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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Friday 8th April 2011  
  The roaming Black Stork was seen briefly in Kent today, as it flew over New Hythe GPs mid morning. A Red-rumped Swallow was seen at Portland, Dorset, a Bee-eater was at Sennen, Cornwall and the Bonaparte's Gull reappeared on the Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire.

Lingering rarities included the Gull-billed Tern in Cornwall, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Whiskered Tern in Western Isles, Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire, Bonaparte's Gull in Argyll and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset.

Spring scarcities included a Hoopoe, a White-spotted Bluethroat, a Short-toed Lark, two Wrynecks, two Purple Herons, two Serins and two Woodchat Shrikes.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 7th April 2011  
  The highlight of the day was a Sardinian Warbler at Hopton-on-Sea, Norfolk, albeit only seen briefly early in the morning. Brief encounters elsewhere included single Black Storks migrating over Felixstowe, Suffolk and Gillingham, Kent, whilst a Bee-eater was seen in Cornwall on The Lizard, and a Black Kite flew over Symonds Yat, Herefordshire.

Lingering rarities comprised the Gull-billed Tern in Cornwall, Whiskered Tern in Argyll, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Argyll, Red-breasted Goose in Perth and Kinross, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire and Ferruginous Duck in Wiltshire.

The best of rest were a Short-toed Lark in Dorset, Woodchat Shrike and Purple Heron on the Isles of Scilly, Purple Herons in Anglesey and Cornwall, American Wigeon in Devon, White-tailed Eagle in Norfolk, and Hoopoes in Cornwall, Derbyshire, Hampshire (2) and Pembrokeshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 6th April 2011  
  Further Spring rarities found today included a Pallid Swift at Dungeness, Kent, a Gull-billed Tern at Sennen, Cornwall, a Red-footed Falcon at Willingham-by-Stow, Lincolnshire, a Black Stork in the Eccles /Sea Palling area, Norfolk and single Alpine Swifts at Leiston, Suffolk and Rathfarnham, County Dublin.

Lingering rarity highlights included the Short-toed Treecreeper in Suffolk, Red-flanked Bluetail in Dorset, Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Whiskered Tern in Western Isles and Alpine Swift in Yorkshire.

The best of the scarcities were two Woodchat Shrikes, a Spotted Crake, a White-tailed Eagle, a Short-toed Lark, two Hoopoes and three Purple Herons.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 5th April 2011  
  A Whiskered Tern on Benbecula (Western Isles) constituted the first record for the archipelago.

Lingering rarities included Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Alpine Swifts on Isle of Man and in North Yorkshire, Red-flanked Bluetail and Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Short-toed Treecreeper in Suffolk, Red-breasted Goose in Perth and Kinross, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire and Ferruginous Duck in Wiltshire.

A Kentish Plover in Kent, Spotted Crake in Warwickshire, White-tailed Eagle in Norfolk, Purple Herons on Isles of Scilly, in Norfolk and Anglesey, Hoopoe in Hampshire and Short-toed Lark in Dorset were the best of the scarcities reported today.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 4th April 2011  
  New discoveries came in the form of a Black Stork over Lowestoft (Suffolk), Red-rumped Swallow at Swineham (Dorset), Bonaparte's Gull on Tiree (Argyll) and Alpine Swifts at Ramsey (Isle of Man) and Harrogate (North Yorkshire).

Lingering rarities included Short-toed Treecreeper (Suffolk), Red-flanked Bluetail (Dorset), Lesser Scaup (Gloucestershire), Ferruginous Duck (Wiltshire) and Rufous Turtle Dove (Oxfordshire).

In Ireland the Stejneger's Scoter lingered off Rossbeigh (Co Kerry).

The best of the scarcities seen today were White-tailed Eagle in Norfolk/ Suffolk, Spotted Crake in Warwickshire, Short-toed Lark in Dorset, Rose-coloured Starling in Cornwall, Yellow-browed Warbler in East Yorkshire, Serin in Kent, Woodchat Shrike and Purple Heron on Isles of Scilly and Hoopoes in Dorset, Gwynedd, Hampshire, Kent and Isles of Scilly.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 3rd April 2011  
  An exciting day with highlights comprising a Black Stork in Somerset, noted flying over Shapwick Heath and Nettlebridge, and in Lincolnshire a Western Subalpine Warbler at Humberston. Elsewhere, brief encounters included single Alpine Swifts in both County Cork and East Yorkshire, and Bee-eaters in Cornwall and Norfolk.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present today were the Red-flanked Bluetail and Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Stejneger's Scoter in County Kerry, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Short-toed Treecreeper in Suffolk, Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll, Bonaparte's Gull in Highland, King Eider on the Shetland Isles, Lesser Scaups in both Gloucestershire and Merseyside, Ferruginous Duck in Wiltshire, Ross's Geese in Cumbria and Perth and Kinross, the latter accompanied by a Red-breasted Goose.

Scarcities included a Short-toed Lark in Dorset, Purple Herons in both Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Serins in County Cork and Dumfries and Galloway, and Hoopoes in County Cork, Cornwall (2), Devon (2), Dorset, East Sussex, Gwynedd and Kent. A White-tailed Eagle migrated east along the north Norfolk coast from Lincolnshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 2nd April 2011  
  Highlight of the day was a Red-flanked Bluetail in Dorset, which was found at Durlston Country Park mid morning and remained in the area until late afternoon at least, although it proved very elusive for much of the time. Of the 68 accepted records to the end of 2009, just four have been seen during Spring.

Other new rarities found today included a Black Stork and a Bee-eater in Isles of Scilly, with another Bee-eater in Cornwall, an Alpine Swift in Norfolk and single Red-rumped Swallows in County Wexford and Cornwall.

Long staying rarities included the Stejneger's Scoter in County Kerry, Short-toed Treecreeper in Suffolk, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Ferruginous Duck in Wiltshire, single Lesser Scaups in Gloucestershire, Glamorgan and Merseyside and Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 1st April 2011  
  Rare waterfowl discovered today included a Blue-winged Teal at the Ouse Washes RSPB, Cambridgeshire and a Ferruginous Duck in Swindon, Wiltshire. A King Eider remained in Shetland, as did single Lesser Scaups in Gloucestershire and Merseyside and a Ferruginous Duck in Somerset.

In Suffolk, the Short-toed Treecreeper was seen again at Landguard NR, as was the Rufous Turtle Dove in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire and Long-billed Dowitcher at Lodmoor RSPB, Dorset.

Scarcities were headlined by a Leach's Petrel in Berkshire, with other highlights including a Spotted Crake, a Rose-coloured Starling, four Hoopoes and eight Great Grey Shrikes.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 31st March 2011  
  Lingering rarities confirmed as still present today comprised the Stejneger's Scoter still in County Kerry, Short-toed Treecreeper in Suffolk, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, House Crow in County Cork, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire and Ross's Goose in Northumberland.

The best of the rest included the Rose-coloured Starling still in Cornwall, American Wigeon in Northumberland and Spotted Crake in Warwickshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 30th March 2011  
  In Aberdeenshire an adult drake King Eider was discovered on the Ythan Estuary. Lingering rarities included Short-toed Treecreeper in Suffolk, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Stejneger's Scoter in Co Kerry and Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire.

Scarcities included Hoopoes in Cornwall and Co Cork, Spotted Crake in Warwickshire, American Wigeon in Northumberland and Rose-coloured Starling in Cornwall.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA