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 17th June 2011  
  Scotland's lingering mega-rarities once again created the headlines - the American White-winged Scoter was still off Blackdog (Aberdeenshire) and the Greater Sand Plover remained at Dornoch (Highland).

New discoveries came in the form of a Spotted Sandpiper at Whisby Nature Park (Lincolnshire), Caspian Tern at Thornham harbour (Norfolk) and Squacco Heron on Mainland Shetland, whilst King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Squacco Heron in Kent, Ferruginous Duck in Suffolk, Red-footed Falcon in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon and Blue-winged Teal in Somerset all lingered.

The best of the rest included Red-backed Shrikes in Orkney (2) and Norfolk, Grey Phalarope in Aberdeenshire, White-tailed Eagle in Lincolnshire, Shorelark in Orkney and Ring-necked Duck in Somerset.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Thursday 16th June 2011  
  A summer plumaged Greater Sand Plover was present for a second day at Dornoch Point, Highland today. This 15th for Britain showed very well into late evening. A little further south, the American White-winged Scoter continued to show off Murcar Links, Aberdeenshire. Still in Scotland, a Roller was seen on Mull, Argyll, and the King Eider also remained on the Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire.

Further south, a Ferruginous Duck was at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk, and a Black Kite was at Kirkby-on-Bain, Lincolnshire.

Lingering rarities included Squacco Heron in Kent, House Crow in County Cork, Blue-winged Teal in Somerset, Bee-eater in Isles of Scilly, Red-footed Falcon in Norfolk and Bonaparte's Gull in Devon.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 15th June 2011  
  In Kent, a Squacco Heron spent all day at Dungeness RSPB, at Denge Marsh and the Hooker's Pits area, where it showed well on and off. A Black Kite was seen near Caistor, Lincolnshire, and there were Bee-eater sightings on both St Martin's and St Agnes, Isles of Scilly.

The American White-winged Scoter remained in Aberdeenshire, as did the King Eider. In Norfolk, a probable longipennis Eastern Common Tern was seen at Breydon Water, whilst the Red-footed Falcon remained nearby at Horsey. A Red-spotted Bluethroat spent all day at West Runton.

Other lingering rarities included Blue-winged Teal in Somerset and Bonaparte's Gull in Devon.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 14th June 2011  
  In County Wexford, a Black Kite flew over Lady's Island Lake. Bee-eaters were seen in Suffolk, at Dingle Marshes RSPB, Glamorgan, at Wernffrwd and Pembrokeshire, on Skomer.

Seaducks were, once again, well represented, with the American White-winged Scoter remaining at Blackdog, with three Surf Scoters, and the American Eider was seen at Carrickabraghy Castle, County Donegal, with a Northern Eider. The King Eider also remained in Aberdeenshire.

Other lingering rarities included Blue-winged Teal in Somerset, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Red-footed Falcon in Norfolk and Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Kerry.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Monday 13th June 2011  
  A Roller at Upper Hollesley Common (Suffolk) was the headline discovery, whilst in Aberdeenshire the American White-winged Scoter was still off Blackdog.

A Blue-winged Teal was located at Chew Valley Lake (Somerset), a Red-footed Falcon flew in off the sea at Corton (Suffolk) and Bee-eaters were in Cornwall (3) and Isles of Scilly (3). A Wilson's Petrel was noted from a pelagic off Isles of Scilly and elsewhere lingering rarities included King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Red-footed Falcon in Norfolk, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Co Kerry, American Eider in Co Donegal and House Crow in Co Cork.

The best of the rest included Red-backed Shrike (Orkney), Red-necked Phalarope (Cheshire) and Great White Egrets in Kent, Derbyshire and Co Derry.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 12th June 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the identification of Britain's first American White-winged Scoter between Blackdog and Murcar, Aberdeenshire. Present offshore with a large scoter flock - including three Surf Scoters - the identity of the first-summer drake American White-winged Scoter was first suspected yesterday, but only was confirmed from photographs this afternoon, at which the news was broadcast. It then remained on show until late in the evening.

Rarities elsewhere comprised a brief Great Reed Warbler on the Shetland Isles at Maywick, two Red-footed Falcons together in Norfolk at Hickling Broad, the American Eider still in County Donegal, and a King Eider still in Aberdeenshire.

