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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Sunday 8th May 2011  
  The highlight of the day was a male Collared Flycatcher at Holme Dunes, Norfolk. Discovered late in the afternoon the bird continued to show well until late in the evening. This is the fourth record for Norfolk following males at Holme on 4th-6th May 1969, Holkham on 12th-13th May 1985 and at Cley on 5th May 1995.

Other newly discovered rarities comprised a party of four Black-winged Stilts in Cornwall at Gwithian, a Gull-billed Tern in West Sussex at Pulborough Brooks RSPB briefly, a Black Stork in Powys over Llanfilo, and an Ortolan Bunting at Halesworth, Suffolk. Other brief encounters included an Alpine Swift in Warwickshire, White-winged Black Tern in East Yorkshire, Black Kites in Aberdeenshire, Lothian and Suffolk, and Red-rumped Swallows in County Cork, East Yorkshire and Kent.

Lingering rarities comprised the Citrine Wagtail still in Norfolk, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Collared Pratincole in Lincolnshire, Gyr on the Western Isles, Great Reed Warbler in County Wexford, Black Kite on the Shetland Isles, Bee-eater in Dorset, Glossy Ibis in Buckinghamshire, White-billed Diver in Moray, Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset, and single Bonaparte's Gulls in Cornwall, Devon and the Western Isles.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 7th May 2011  
  A wide selection of Spring rarities were discovered today, with the rarest being Ireland's fourth Great Reed Warbler on Great Saltee Island, County Wexford (the first individual to be seen outside County Cork). The first modern day record of Glossy Ibis for Buckinghamshire was welcomed by the locals, whilst a female Citrine Wagtail at Cley, Norfolk this evening also proved popular.

Apart from a/the Bee-eater on Portland, Dorset, all the other new rarities today were either seen very briefly or were otherwise inaccessible. These include a Red-throated Pipit at Spurn, Yorkshire, Little Bunting on Whalsay, Shetland, single Tawny Pipits at Stowmarket, Suffolk and Tresco, Scilly, single Black Kites on Unst, Shetland and at Loch Avich, Argyll and Red-footed Falcon at Paxton, Cambridgeshire.

Lingering rarities seen today included Iberian Chiffchaff in Lancashire, Collared Pratincole in Lincolnshire, Bonaparte's Gull and American Golden Plover in Cornwall (with others of the former in Devon and Western Isles), King Eider in Aberdeenshire, White-billed Diver in Moray and Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 6th May 2011  
  Further classic Spring rarities were discovered today. Single Red-rumped Swallows were seen briefly in both Lincolnshire and Norfolk, male Red-footed Falcons were in the same counties, with two in Norfolk, single Bee-eaters were in Norfolk, Dorset and Sussex and a Black Kite was in Cornwall. Rarity of the day must go to the second Black-headed Wagtail of the year, this time spending the day at Cemlyn Bay NWWT, Anglesey.

The Rufous Turtle Dove continued its stay in Oxfordshire, as did the Subalpine Warbler in Yorkshire, Iberian Chiffchaff in Lancashire, single Bonaparte's Gulls in Cornwall, Devon and Western Isles and White-billed Diver in Moray.

Scarcity highlights included a scattering of Temminck's Stints, single Red-necked Pahalarope, Woodchat Shrike, White-spotted Bluethroat, Rough-legged Buzzard and Purple Heron, and two each of White Stork (including a very mobile bird in Suffolk and Norfolk), Hoopoe, Golden Oriole and Wryneck.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 5th May 2011  
  The highlight of the day was a Glossy Ibis present throughout the afternoon and evening at Rutland Water, Leicestershire. Elsewhere, a Red-rumped Swallow showed in Norfolk over Salthouse, a Black Kite and three Subalpine Warblers were logged around the Shetland Isles, whilst brief encounters included an Ortolan Bunting in London and a Bee-eater on the Isle of Wight.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised a Collared Flycatcher on the Shetland Isles, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Iberian Chiffchaff in Lancashire, Bonaparte's Gulls in both Cornwall and Devon, Subalpine Warbler in East Yorkshire, American Golden Plover in Cornwall, and single White-billed Divers in Moray and the Western Isles.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 4th May 2011  
  The highlight of the day was confirmation of a territorial Iberian Chiffchaff present in Blackpool, Lancashire for a second day. Elsewhere, a Black-headed Wagtail was on Tresco, Isles of Scilly, whilst brief encounters included an Alpine Swift in Lancashire, Red-rumped Swallow in East Yorkshire, Bee-eater in Lothian, and Black Kites in both Kent and the Orkney Isles.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present today comprised Collared Flycatcher on the Shetland Isles, Barolo Little Shearwater in Devon, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Bonaparte's Gulls in both Cornwall and Devon, single Subalpine Warblers in East Yorkshire, Orkney Isles and Shetland Isles, White-billed Divers in Moray, Shetland Isles and Western Isles, American Golden Plover in Cornwall and Lesser Scaup in Gloucestershire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 3rd May 2011  
  New discoveries included a Spotted Sandpiper at Westwood Pool (Worcestershire - the first county record), Rustic Bunting and Subalpine Warbler at Spurn (East Yorkshire), Black Kite at Gibraltar Point (Lincolnshire), Great Snipe on Mainland Shetland, Red-rumped Swallow on Fair Isle (Shetland) and Bee-eater at Portland (Dorset).

The Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Bonaparte's Gull and American Golden Plover in Cornwall, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Lesser Scaup in Lancashire, White-billed Diver in Moray, Red-rumped Swallow in Kent and Subalpine Warblers on Shetland (2) and Orkney all lingered.

The best of the rest included Kentish Plover in Lancashire, White-winged Black Terns in West Sussex and Suffolk, Wrynecks in West Sussex and Dorset, Hoopoes in Norfolk and Gloucestershire, Woodchat Shrike in Suffolk and Night Heron in Dorset.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 2nd May 2011  
  New discoveries included Great Snipe on Shetland, Glossy Ibis in Essex, Red-rumped Swallows in Dorset and Kent and Black Kite on Orkney. The Collared Pratincole in Lincolnshire, Lesser Scaup in Lancashire, Subalpine Warbler in Orkney, Bonaparte's Gull and American Golden Plover in Cornwall and Bonaparte's Gull in Devon all lingered.

White-billed Divers were recorded off Lewis and Moray (2), White-winged Black Terns were in Suffolk and West Sussex, Woodchat Shrikes lingered in Devon and Suffolk and Purple Herons remained in Bedfordshire and Kent. Wrynecks were logged in Shetland (3), Dorset (2), Norfolk (2) and Northumberland, a Night Heron lingered in Co Waterford and a Cattle Egret was still in Dorset. A Kentish Plover was discovered in Somerset whilst another lingered in Co Wexford. The White-tailed Eagle was still on show in Lincolnshire. Fifty Dotterel, four Montagu's Harriers and three Temminck's Stints were also recorded today.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 1st May 2011  
  An American Golden Plover was found at the Hayle Estuary in Cornwall, where a Bonaparte's Gull was still present. Other Bonaparte's Gulls were still to be found in Devon and Aberdeenshire with another bird being reported in Flintshire. A Black Kite flew over Tankerton in Kent

The male Collared Flycatcher remained on Fair Isle in the Shetlands as did the Eastern Subalpine Warbler. A White-billed Diver was still off Burghead in Moray and the Collared Pratincole was still near Immingham in Lincolnshire. A Black Stork continued it's wanderings in Dorset, a King Eider remained at the mouth of the Ythan Estuary in Aberdeenshire and the Lesser Scaup was still at Martin Mere in Lancashire.

There were belated reports from yesterday of a Red-rumped Swallow in County Wexford, two different Black Kites in Wiltshire and a Red-footed Falcon in Kent.

A good passage of Pomarine Skuas moving up the Channel was observed from various south coast points and a number of Dotterel were seen around the country. Two Woodchat Shrikes remained as did a White-winged Black Tern in Suffolk.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Saturday 30th April 2011  
  A Collared Flycatcher on Fair Isle (Shetland) was the headline new discovery. Elsewhere new rarities included a flock four Black-winged Stilts in Essex, Red-footed Falcon and Black Kite in Norfolk, Ortolan Bunting in East Yorkshire and Bee-eater in Dorset.

Lingering rarities included Collared Pratincole in Lincolnshire, Lesser Scaup in Lancashire, Bonaparte's Gulls in Cornwall and Aberdeenshire, White-billed Divers in Aberdeenshire and Co Wexford, Gyr on Western Isles, Blue-winged Teal in Carmarthenshire, Subalpine Warblers on North Ronaldsay and Fair Isle (2), Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset and Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire.

Woodchat Shrikes lingered in North Yorkshire, Suffolk and Devon, Purple Herons were in Bedfordshire and Kent, a Hoopoe was in Norfolk, a White-winged Black Tern remained in Suffolk, as did a Kentish Plover in Co Wexford. In London a Wryneck was discovered and in Lincolnshire the White-tailed Eagle remained on show and a Night Heron was still in Co Waterford.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 29th April 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a singing male Iberian Chiffchaff in Gwent at Usk. New rarities elsewhere comprised Subalpine Warblers in Gwynedd on Bardsey Island, Orkney Isles on North Ronaldsay, and Western Isles on North Uist, whilst brief encounters included a Black Stork in Dorset, Black Kite in Cambridgeshire and, in Norfolk, three Red-footed Falcons and a Red-rumped Swallow.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the territorial Barolo Little Shearwater in Devon, Rufous Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire, Collared Pratincole in Lincolnshire, Snowy Owl on the Western Isles, Blue-winged Teal in Carmarthenshire, Bonaparte's Gulls in both Devon and the Western Isles, Long-billed Dowitcher in Dorset, Lesser Scaup in Lancashire, and White-billed Divers in Aberdeenshire, Moray (3) and County Wexford.

Scarcities included Woodchat Shrikes in Devon, North Yorkshire and Suffolk, Purple Herons in Bedfordshire and Kent, White-tailed Eagle in Lincolnshire, Kentish Plover in County Wexford, Night Heron in County Waterford, Hoopoe in Hampshire, and Wryneck in Norfolk.
-  Chris Batty, RBA