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| Tuesday 11th May 2010 | ||
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| Several rarities were discovered today - Eastern Subalpine Warbler in
Cornwall, Red-rumped Swallow in Aberdeenshire and American Golden
Plover on Western Isles. The most popular new rarity however, was an
Iberian Chiffchaff at Potteric Carr YWT (South Yorkshire). Other reports of
new birds included a Black Stork in Kent and Glossy Ibis in East
Sussex.
Highlights amongst the lingering rarities included the House Finch and Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall, Oriental Pratincole in Lincolnshire, two Red-rumped Swallows in East Sussex, Forster's Tern and Glossy Ibis in Co Wexford and Iberian Chiffchaffs in Gwent and Kent. Elsewhere scarcities included Woodchat Shrikes in Cornwall and on Isles of Scilly, Surf Scoter in Lothian, Temminck's Stints in South Yorkshire and Norfolk (3), Rose-coloured Starling in Pembrokeshire, Red-necked Phalarope in Kent, Hoopoe in Suffolk, Great White Egret in Cambridgeshire, American Wigeon on Western Isles and Golden Orioles in East Sussex and Suffolk (2). Thirty Dotterels were also recorded. |
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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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| Monday 10th May 2010 | ||
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| In Lincolnshire the Oriental Pratincole lingered at Frampton Marsh
RSPB for its second day and in Cornwall the male House Finch remained at
Land's End.
New rarities included a Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall and Iberian Chiffchaff in Gwent (another Iberian Chiffchaff remained in Kent) whilst three Red-rumped Swallows were counted at Arlington Reservoir (East Sussex). Lingering rarities comprised Savi's Warbler in Lancashire, Glossy Ibis in Wexford and Red-rumped Swallow in South Yorkshire. The best of the rest included Woodchat Shrikes on Isles of Scilly, in Norfolk and Cornwall, Hoopoes in Suffolk and on Shetland, American Wigeon on Western Isles, Surf Scoter in Lothian, Short-toed Lark in Cork and White-spotted Bluethroat in Norfolk. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 9th May 2010 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the discovery of an Oriental Pratincole at Frampton Marsh, Lincolnshire. Initially thought to be a Collared Pratincole the true identity was soon realised and the bird then showed well into the evening. This is only Britain's seventh record of this species - although probably actually only the fifth individual - following the bird present last spring between West Sussex and Kent on 28th May-3rd June. Elsewhere, the House Finch remained in Cornwall at Land's End, as did the Pacific Diver in County Clare, the Forster's Tern in County Wexford, Iberian Chiffchaff in Kent and Red-rumped Swallows in East Sussex (2), East Yorkshire and South Yorkshire. An Ortolan Bunting showed briefly at South Walney, Cumbria. Scarcities included 29 Dotterel in eight trips, three each of both Woodchat Shrike and Temminck's Stint, two each of both Bluethroat and Hoopoe and single Short-toed Lark (County Cork), Purple Heron (Cornwall), Rose-coloured Starling (Pembrokeshire), American Wigeon (Western Isles), Ring-necked Duck (County Donegal), Pectoral Sandpiper (Cleveland), Snow Goose (Aberdeenshire), Great White Egret (Norfolk), Green-winged Teal (Carmarthenshire) and Tundra Bean Goose (Lancashire). |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 8th May 2010 | ||
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| News of a male House Finch at Land's End, Cornwall was released early
morning, resulting in a mass movement into the south-west. If accepted, this
would represent the first record for the Western Palearctic, following several
rejected records of presumed escaped individuals.
A Black Kite and a Whiskered Tern were both at Dungeness, Kent, whilst two Red-rumped Swallows were found nearby at Arlington Reservoir, Sussex. The adult Forster's Tern reappeared at Tacumshin, County Wexford, and a King Eider was off Mainland Shetland. Lingering rarities included Iberian Chiffchaff in Kent, Ortolan Bunting in Dorset, Pacific Diver in County Clare, Savi's Warbler in Lancashire and several Red-rumped Swallows in Yorkshire. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Friday 7th May 2010 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Broad-billed Sandpiper in County Wexford at Tacumshin. Lingering rarities comprised the Iberian Chiffchaff still in Kent, the elusive Savi's Warbler in Lancashire and Red-rumped Swallows in East Yorkshire (2) and South Yorkshire. Scarcities included 13 migrant Dotterel in four trips, three Temminck's Stints (together in Norfolk), two each of Hoopoe and Glaucous Gull, Woodchat Shrike and White-spotted Bluethroat (both Norfolk), Short-toed Lark (County Cork), Golden Oriole (London), Red-backed Shrike (Gloucestershire), Wryneck (Kent), Green-winged Teal (Carmarthenshire), Ring-necked Duck (Argyll), Iceland Gull (Cornwall), Caspian Gull (Essex) and Tundra Bean Goose (Lancashire). |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 6th May 2010 | ||
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| An elusive male Savi's Warbler was discovered near Leighton Moss RSPB
(Lancashire) this morning, but the bird was silent and remained out of view
throughout the afternoon. Elsewhere a Bee-eater was heard over Portland
(Dorset), a Snowy Owl reappeared on North Uist (Western Isles) and a
couple of Red-rumped Swallows were reported near Hull (East Yorkshire).
