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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Friday 8th October 2010  
  The big news of the day was the discovery of the second Bobolink of the year, this time in Pembrokeshire on Skomer Island. A third was also possibly seen at St David's Head, also Pembrokeshire, but was only seen briefly. Other new arrivals included Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and Rustic Bunting in Orkney, on South Ronaldsay and Sanday respectively, Rustic Bunting at Kilnsea, Yorkshire, Radde's Warbler at Tynemouth, Northumberland, King Eider at Burghead, Moray and Red-throated Pipit at Prawle Point, Devon.

Shetland highlights included two Red-flanked Bluetails, Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler, Dusky Warbler and Radde's Warbler, whilst lingering rarities there included Syke's Warbler, Black-headed Bunting and Citrine Wagtail.

The Myrtle Warbler remained in County Cork, as did the Green Heron in Cornwall, single Wilson's Phalaropes in Norfolk and County Wicklow, Semipalmated Sandpiper and Baird's Sandpiper in Essex, King Eider in Suffolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in Flintshire and Spotted Sandpiper in Devon.
Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 7th October 2010  
  On Scilly a first winter Black-headed Bunting was found on St. Agnes this afternoon and a Little Bunting was seen briefly on St.Mary's. Elsewhere American waders were the main finds of the day, with a White-rumped Sandpiper at Walmsley in Cornwall, a Baird's Sandpiper at Holland Haven in Essex and an American Golden Plover at Shannon in County Offaly. On Orkney there is an Olive-backed Pipit for its second day at Deerness on Mainland.

In Cornwall the Green Heron was still to be found at the Lost Gardens of Heligan, and in County Cork, both the Myrtle Warbler on Cape Clear and the Red-eyed Vireo at Firkeel, were still present. On Shetland lingering rarities included a confiding Lanceolated Warbler on Unst along with 2 Little Buntings, a Blyth's Reed Warbler on Fetlar and a Sykes's Warbler on Mainland.

On Scilly the American Golden Plover was still on St.Mary's along with a Buff-breasted Sandpiper and elsewhere the Semi-palmated Sandpiper and a Pectoral Sandpiper could both still be found at Abberton Reservoir in Essex. Other lingering rarities included Wilson's Phalaropes in Norfolk and in County Wicklow, American Golden Plovers in Yorkshire and County Kerry, Black Duck in County Mayo, King Eider in Suffolk, Lesser Scaup in Warwickshire, Spotted Sandpiper in Devon, House Crow in County Cork and four Glossy Ibises - three in Devon and one in Dorset. There are now three Buff-breasted Sandpipers at Scotney on the Kent/Sussex border with a further three in Shetland, and singles in Argyll and Cornwall.
Pete Hayman, RBA
Wednesday 6th October 2010  
  The highlight of the day was discovery of a Green Heron in Cornwall at Pentewan. In County Cork a Red-eyed Vireo was new at Firkeel Glen and in County Galway an American Golden Plover was located at Truska.

Around the Shetland Isles, Fetlar hosted both Sykes's Warbler and Blyth's Reed Warbler, Mainland held Sykes's Warbler and American Buff-bellied Pipit, Unst both Lanceolated Warbler and Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and Out Skerries Black-headed Bunting and Citrine Wagtail, with an around the islands supporting cast of Red-breasted Flycatcher, Bluethroat, Honey Buzzard, two Barred Warblers, three each of Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Greenland Redpoll, 13 Yellow-browed Warblers and 133 Lapland Buntings.

On the Isles of Scilly both the Spotted Sandpiper and American Golden Plover remained whilst, on Tresco, a Tundra Peregrine was a new discovery. Elsewhere on the archipelago were Spotted Crake, Wryneck, Spoonbill, two each of Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Pectoral Sandpiper, and 23 Lapland Buntings.

Otherwise, lingering rarities comprised both the Myrtle Warbler and House Crow still in County Cork, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Essex, Wilson's Phalaropes in both Norfolk and County Wicklow, American Golden Plover in North Yorkshire, Spotted Sandpiper in Devon, Lesser Yellowlegs on the Western Isles, Lesser Scaup in Warwickshire, Ross's Goose in Cumbria, Glossy Ibises in Devon (3) and Dorset, and single Ferruginous Ducks in Somerset, Suffolk and West Yorkshire.
Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 5th October 2010  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Myrtle Warbler in County Cork on Cape Clear: only the twenty-ninth record for the British Isles but the tenth for Cape Clear; where the last was present on 30th-31st October 2005. The Myrtle Warbler follows four American Buff-bellied Pipits (Shetland Isles, Orkney Isles and County Galway), a Bobolink (Glamorgan), an Alder or Willow Flycatcher (Norfolk), Northern Parula (Argyll) and Swainson's Thrush (Shetland Isles) as the ninth Nearctic landbird to be found so far this autumn.

On the Shetland Isles the Sykes's Warbler and American Buff-bellied Pipit remained on Mainland, as did Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and two Little Buntings on Unst, Black-headed Bunting and Citrine Wagtail on Out Skerries, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Red-backed Shrike and Great Grey Shrike, two each of both Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Barred Warbler, four Yellow-browed Warblers and 21 Lapland Buntings.

On the Scilly Isles an American Golden Plover arrived alongside Spotted Sandpiper, Rustic Bunting, Pectoral Sandpiper, Yellow-browed Warbler, three Wrynecks and six Lapland Buntings.

Elsewhere, rarities comprised a brief Red-rumped Swallow in Lincolnshire, Siberian Stonechat in Cornwall, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Essex, Wilson's Phalaropes in both Norfolk and County Wicklow, Spotted Sandpiper in Devon, American Golden Plover in East Yorkshire, King Eider in Suffolk, Lesser Scaup in Warwickshire, Glossy Ibis in Dorset, Ferruginous Ducks in both Somerset and West Yorkshire and single Ross's Geese in both Angus and Cumbria.
Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 4th October 2010  
  In Shetland, the Channerwick Booted Warbler was re-identified as a Sykes's Warbler today. It remained elusive, with most views being of it in flight. Elsewhere in Shetland the Black-headed Bunting and Citrine Wagtail remained on Out Skerries (with another of the latter still at Sandwick, Mainland), Radde's Warbler at Sumburgh, American Buff-bellied Pipit at Esha Ness, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and two Little Buntings on Unst and another Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on Fair Isle.

Further south, new discoveries included a Rustic Bunting in Isles of Scilly, a Ross's Goose in Angus and both Red-throated Pipit and Red-footed Falcon on Portland, Dorset.

Rare waders recorded included single Wilson's Phalaropes in Norfolk and County Wexford, single Lesser Yellowlegs' in Western Isles and County Wexford, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Essex, single Spotted Sandpipers in Isles of Scilly and Devon and single American Golden Plovers in Yorkshire and County Kerry. Two Blue-winged Teals remained in County Wexford, four Glossy Ibises were in Devon (3) and Dorset and the Siberian Stonechat was still at Nanquidno Valley, Cornwall.
Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 3rd October 2010  
  Once again the Shetland Isles produced an exceptional selection of birds with, on the Mainland, Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler and Swainson's Thrush at Levenwick, American Buff-bellied Pipit at Esha Ness, Booted Warbler at Channerwick, Radde's Warbler at Sumburgh and Citrine Wagtail at Sandwick, whilst off-island reports included Lanceolated Warbler, Black-headed Bunting and Citrine Wagtail on Out Skerries, Lanceolated Warbler, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and Little Bunting on Fair Isle, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and three Little Buntings on Unst and a White-billed Diver was in Bluemull Sound. Scarcities around the archipelago comprised Marsh Warbler, Bluethroat, Great Grey Shrike, two each of Short-toed Lark, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Barred Warbler and Common Rosefinch, three Buff-breasted Sandpipers, seven Yellow-browed Warblers, 27 Greenland Redpolls and 256 Lapland Buntings.

