dublin) and American Golden Plover (Co Cork) were both still available.

Up to seven Glossy Ibises, four Great White Egrets and three Cattle Egrets were recorded and in Dumfries and Galloway a Baird's Sandpiper was reported in Carse Bay.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 7th October 2009  
  The highlight of the day was the juvenile Baillon's Crake at Kilnsea, East Yorkshire. Found late afternoon, it was still present at dusk, although it proved very elusive. This is the first record of the species since two birds in 2001, and will therefore prove popular if it lingers.

Shetland continued to attract eastern rarities, with Lanceolated Warbler, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Olive-backed Pipit and Arctic Warbler, together with three new Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls, all being found today. Another Olive-backed Pipit was seen briefly at Newbiggin, Northumberland, and other discoveries consisted of single Long-billed Dowitchers in County Wicklow and on the Western Isles, Glossy Ibis in Essex and a Great White Egret in County Cork.

In Nottinghamshire, the Steppe Grey Shrike was still at Lound, whilst other lingering rarities included Veery, River Warbler, Arctic Warbler, two Pechora Pipits and two Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls on Shetland, American Buff-bellied Pipit in County Clare, single Snowy Owls in County Donegal and on the Western Isles, Long-billed Dowitcher on the Isles of Scilly (with two others in Cheshire), Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian, White-rumped Sandpiper in Essex, two American Golden Plovers in Argyll, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on the Western Isles and single Glossy Ibises in Cambridgeshire and Northumberland.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 6th October 2009  
  The Eyebrowed Thrush was again on North Ronaldsay but it proved mobile and, for those that travelled to see it, somewhat difficult to connect with. There was also a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on the island. On the Shetlands, there was a new Arctic Warbler on the Out Skerries and an Olive-backed Pipit was found at Quendale on Mainland, although there was no sign today of the Taiga Flycatcher on Fetlar nor of the Veery on Whalsay. Elsewhere on the Shetlands Pechora Pipits remained on the Out Skerries and north Mainland, there were Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls on Out Skerries and Mainland, an Arctic Warbler on Mainland, with other notable birds around the islands including Common Rosefinches, Little Buntings, Bluethroats, Yellow-browed Warblers and a drake Surf Scoter.

The Steppe Grey Shrike remained at Lound in Nottinghamshire and the American Buff-bellied Pipit was still to be found at Clahane Strand in County Clare. Glossy Ibises were in Suffolk, Somerset, Cambridgeshire and County Wexford. The Lesser Scaup remained at Draycote Water in Warwickshire and White-rumped Sandpipers were again in Aberdeenshire and Essex.

There was a possible Red-rumped Swallow on St.Mary's in The Scillies, and despite it being 'quiet' at present, the islands still offered visitors a Long-billed Dowitcher, a Rose-coloured Starling, a Common Rosefinch, a Dotterel, a Pectoral Sandpiper, a Wryneck and two Red-breasted Flycatchers.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Monday 5th October 2009  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of an Eyebrowed Thrush on North Ronaldsay, Orkney Isles. Elsewhere around the archipelago both Spotted Sandpiper and White-billed Diver were found alongside American Golden Plover, Little Bunting, Rose-coloured Starling and two Yellow-browed Warblers.

On the Shetland Isles River Warbler, Great Snipe, Citrine Wagtail and Red-throated Pipit were all new arrivals, joining Taiga Flycatcher, Veery and two each of Pechora Pipit, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Arctic Warbler and Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll, all supported by six Yellow-browed Warblers, three Common Rosefinches, two Barred Warblers, a Short-toed Lark, Bluethroat and Surf Scoter.

Meanwhile, on the Isles of Scilly the Long-billed Dowitcher, Common Rosefinch and Pectoral Sandpiper all remained on Tresco.

Elsewhere, brief encounters included an Eleonora's Falcon over Great Warley, Essex and a Fea's Petrel passing both Spurn, East Yorkshire and Farne Islands, Northumberland whilst other rarities included a showy Steppe Grey Shrike in Nottinghamshire, American Buff-bellied Pipit in County Clare, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on the Western Isles, Snowy Owl in County Mayo, Long-billed Dowitchers in both Cheshire (2) and Lancashire (2), Amercian Golden Plovers in County Cork and County Kerry, Lesser Yellowlegs in Lothian, Blue-winged Teal in Cleveland, Lesser Scaup in Warwickshire and single Glossy Ibises in Cambridgeshire, Lancashire, Northumberland, Nottinghamshire and Somerset.

Belated concerns the eighth Nearctic landbird of the autumn; a dead Yellow-billed Cuckoo found yesterday at Almondbank in Perth and Kinross.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 4th October 2009  
  Shetland continued to be the place to be - the Taiga Flycatcher, two Veerys, five Pechora Pipits, Olive-backed Pipit, Savi's Warbler, Arctic Warbler, two Blyth's Reed Warblers, four Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls and three probable Eastern Yellow Wagtails were all recorded on the archipelago today, along with a decent selection of scarce migrants.

Elsewhere new discoveries included Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler on St Kilda, American Golden Plover on Berneray (Western Isles) and Blue-winged Teal in Co Wexford.

Lingering rarities away  from Shetland comprised Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on Barra (Western Isles), American Golden Plover on Mainland Orkney, White-rumped Sandpiper at Abberton Reservoir (Essex), American Buff-bellied Pipit in Co Clare, Lesser Yellowlegs at Aberlady Bay (Lothian), Long-billed Dowitchers on Tresco (Isles of Scilly), South Uist (Western Isles) and Inner Marsh Farm RSPB (Cheshire), Lesser Scaup at Draycote Water (Warwickshire), King Eider at Freiston Shore RSPB (Lincolnshire) and Snowy Owl in Co Mayo.

At least eleven Glossy Ibises, six Cattle Egrets and four Great White Egrets were logged.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA