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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Thursday 28th April 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a singing male Iberian Chiffchaff near Drogheda, County Louth. Discoveries elsewhere included two Bee-eaters together on The Mullet, County Mayo, and a Black Kite seen briefly at West Meon, Hampshire.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised the territorial Barolo Little Shearwater in Devon, both Collared Pratincole and Tawny Pipit in Lincolnshire, House Crow in County Cork, Blue-winged Teal in Carmarthenshire, Bonaparte's Gull on the Western Isles, Long-billed Dowitchers in both Ceredigion and Dorset, White-billed Divers in both County Wexford and Moray, and a Black Kite was seen again in Norfolk.

Scarcities included a Kentish Plover in County Wexford, Woodchat Shrikes in both Devon and North Yorkshire, Whiite-tailed Eagle and Pectoral Sandpiper in Lincolnshire, and both Hoopoe and White Stork in Devon.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 27th April 2011  
  A Collared Pratincole was found at Immingham, Lincolnshire mid morning, where it was present until early afternoon, and again in the evening. In Devon, an adult Bonaparte's Gull was seen at Topsham, with the first-winter still at Budleigh Salterton, and another still in Aberdeenshire.

A Subalpine Warbler was at Easington, Yorkshire, and a Black Kite was at Stiffkey, Norfolk, whilst all the other New Rarity messages today involved late news. A Pallid Harrier was present yesterday in County Antrim, as was a Black-bellied Dipper on Fair Isle, Shetland, whilst a Savi's Warbler was in Norfolk on Saturday and a party of seven Bee-eaters was in Sussex on Friday.

Lingering rarities included Borolo Little Shearwater in Devon, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Black Scoter in Northumberland, Savi's Warbler in Devon, Tawny Pipit in Lincolnshire, Iberian Chiffchaff in Staffordshire, Subalpine Warblers in Dorset and Shetland, Snowy Owl in Western Isles, and Long-billed Dowitchers in Dorset and Ceredigion.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 26th April 2011  
  In Devon, the singing male Barolo Little Shearwater has returned to the Manx Shearwater colony on Lundy, where it has been present over a week. A singing male Iberian Chiffchaff in Staffordshire was also confirmed today, after it was first heard on Sunday near Rudyard.

Other quality rarity discoveries today included a Subalpine Warbler in Weymouth and a Red-rumped Swallow on Portland, both Dorset and Black Kites in Kent (two) and Cornwall. A Snowy Owl is once again present at Grenitote, North Uist, Western Isles.

Lingering rarities seen today included the Black Scoter in Northumberland, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Savi's Warbler in Devon, single Bonaparte's Gulls in Devon and Western Isles, single Tawny Pipits in Lincolnshire and Scilly, single Long-billed Dowitchers in Ceredigion and Dorset and Blue-winged Teal in Carmarthenshire.

Scarcity highlights included a White-spotted Bluethroat in Worcestershire, a Kentish Plover in County Wexford, a Purple Heron in Bedfordshire and a Woodchat Shrike in Yorkshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Monday 25th April 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of five White-billed Divers together on the sea off Portsoy, Aberdeenshire. Elsewhere, a Tawny Pipit was in Lincolnshire at Tetney Lock, a Bee-eater on Lewis, Western Isles, and a Subalpine Warbler on North Ronaldsay, Orkney Isles. Brief encounters included a Glossy Ibis in flight over Yalding Lees, and Black Kites over-flying Cornwall (2), County Dublin, Hampshire, Kent and Lincolnshire.

Lingering rarities comprised the Rufous Turtle Dove still in Oxfordshire, Bonaparte's Gulls in both Aberdeenshire and Devon, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Lesser Yellowlegs in Somerset, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire, Subalpine Warbler on the Shetland Isles, Savi's Warbler in Devon and Tawny Pipit on the Isles of Scilly. A Black Stork was seen again Derbyshire; todat at Youlgreave.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 24th April 2011  
  The most popular bird of the day was probably the male Citrine Wagtail in Norfolk, which spent much of the day in a field at East Runton, where it usually showed very well. Other quality rarities discovered today included a Collared Pratincole at Spurn, Yorkshire, a Savi's Warbler trapped at Slapton, Devon and a Black Stork over Beeley Moor, Derbyshire.

More regular Spring rarities included a Black Kite in Kent, single Subalpine Warblers in Devon, Dorset and Shetland and a Bee-eater in Cornwall.

Lingering rarities included Black Scoter in Northumberland, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, House Crow in County Cork, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Lesser Yellowlegs in Somerset, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, White-billed Divers in Moray, Highland and County Wexford, Black Kite in Lincolnshire and Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 23rd April 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Long-billed Dowitcher in Ceredigion at Borth. Elsewhere, new rarities included a White-billed Diver in County Wexford off Tacumshin, two White-billed Divers together in Moray at Burghead, two Bee-eaters together in Ceredigion at Aberporth, and a Ferruginous Duck in Somerset at Chew Valley Lake. Brief encounters comprised a Black Stork over Somerset, Glossy Ibis in Cambridgeshire, single Black Kites in both Cornwall and Lincolnshire, Red-rumped Swallow in East Yorkshire, and an Ortolan Bunting in East Sussex.

Lingering rarities comprised the Pallid Harrier still in County Cork, Blue-winged Teal in Cambridgeshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Somerset, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Bonaparte's Gulls in Aberdeenshire, Devon and the Western Isles, Subalpine Warbler on the Orkney Isles, White-billed Diver on the Western Isles, and a Tawny Pipit on the Isles of Scilly.

Scarcities included seven Purple Herons, six Woodchat Shrikes, four Hoopoes (including three in Cornwall), two each of both Night Heron and Golden Oriole, White-tailed Eagle in Lincolnshire, and territorial White-spotted Bluethroat in Norfolk.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 22nd April 2011  
  The first Pallid Harrier for Ireland was discovered this afternoon in County Cork, where it showed very well at Ballyvergan Marsh. Elsewhere, a scattering a Bee-eaters were recorded, with birds in Kent (six), County Durham (five), Perth and Kinross (two) and Pembrokeshire (two). Other classic Spring rarities included a Red-footed Falcon at Axminster, Devon, a Black Kite at North Foreland, Kent and two more Tawny Pipits on St Martin's, Scilly.

Lingering rarities included the Savi's Warbler in Essex, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Black Stork in Hampshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Somerset, single Bonaparte's Gulls in Devon and Western Isles, White-billed Diver in Moray, Lesser Scaup in Merseyside and Blue-winged Teal in Cambridgeshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 21st April 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of two Little Swifts together over Wadebridge, Cornwall, although they were lost from view during the afternoon. Elsewhere, a singing Savi's Warbler was located in Essex at Canvey Island, single Tawny Pipits arrive in both County Wexford (at Great Saltee Island) and on the Isles of Scilly, a Bee-eater flew over Durlston Head, Dorset, and an Ortolan Bunting made a brief visit to St Levan, Cornwall. 

Lingering rarities comprised the Rufous Turtle Dove still in Oxfordshire, Black Scoter in Northumberland, Black Stork in Dorset, Blue-winged Teals in Cambridgeshire and North Yorkshire, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Somerset, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Bonaparte's Gulls in Aberdeenshire, Argyll, Devon and the Western Isles, White-billed Divers in Moray and on the Western Isles, Lesser Scaup in Merseyside, and the Ross's Goose in Highland.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 20th April 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of both a Gull-billed Tern and Lesser Yellowlegs at Shapwick Heath, Somerset. Other new rarities included an Eastern Subalpine Warbler arrived on Bardsey Island, Gwynedd, a Bonaparte's Gull was found on Lewis, Western Isles, and a White-billed Diver was located off Row Head, Orkney Isles. Elsewhere, brief encounters included a Sardinian Warbler at Orcombe Point, Devon, Black Kite at Denge Marsh, Kent, and in Dorset an Ortolan Bunting at Portland Bill and single Red-rumped Swallows at both Stanpit Marsh and West Bexington.

Lingering rarities comprised the Black Scoter in Northumberland, Black Stork in Hampshire, Blue-winged Teal in Carmarthenshire, Red-breasted Goose in Perth and Kinross, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, King Eider and Bonaparte's Gull together in Aberdeenshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Cornwall, White-billed Diver in Moray, Ferruginous Duck in Norfolk and Ross's Goose in Highland.

Scarcities included an American Wigeon in Somerset, Ring-necked Duck in Cheshire, territorial White-spotted Bluethroat in Norfolk, Woodchat Shrikes in County Cork (2), County Waterford and the Isles of Scilly, Night Herons in Dorset and Essex, Purple Herons in Cornwall (2), Lincolnshire and Isles of Scilly, Hoopoes in both North Yorkshire and the Western isles, Serin in Suffolk and Golden Oriole on the Isles of Scilly.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 19th April 2011  
  New discoveries today included at least one Tawny Pipit on St Martin's, Isles of Scilly, Red-rumped Swallow briefly at Flamborough Head, Yorkshire, Subalpine Warbler trapped and ringed at Swannay, Orkney, Bee-eater at Hartland Point, Devon, White-billed Diver at Burghead, Moray, Ross's Goose at Golspie, Highland and Gull-billed Tern at Hayle, Cornwall.

Long staying rarities included Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Black Scoter in Northumberland, Blue-winged Teal in Cambridgeshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Cornwall, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Black Stork in Hampshire and King Eider in Aberdeenshire.

Spring scarcities included a Wryneck, a Night Heron, a Kentish Plover, a White-spotted Bluethroat, a Purple Heron, four Hoopoes. seven Woodchat Shrikes and 22 Dotterel.
-  Will Soar, RBA