Daily News Summaries
This page gives you access to all of RBA's daily news summaries (since April 13, 2006), 10 days at a time. The most recent are shown, or you can select a specific date to show (along with the previous 10 days). Prior to April 13, 2006 you can find weekly reviews, located in articles.
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Thursday 1st April 2010  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Fan-tailed Warbler in Kent at Pegwell Bay. Elsewhere, rarities comprised the Pallid Swift still in Suffolk, the Two-barred Crossbill still in Bedfordshire, single Alpine Swifts over each of Cornwall, Dorset, Kent, London and Norfolk, three Penduline Tits together in Kent, Little Bunting in Highland, Lesser Scaups in both Glamorgan and Somerset, and in Suffolk the Canvasback (or perhaps a hybrid Canvasback x Pochard) remains.

Scarcities included 28 Waxwings, four Ring-billed Gulls (all in Ireland), three Iceland Gulls, two each of American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck and Great Grey Shrike and single Hoopoe and Cattle Egret (both Dorset), Surf Scoter (Aberdeenshire), Rough-legged Buzzard (East Yorkshire), Green-winged Teal (Leicestershire) and migrant Dotterel (Cornwall).
Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 31st March 2010  
  In Suffolk, the Lesser Kestrel remained on Westleton Heath, giving distant views throughout the day. The Great Grey Shrike was also still on site, and the Pallid Swift was present for much of the day at Kessingland. An Alpine Swift was seen here briefly this afternoon, with one still in Lowestoft until midday. Elsewhere, Alpine Swifts were seen in Kent, Hampshire and Norfolk.

The Two-barred Crossbill was present this morning at least at The Lodge RSPB, Bedfordshire, with other lingering rarities including Pied-billed Grebe in County Limerick, two Penduline Tits in Kent, Little Bunting in Highland and Lesser Scaup in Somerset.

Scarcities seen today include a Bluethroat, Common Crane and White-tailed Eagle in Northumberland, a Hoopoe in Dorset, a Purple Heron on the Isles of Scilly, an American Wigeon in Dumfries and Galloway, a Surf Scoter in Devon, two Ring-necked Ducks, four Great Grey Shrikes, a Great White Egret in Gloucestershire, a Lapland Bunting in Lincolnshire and six Waxwings in Suffolk.
Will Soar, RBA
Monday 29th March 2010  
  Suffolk was, once again, the place to be today, with the Lesser Kestrel still on Westleton Heath (although it wasn't seen after 2.50pm), Pallid Swift at Kessingland (not seen after 11.15am) and at least three Alpine Swifts (two roosting all day in Lowestoft, where one also flew south, and one at Southwold). Another new Alpine Swift was seen at North Foreland, Kent, with one still at Cromer, Norfolk.

Other lingering rarities included the Two-barred Crossbill in Bedfordshire, three Penduline Tits in Kent, Little Bunting in Highland, two King Eiders in Moray, Ferruginous Duck, Lesser Scaup and three Glossy Ibises in Somerset and Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan.

Scarcities included a Dotterel (Leicestershire), a Rough-legged Buzzard (Norfolk), a Hoopoe (Dorset), three Great Grey Shrikes, three Ring-necked Ducks, two American Wigeon, a Cattle Egret, at least three Great White Egrets and 47 Waxwings.
Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 28th March 2010  
  An adult male Lesser Kestrel was a surprise find at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk this evening. Initially showing extremely well along the entrance track, it later relocated to nearby Westleton Heath, where it showed distantly until mid evening, and was then later reported going to roost in a holm oak. An Alpine Swift flew over the site early evening, whilst, nearby, the Pallid Swift remained at Kessingland with another Alpine Swift. Two Alpine Swifts were still in Lowestoft, with other singles in Norfolk (2) and Dorset.

A Fan-tailed Warbler was present at Bockhill, Kent briefly mid morning, with other new discoveries today including Ferruginous Duck in Suffolk and Long-billed Dowitcher in Merseyside. Yesterday, the Pallid Harrier was seen again at Zennor, Cornwall, and a King Eider was found in Dunnet Bay, Highland, where it was still present today.