Lingering rarities comprised Glossy Ibis in Co Wexford, Blue-winged Teal in North Yorkshire, Red-rumped Swallow in South Yorkshire and Iberian Chiffchaff in Kent. The best of the rest included the Woodchat Shrike and White-spotted Bluethroat in Norfolk, Hoopoes in West Midlands, Shetland and West Sussex, Ring-necked Duck on Orkney and Great White Egret in Cambridgeshire. Twelve Dotterels and three Temminck's Stints were also recorded. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 5th May 2010 | ||
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| A Lesser Yellowlegs was found at Frampton Marsh in Lincolnshire this
evening, whilst in Dorset there was an Ortolan at Portland, and a
Bee-eater was reported flying over Durlston. Nearby, in Hampshire, another
new Red-rumped Swallow was seen briefly at Portchester in the morning.
The only other Red-rumped Swallow seen tody was the long staying bird at Rother Valley Country Park in South Yorkshire. Other remaining rarities included the Iberian Chiffchaff in Kent, the Blue-winged Teal in North Yorkshire and the King Eider in Moray. Scarcities included at least one Purple Heron still at Dungeness in Kent, a Pectoral Sandpiper at Loch of Strathbeg in Aberdeenshire, a Wryneck at Landguard in Suffolk, a Short-toed Lark at Ballycotton in County Cork, a long staying Woodchat at Winterton in Norfolk and Hoopoes at Clayhanger in West Midlands and Thetford in Norfolk. Forty four Dotterels were reported, mostly in Scotland. |
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| - Pete Hayman, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 4th May 2010 | ||
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| A few more classic Spring rarities today included single Black Kites
in East Sussex, Somerset and Devon, a Bee-eater in Cornwall and two more
Red-rumped Swallows in East Sussex. Other Red-rumped Swallows were still
present in South Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk.
Other lingering rarities included Iberian Chiffchaff in Kent, Blue-winged Teal in North Yorkshire and White-billed Diver in Moray. Scarcities were headlined by White-spotted Bluethroat in Norfolk, two Purple Herons in Kent, Hoopoes in West Midlands, Gwent, Cleveland and Scilly, Wryneck in Pembrokeshire, Red-backed Shrike in Gloucestershire, Woodchat Shrike in Norfolk, Kentish Plover in Glamorgan and Short-toed Larks in Scilly and County Cork. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Monday 3rd May 2010 | ||
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| Red-rumped Swallow was the main feature bird today, with new
discoveries in Essex, North Yorkshire and South Yorkshire, and lingering birds
in Suffolk (2+) and Cambridgeshire. A Tawny Pipit was seen at
Weston-super-Mare, Somerset this evening, whilst a Bee-eater was briefly
at Porthcurno, Cornwall. A Lesser Scaup was in County Cavan.
Lingering rarities included a Subalpine Warbler in County Cork, Iberian Chiffchaff in Kent, Black Stork in Devon, Blue-winged Teal in Yorkshire and White-billed Diver in Moray. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 2nd May 2010 | ||
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| The undoubted highlight today was an obliging male White-throated Sparrow,
present for its second day in a garden in Boscastle, Cornwall. Also headlining
was an arrival of Red-rumped Swallows, including birds at Wilstone
Reservoir, Hertfordshire, Ferry Meadows Country Park, Cambridgeshire, Rainham
Marshes RSPB, London, Brading Marshes RSPB, Isle of Wight and, lastly, a group
of four birds at Loompit Lake, Suffolk, this evening.
Other new rarities today included a Blue-winged Teal in Yorkshire, single Subalpine Warblers in County Cork and Shetland, an Alpine Swift in Lancashire, White-billed Divers in Shetland and Moray (2) and an American Golden Plover in London. The Pacific Diver reappeared off Finvarra Point, County Clare, whilst the wide ranging Black Stork was seen again in Devon. Lingering rarities included Iberian Chiffchaff in Kent, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll in County Cork, Snowy Owl on Shetland and King Eider in Aberdeenshire. A good scattering of scarce spring migrants included good numbers of Dotterels and Temminck's Stints. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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