Scarcities included Serin (Suffolk), Marsh Warbler (Norfolk), Red-backed Shrike (Orkney Isles), Red-necked Phalarope (East Yorkshire), White-tailed Eagle (Lincolnshire), Night Heron (Cambridgeshire), American Wigeon (Aberdeenshire), Pectoral Sandpiper (Cleveland) and Great White Egret (Derbyshire, Kent, County Londonderry and South Yorkshire).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 11th June 2011  
  New discoveries included a Red-footed Falcon at Hickling Broad NWT (Norfolk) and Bee-eaters on Isles of Scilly (3) and in County Waterford. The American Eider in County Donegal, Red-footed Falcon in Herefordshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Forster's Tern in County Wexford, Iberian Chiffchaff in County Louth and Ferruginous Duck in Norfolk all lingered, but the White-throated Robin could not be found on Hartlepool Headland (Cleveland).

The best of the rest included Woodchat Shrike (Western Isles), Common Rosefinches (Forth and Isles of Scilly), Pectoral Sandpiper (Cleveland), Red-backed Shrike (Essex), White-tailed Eagle (Lincolnshire), Spotted Crake (Orkney), Marsh Warbler (Shetland) and Icterine Warbler (Orkney). Great White Egrets were seen in Suffolk, Somerset and West Yorkshire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 10th June 2011  
  In Cleveland the White-throated Robin lingered on Hartlepool Headland.

Elsewhere a Semipalmated Sand was at Black Rock Strand (Co Kerry) for its second day, Black Kites flew over Johnshaven (Aberdeenshire) and Lawford (Essex) and Blyth's Reed Warbler and Greenish Warbler were both on Fair Isle. In Aberdeenshire the King Eider lingered on the Ythan Estuary and in Co Cork the long-staying House Crow was again reported in Cobh.

The best of the rest included Rose-coloured Starling in Argyll, Icterine Warbler and Red-backed Shrike in Orkney, Common Rosefinch in Lincolnshire, Marsh Warbler in Norfolk, Purple Herons in Nottinghamshire and Devon, Great White Egret in Kent, Woodchat Shrike on Western Isles, White-tailed Eagle in Lincolnshire and Red-necked Phalaropes in Leicestershire (2) and Worcestershire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Thursday 9th June 2011  
  Once again was the highlight of the day was the continued presence of the White-throated Robin at Hartlepool Headland, Cleveland, although it could not be found there after midday. Similarly, the Red-footed Falcon in Herefordshire disappeared late morning, but the King Eider remained in Aberdeenshire.

Newly discovered rarities comprised a Greenish Warbler in the Shetland Isles on Fair Isle, another Bonaparte's Gull on Berneray, Western Isles, and brief encounters included a Red-footed Falcon in Surrey, Bee-eater in Kent and Ortolan Bunting in East Yorkshire.

Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starling (Forth), Bluethroat (Cleveland), Icterine Warbler (two together on the Shetland Isles), Common Rosefinch (Argyll and Shetland), Red-necked Phalarope (two together in County Wexford), American Wigeon (Aberdeenshire), Pectoral Sandpiper (Cheshire) and Great White Egret (Kent).

Significant news from yesterday concerned a Blyth's Reed Warbler off the Isle of Man trapped and ring on the Calf of Man.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 8th June 2011  
  In Cleveland, the White-throated Robin continued to show very well at Hartlepool Headland. In County Donegal, an American Eider (form dresseri) was found off the Isle of Doagh, whilst Red-footed Falcons were at Spurn, Yorkshire, Horsey, Norfolk and Ledbury, Herefordshire. A Black Stork flew over Hythe, Kent.

The only long staying rarity seen today was the Bonaparte's Gull on Lewis, Western Isles.

Headline scarcities included Buff-breasted Sandpiper in County Wicklow, Common Rosefinch in Anglesey and Cornwall, Icterine Warbler in Orkney, Marsh Warbler in Shetland, American Wigeon in Aberdeenshire, White-tailed Eagle in Lincolnshire, two Surf Scoters in Aberdeenshire and Purple Herons in Somerset and Suffolk.
-  Will Soar, RBA