Other lingering rarities included Bufflehead in Dorset, Two-barred Crossbill in Bedfordshire, three Penduline Tits in Kent, Lesser Scaup and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset, Pacific Diver in County Clare, Forster's Tern in County Galway, Little Bunting in Highland and Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan.
Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 27th March 2010  
  A female Two-barred Crossbill was found at The Lodge RSPB, Bedfordshire early afternoon, and showed very well from the hide. It wasn't reported again late afternoon, after news was released. A white morph Gyr was discovered in Glamorgan, seen briefly on the downs above Rhosilli Bay, where it was photographed on the ground, and a Bonaparte's Gull spent a short time at Rye Harbour NR, Sussex, before flying out to sea.

Five Alpine Swifts were found today, in London, Devon, Kent and Suffolk (2). Lingering birds elsewhere were in Norfolk (2) and Dorset. A Pallid Swift was seen for its second day at Kessingland, Suffolk, up until 12.15pm only. In Kent, a Penduline Tit reappeared at Grove Ferry NNR, with three birds still at Dungeness RSPB. The Arctic Redpoll was re-found and confirmed near Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.

Other long staying rarities seen today included Bufflehead in Dorset, Pied-billed Grebe in County Clare, Forster's Tern in County Galway, Snowy Owl on Western Isles, Little Bunting in Highland and Lesser Scaup in Somerset.
Will Soar, RBA
Friday 26th March 2010  
  Once again, Alpine Swift was today's headline species, with two birds still in Norfolk, and singles in both Cambridgeshire and Dorset. Another classic spring rarity, a Black Kite, flew south over Norwich, Norfolk early afternoon.

In Suffolk, the drake aythya resembling Canvasback remained at Cavenham. Other lingering rarities included Bufflehead in Dorset, Pacific Diver and Pied-billed Grebe in County Clare, Forster's Tern in County Galway, Little Bunting in Highland, King Eider in Moray and Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan.
Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 24th March 2010  
  Three more Alpine Swifts were discovered today, with one briefly near Upper Beading, West Sussex and two in Cornwall, at Penzance and St Just. Both Norfolk birds were seen again, with one lingering over Hunstanton for much of the day, and one leaving its roost at Cromer and flying east along the coast, before being seen for an hour at Great Yarmouth.

Three Penduline Tits were seen at Dungeness RSPB, Kent, whilst lingering rarities included Bufflehead in Dorset, Little Bunting in Highland, King Eider in Moray and Lesser Scaup in Clyde.

Scarcities included a Purple Heron, six Hoopoes, a Surf Scoter, three Ring-necked Ducks, two American Wigeons, three Green-winged Teals, six Snow Geese, six Great White Egrets, 14 Shorelarks, five Ring-billed Gulls, a Rough-legged Buzzard and a Great Grey Shrike.
Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 23rd March 2010  
  Alpine Swifts stole the headlines once again with seven birds today taking the potential total to as many as nineteen individuals in five days, although duplication is becoming increasingly likely. Other than two together briefly over Alnmouth, Northumberland all records today were of singles in East Anglia: in Essex at The Naze, in Suffolk at both Lakenheath and Lowestoft, and in Norfolk where individuals remained between Holkham and Hunstanton, and between Overstrand and West Runton into the evening.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised the Bufflehead in Dorset, the King Eider in Moray, Glossy Ibis in County Wexford, Lesser Scaup in Clyde, Little Bunting in Highland and Richardson's Canada Goose in Argyll.

Scarcities included seven Waxwings (Clyde), four each of Ring-billed Gull, Great Grey Shrike and Green-winged Teal, two each of Hoopoe (Dorset), Surf Scoter (Orkney Isles), Shorelark (Lothian), Great White Egret and Glaucous Gull and single Purple Heron (Pembrokeshire), Yellow-browed Warbler (Oxfordshire), American Wigeon (Dumfries and Galloway), Rough-legged Buzzard (Norfolk) and Black Brant (East Yorkshire).
Chris Batty, RBA
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