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 18th April 2011  
  Today's new discoveries included a Blue-winged Teal at Wheldrake Ings YWT (North Yorkshire), White-billed Diver off Lewis (Western Isles), Black Stork over Oulton Broad (Suffolk), Bee-eater at Marazion Marsh RSPB (Cornwall) and Penduline Tit at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB (Norfolk). A Bonaparte's Gull off Dawlish Warren NNR (Devon) was presumably the same bird seen at Budleigh Salterton over the weekend.

Lingering rarities included Bonaparte's Gull in Cornwall, Ferruginous Duck in Norfolk, Red-rumped Swallow in East Sussex, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Black Scoter in Northumberland, Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire, Ortolan Bunting in Dorset, King Eider in Aberdeenshire and Black Stork in Hampshire. Isles of Scilly continued to host two Bee-eaters, a Purple Heron, Hoopoe and four Woodchat Shrikes.

The best of the rest came in the form of a Kentish Plover in Lothian, White-spotted Bluethroat in Norfolk, Night Heron in Dorset, Purple Herons in Fife, Cornwall and East Yorkshire, Hoopoes in Devon and Buckinghamshire and Woodchat Shrikes in Cornwall (2) and Co Waterford.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 17th April 2011  
  A singing Savi's Warbler was found at Easington, Yorkshire mid morning, where it represented the second record for the Spurn area, following one in 1984. A popular Ortolan Bunting at Longham Lakes, Dorset often showed well. Bee-eaters were seen in Suffolk (four), Scilly (at least six) and Cornwall (two), whilst a Black Kite was at Marloes Mere, Pembrokeshire and a Red-rumped Swallow was at Arlington Reservoir, Sussex.

A male Eastern Subalpine Warbler on Unst, Shetland was unfortunately picked up dead.

Lingering rarities seen today included the Black Scoter in Northumberland, Black Stork in Hampshire, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, single Bonaparte's Gulls in Devon and Cornwall, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, single Blue-winged Teals in Cambridgeshire and Carmarthenshire, Ferruginous Duck in Norfolk and Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 16th April 2011  
  In Suffolk a Rufous Turtle Dove was present in a Barsham garden yesterday. Despite it being present since Wednesday, it could not be found today.

In Northumberland the adult drake Black Scoter lingered off Bamburgh throughout the day. Elsewhere twitchable rarities included Blue-winged Teal in Cambridgeshire, Black Stork in Hampshire, Bonaparte's Gulls in Cornwall and Aberdeenshire, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Red-breasted Goose in Perth & Kinross and Ferruginous Duck in Norfolk.

In East Yorkshire a Red-rumped Swallow flew over Spurn for the second consecutive day, an Alpine Swift was briefly over Rainham Marshes RSPB (London), a Gyr was logged on North Uist (Western Isles) and a White-billed Diver drifted west past Mellon Udrigle (Highland).

Isles of Scilly hosted a Bee-eater, Purple Heron, five Woodchat Shrikes, a Hoopoe and a Golden Oriole. In Ireland Co Wexford continued to host the Northern Harrier.

The best of the rest included a White-spotted Bluethroat (Norfolk), Night Heron (Essex), five Woodchat Shrikes (in addition to the aforementioned birds on Isles of Scilly) and four Purple Herons.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 15th April 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the arrival of two Black-winged Stilts at Martin Mere, Lancashire,where they remained throughout the day. Elsewhere, a singing Savi's Warbler was located in Hampshire at Farlington Marshes, a Red-rumped Swallow moved through Spurn, East Yorkshire, and a Bee-eater flew over Warmingham, Cheshire.

Lingering rarities comprised the Black Scoter still in Northumberland, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Black Stork in Hampshire, Blue-winged Teal in Cambridgeshire, Bonaparte's Gulls in Aberdeenshire, Cornwall and Devon, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, two Bee-eaters on the Isles of Scilly, and Red-breasted Goose in Perth and Kinross.

Scarcities included Night Heron in Essex, Purple Herons in Cornwall (2), East Sussex and East Yorkshire, Woodchat Shrikes in County Cork and the Isles of Scilly (2), Hoopoes in Anglesey, Devon and the Isles of Scilly (2), Wryneck in Staffordshire, and the territorial White-spotted Bluethroat still in Norfolk.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 14th April 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Black Scoter on the sea off Bamburgh, Northumberland. Only the second record for England - following one picked up at Leighton Moss, Lancashire on 16th May 2007 before being released at Jenny Brown's Point - it will hopefully prove to be the first twitchable Black Scoter in Britain since the returning individual at Llanfairfechan, Conwy, that was present intermittently between March 1999 and April 2007.

Elsewhere, a Blue-winged Teal arrived at the Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire, and a Whiskered Tern was present at Gosport, Hampshire in the evening. Lingering rarities comprised Bonaparte's Gulls in Aberdeenshire, Cornwall and Devon, Iberian Chiffchaff and Ferruginous Duck in Norfolk, Red-rumped Swallow in Kent and Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset.

Scarcities included Woodchat Shrikes in County Cork, Essex (although it was later killed), Glamorgan and Isles of Scilly (2), Night Heron in Essex, Purple Herons in Cornwall, East Sussex and East Yorkshire, Hoopoes in Cornwall, Dorset, the Isles of Scilly and Pembrokeshire, Wryneck in Cornwall, and the territorial White-spotted Bluethroat still in Norfolk.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 13th April 2011  
  New rarities discovered today comprised an Iberian Chiffchaff in Norfolk at Titchwell, Bonaparte's Gulls in both Cornwall at Hayle, and Devon at the Otter Estuary, a White-billed Diver on the Shetland Isles at South Nesting, two Red-rumped Swallows together in Kent at Kingsdown, and two Bee-eaters together in East Yorkshire at Spurn.

Lingering rarities included the Rufous Turtle Dove still in Oxfordshire, a Bee-eater on the Isles of Scilly, King Eider in Aberdeenshire and Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire.

Scarcities included Woodchat Shrikes in Essex, Glamorgan and the Isles of Scilly, Night Heron in Essex, Purple Herons on both Cornwall and East Yorkshire, Serin on the Isle of Wight, Spotted Crake in Lancashire, Wryneck in Suffolk, and Hoopoes in Devon, Hampshire, Highland and the Western Isles, whilst a White-tailed Eagle was seen in both Lincolnshire and North Yorkshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 12th April 2011  
  A white morph Gyr flew over Port Nis at the north end of Lewis (Western Isles) early afternoon.

Elsewhere lingering rarities included the Little Crake in West Sussex, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Black Duck in Co Kerry, two White-billed Divers in Highland, Ferruginous Duck in Norfolk and Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire.

The best of the rest included six Hoopoes, four Woodchat Shrikes, three Purple Herons, three Green-winged Teals, two Ring-necked Ducks, White-spotted Bluethroat (Norfolk), Golden Oriole (Devon), White-tailed Eagle (Lincolnshire) and Great White Egret (Lancashire).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 11th April 2011  
  A fine selection of lingering rarities included Little Crake in West Sussex, Black Stork in Hampshire, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Bee-eater on Isles of Scilly, Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire, Western Subalpine Warbler in Northumberland, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Bonaparte's Gull in Aberdeenshire and Blue-winged Teal in Carmarthenshire.

In Kent Black Kite sightings were logged from Sutton and Bockhill Farm and in Norfolk a Black Kite was reported at Morton's Bridge. In London 8 Glossy Ibises were reported over Leytonstone.

In Ireland the Stejneger's Scoter remained in Co Kerry.

The best of the rest included Purple Herons in East Yorkshire (2), Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, Great White Egret in Lancashire, White-spotted Bluethroat in Norfolk, White-tailed Eagle in Lincolnshire, Serins in Cleveland and Kent (2), Woodchat Shrikes on Isles of Scilly (2), Cornwall (2), Glamorgan and Co Cork, Wryneck in Cornwall, Hoopoes in Devon, Pembrokeshire, Kent, Isles of Scilly, Western Isles and Co Kerry and Short-toed Lark in Dorset.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 10th April 2011  
  New discoveries today included Whiskered Terns in Dorset at Swineham and in Kent at Elmley Marshes, Great Reed Warbler in Cornwall at Nanjizal, Western Subalpine Warblers in Cornwall at Treeve Common and in Northumberland on Holy Island, a brief Red-rumped Swallow in Dorset on Portland, and another White-billed Diver in Highland; in Gruinard Bay.

Lingering rarities comprised the Little Crake still in West Sussex, Stejneger's Scoter in County Kerry, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Gull-billed Tern in Cornwall, Bonaparte's Gull and King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, at least one Bee-eater on the Isles of Scilly, Lesser Scaups in both Gloucestershire and Merseyside, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset, and the elusive Black Stork showed again in Hampshire.

Scarcities included the White-tailed Eagle still in Lincolnshire, White-spotted Bluethroat in Norfolk and Short-toed Lark in Dorset, with Night Herons in Essex and the Isles of Scilly (2), Purple Herons in Anglesey, Cornwall, Devon, East Yorkshire, Fife and the Isles of Scilly, Woodchat Shrikes in County Cork (2), County Wexford, Cornwall, Dorset, Glamorgan and the Isles of Scilly (3), Wrynecks in both Cornwall and Pembrokeshire, and Hoopoes in County Cork, County Kerry, County Wexford, Kent, Pembrokeshire, Isles of Scilly (2), Somerset and the Western Isles.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 9th April 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a showy Little Crake at Arundel, West Sussex. Elsewhere, a Black Scoter found at Colwyn Bay, Conwy, soon disappeared, a Bee-eater flew over St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, and six White-billed Divers were located in northwest Scotland: four in the Western Isles off the Isle of Lewis, and singles in Highland at both Loch Ewe and Melvaig.

Lingering rarities comprised the Rufous Turtle Dove still in Oxfordshire, American Coot in County Mayo, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, House Crow in County Cork, Gull-billed Tern in Cornwall, Bonaparte's Gull in Aberdeenshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset and single Lesser Scaups in both Gloucestershire and Merseyside.

The best of the rest included Short-toed Larks in both Cornwall and Dorset, Woodchat Shrikes in County Cork, Glamorgan and the Isles of Scilly (2), Purple Herons in Anglesey, Cornwall, East Yorkshire and the Isles of Scilly, Serins in Cheshire and Hampshire, Wrynecks on the Isles of Scilly and Suffolk, single Hoopoes in County Cork, County Kerry, Cornwall, Kent, Pembrokeshire and Worcestershire, Spotted Crake in Warwickshire and the territorial White-spotted Bluethroat still in Norfolk.
-  Chris Batty, RBA