On the Isles of Scilly the Spotted Sandpiper remained alongside Barred Warbler, Pectoral Sandpiper, Spotted Crake, Spoonbill and nine Lapland Buntings.

Elsewhere, new discoveries included a Semipalmated Sandpiper in Essex at Abberton Reservoir, Baird's Sandpiper in County Kerry at Carrahane Strand, Lesser Yellowlegs on the Western Isles on South Uist, Ferruginous Duck in Suffolk at Lackford Lakes and single American Golden Plovers in both the Orkney Isles in Deerness and in East Yorkshire at Great Heck.

Other lingering rarities in Britain were the Rustic Bunting in East Yorkshire, Wilson's Phalarope in Norfolk, King Eider in Suffolk, Siberian Stonechat in Cornwall, Lesser Scaup in Warwickshire, Ross's Goose in Dumfries and Galloway, and Glossy Ibises in both Devon (3) and Dorset. In Ireland both American Buff-bellied Pipit and Blue-winged Teal were in County Galway, Wilson's Phalarope, Lesser Yellowlegs and two Blue-winged Teals together in County Wexford, House Crow in County Cork and Black Duck in County Mayo.
Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 2nd October 2010  
  Stunning news concerned a dead Rufous-tailed Robin picked up on North Ronaldsay, Orkney Isles - only the second British record. Other new rarities discovered today included a Baikal Teal in Essex at Maldon, an American Buff-bellied Pipit in County Galway at Truska, Black-throated Thrush in Highland at Melvich, Red-breasted Goose between Hampshire and West Sussex, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll in County Cork at Three Castles Head, Wilson's Phalarope in Norfolk at Welney, White-rumped Sandpiper in County Wexford at Tacumshin and a Siberian Stonechat in Cornwall at Nanquidno.

Once again the Shetland Isles stood out today with a Swainson's Thrush, American Buff-bellied Pipit, Blyth's Reed Warbler, two Booted Warblers and Radde's Warbler all on Mainland, Lanceolated Warbler and Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on Fair Isle, Black-headed Bunting, Olive-backed Pipit and Citrine Wagtail on Out Skerries, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on Unst and Red-throated Pipit on Whalsay with a supporting cast of Corncrake, two Short-toed Larks, three each of Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Common Rosefinch, four Little Buntings, five Bluethroats, six Red-breasted Flycatchers, 11 Barred Warblers, 32 Yellow-browed Warblers and 181 Lapland Buntings.

Meanwhile on the Scilly Isles the Spotted Sandpiper remains alongside Woodchat Shrike, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Pectoral Sandpiper, two Lapland Buntings and a Spoonbill.

Elsewhere, lingering rarities comprised the House Crow in County Cork, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll in Northumberland, American Herring Gull in County Kerry, Spotted Sandpiper in Devon, King Eider in Suffolk, Lesser Scaup in Warwickshire, Glossy Ibises in County Wexford (3), Devon (3) and Dorset, two Ferruginous Ducks together in Somerset and Ross's Geese in Lothian (2) and Dumfries and Galloway.
Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 1st October 2010  
  New rarities discovered today were at Little Shearwater in Cornwall off Porthgwarra, a Great Snipe in Suffolk at Covehithe, a Blyth's Reed Warbler on the Orkney Isles on North Ronaldsay with a Little Bunting on South Ronaldsay, a Ferruginous Duck in West Yorkshire at Wintersett Reservoir, and single Glossy Ibises over-flying both Denbighshire and Hampshire.

On the Shetland Isles the American Buff-bellied Pipit remained on Mainland where a Booted Warbler was found, an Olive-backed Pipit and Short-toed Lark were on Out Skerries and elsewhere around the archipelago were Little Bunting, Bluethroat, Lapland Bunting, three each of both Red-breasted Flycatcher and Greenland Redpoll, four Buff-breasted Sandpipers and 13 Yellow-browed Warblers.

On the Isles of Scilly the Spotted Sandpiper remained alongside Pectoral Sandpiper, two Yellow-browed Warblers and six Lapland Buntings.

Elsewhere, lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised a Snowy Owl still on the Western Isles, House Crow in County Cork, American Herring Gull in County Kerry, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll in Northumberland, Spotted Sandpiper in Devon and Glossy Ibises in Devon (3) and County Tyrone.
Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 30th September 2010  
  Today the Shetland Isles stole the show with, on Mainland, River Warbler, American Buff-bellied Pipit, Arctic Warbler and Rustic Bunting and, on off-islands, Paddyfield Warbler, Little Bunting and Ortolan Bunting (Foula), Red-flanked Bluetail (Whalsay), American Buff-bellied Pipit, Olive-backed Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and Little Bunting (Fair Isle), Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll (Unst) and Little Bunting (Out Skerries), supported by 187 Lapland Buntings, 31 Yellow-browed Warblers, 10 Common Rosefinches, nine Red-breasted Flycatchers, seven Barred Warblers, five Bluethroats, four Buff-breasted Sandpipers, three Great Grey Shrike and single Short-toed Lark, Richard's Pipit, Corncrake and Greenland Redpoll.

Meanwhile, on the Scilly Isles the Spotted Sandpiper remained with single Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Wryneck, Yellow-browed Warbler and Spoonbill.

Elsewhere, new discoveries included Red-flanked Bluetail in Suffolk at Pakefield, Blyth's Reed Warbler in Aberdeenshire at Foveran, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cornwall at Colliford Lake, Red-footed Falcon in London over Rainham Marshes, Little Bunting in East Yorkshire at Buckton, Red-throated Pipit in County Kerry at Dunquin and, on the Orkney Isles, Blyth's Reed Warbler on North Ronaldsay, Little Bunting on Mainland and Ortolan Bunting on South Ronaldsay. Lingering rarities comprised the Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll in Northumberland, Whiskered Tern in Glamorgan, King Eider in Suffolk, Spotted Sandpiper in Devon, Wilson's Phalarope and Lesser Yellowlegs together in County Wexford, Wilson's Phalarope in Gloucestershire, Lesser Scaup in Warwickshire, White-rumped Sandpipers in both County Kerry and Kent, three Ferruginous Ducks together in Somerset, and Ross's Geese in both Lothian (2) and Dumfries and Galloway.
Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 29th September 2010  
  New rarities discovered today comprised a Gyr in Devon at Morte Point, a Wilson's Phalarope in Gloucestershire at Dowdeswell Reservoir, a Red-footed Falcon briefly in County Durham at Dawdon and single Little Buntings in Norfolk at Thornham, and on the Farne Islands, Northumberland.

Around the Shetland Isles two American Buff-bellied Pipits remained, as did two Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls, single Little Bunting, Short-toed Lark and Corncrake, two each of Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Red-breasted Flycatcher, five each of Bluethroat, Barred Warbler and Common Rosefinch, twelve each of Yellow-browed Warbler and Greenland Redpolls and 161 Lapland Buntings.

Meanwhile, on the Isles of Scilly the Spotted Sandpiper remained, as did a Pectoral Sandpiper, Yellow-browed Warbler, Spoonbill and three Wrynecks.

Elsewhere, lingering rarities comprised the Northern Parula in Argyll, House Crow in County Cork, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll in Northumberland, Whiskered Tern in Glamorgan, Spotted Sandpiper in Devon, Wilson's Phalarope and Lesser Yellowlegs together in County Wexford, Lesser Yellowlegs in Gwent, King Eider in Suffolk, Lesser Scaup in Warwickshire, Glossy Ibis in Dorset, White-rumped Sandpipers in both County Kerry and Kent, three Ferruginous Ducks together in Somerset and Ross's Geese in Lothian (2) and Dumfries and Galloway.
Chris Batty, RBA
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