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 25th July 2011  
  Rare waders were the highlight of the day with the Stilt Sandpiper remaining all day at Lodmoor RSPB reserve in Dorset and the Marsh Sandpiper still to be found at Blacktoft Sands RSPB reserve in East Yorkshire. Pectoral Sandpipers were found at Frampton Marsh RSPB reserve in Lincolnshire and Martin Mere WWT reserve in Lancashire.

Other lingering rarities included Western Bonelli's Warbler in Derbyshire, Savi's Warbler in Norfolk and Ferruginous Duck in Cambridgeshire. The Night Heron was still to be found at Stodmarsh in Kent, the Common Rosefinch continued to sing in Cambridgeshire and Cattle Egrets were reported in Dorset and Devon.

Again, there were good numbers of seabirds seen off north eastern coasts, especially Storm Petrels, but also a few Sooty and Balearic Shearwaters and two Long-tailed Skuas past Flamborough Head in Yorkshire. Early signs of autumn passerine migration occurred with falls of common migrants at Portland Bill and Hengistbury Head in Dorset.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Sunday 24th July 2011  
  Highlight of the day is clearly the adult Stilt Sandpiper in Dorset, present for its second day at Lodmoor RSPB, although this second for the county proved elusive and distant. In London, a Red-footed Falcon was reported over Walthamstow.

In Derbyshire, the Western Bonelli's Warbler reappeared at Arnfield Reservoir, as did the Marsh Sandpiper at Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire. Other rarities confirmed as still present included the Savi's Warbler in Norfolk, White-rumped Sandpiper in Cleveland and Ferruginous Duck in Cambridgeshire.

The other very notable species was Storm Petrel, with at least one county day record broken (County Durham). The north-east coast had a bumper haul, with county totals of 183 in Fife, 62 in Lothian, 132 in Northumberland, 75 in County Durham, five in Yorkshire and just one off Norfolk. Good numbers of Sooty Shearwaters were also noted, and a Cory's Shearwater was also seen in Norfolk.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 23rd July 2011  
  New discoveries included a Ferruginous Duck at Paxton Pits NR (Cambridgeshire) and a Black Kite between Kennerleigh, Sandford and Cheriton Fitzpaine (Devon). The male Snowy Owl reappeared on Lewis (Western Isles).

Lingering rarities included Ferruginous Duck in Somerset, Black Scoter off Aberdeenshire and White-rumped Sandpiper in Cleveland.

The best of the rest comprised Rose-coloured Starlings in Devon and Argyll, Pectoral Sandpipers in Kent and Co Wexford, Hoopoe in Worcestershire, White-tailed Eagle in Lincolnshire, Cattle Egret in Devon and Great White Egrets in Kent and Glamorgan.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 22nd July 2011  
  A Red-footed Falcon was seen briefly on Inishmore, Aran Islands, County Galway, before it flew off south.

Lingering rarities seen today included the White-rumped Sandpiper in Cleveland and  Ferruginous Duck in Somerset, whilst the Western Bonelli's Warbler was reported again in Derbyshire.

Scarcity highlights included single Rose-coloured Starlings in County Galway and Argyll, single Pectoral Sandpipers in Shetland, Northumberland and Kent, a White Stork in Norfolk, a Great White Egret in Kent, a Cattle Egret in Dorset and a White-tailed Eagle and Temminck's Stint in Lincolnshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 21st July 2011  
  The highlight of the day was a Paddyfield Warbler at The Fleet, Dorset. Trapped and ringed in the morning, the bird was not seen again after release. Meanwhile, in Norfolk a Savi's Warbler was heard singing at Hickling Broad.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised the Marsh Sandpiper in East Yorkshire, White-rumped Sandpiper in Cleveland, and single Ferruginous Ducks in both Somerset and Suffolk.

Scarcities included Common Rosefinch (Cambridgeshire), White-tailed Eagle (Lincolnshire), Pectoral Sandpiper (Aberdeenshire), Long-tailed Skua (County Wexford), Cattle Egret (Devon) and Great White Egret (Kent).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 20th July 2011  
  The highlight of the day was early morning confirmation of a Pacific Golden Plover on the Hayle Estuary, Cornwall: although present for two days, it later proved elusive. Elsewhere, a White-rumped Sandpiper was discovered at Saltholme Pools, Cleveland during the evening.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised the Black Scoter - together with three Surf Scoters - in Aberdeenshire, Marsh Sandpiper in East Yorkshire, Spotted Sandpiper in Leicestershire, two Pacific Golden Plovers together in County Londonderry, Red-rumped Swallow on the Shetland Isles, Wilson's Petrel off the Isles of Scilly, and Ferruginous Ducks in both Somerset and Suffolk.

Scarcities included Melodious Warbler (Kent), Common Rosefinch (Cambridgeshire), White-tailed Eagle (Lincolnshire), Long-tailed Skua (Highland), Cattle Egret (Devon), Great White Egret (Dorset and Kent), Grey Phalarope (Ayrshire and the Isles of Scilly) and Pectoral Sandpiper (Aberdeenshire, Cleveland, Lincolnshire, County Londonderry and Northumberland).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 19th July 2011  
  A Terek Sandpiper visited Holywell Pond (Northumberland) this afternoon but could not be found later in the day. In Shetland a Red-rumped Swallow was discovered at Loch of Hillwell, Mainland.

Lingering rarities included Marsh Sandpiper (East Yorkshire), Black Scoter (Aberdeenshire), Spotted Sandpiper (Leicestershire), Ferruginous Duck (Somerset), Western Bonelli's Warbler (Derbyshire) and Bonaparte's Gulls (Devon and Western Isles).

The best of the rest included Great White Egrets (Leicestershire and Dorset), Common Rosefinch (Cambridgeshire), Pectoral Sandpiper (Aberdeenshire), Cattle Egret (West Sussex) and Night Heron (Essex).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 18th July 2011  
  The highlight of the day was an Alpine Swift watched over the Calf of Man, Isle of Man. Elsewhere, the Black Scoter was relocated with four Surf Scoters in Aberdeenshire off Murcar and, on the Western Isles, the Bonaparte's Gull was relocated on Berneray.

Other lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised the Marsh Sandpiper in East Yorkshire, two Pacific Golden Plovers together in County Londonderry, Spotted Sandpipers in both Leicestershire and County Wexford, Western Bonelli's Warbler in Derbyshire, and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset.

Scarcities included Common Rosefinch (Cambridgeshire), Ring-billed Gull (County Antrim), Cattle Egret (West Sussex), Great White Egret (Dorset), White-tailed Eagle, American Wigeon and Temminck's Stint (all Lincolnshire). Notable seabirds included 141 Cory's Shearwaters (107 counted from the Isles of Scilly alone), seven Balearic Shearwaters, and a Sabine's Gull in Highland.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 17th July 2011  
  New discoveries today include a lingering Spotted Sandpiper at Lady's Island Lake, County Wexford, and a brief Red-rumped Swallow at Weir Wood Reservoir, Sussex.

In Derbyshire, the Western Bonelli's Warbler remained on territory at Arnfield Reservoir, whilst long staying waders included Marsh Sandpiper in Yorkshire and Spotted Sandpiper in Leicestershire.

Scarcity highlights involved Common Rosefinch in Cambridgeshire, Pectoral Sandpiper in Essex, American Wigeon and White-tailed Eagle in Lincolnshire, single Great White Egrets in Carmarthenshire and Kent, Cattle Egret in Sussex, Rose-coloured Starling in Argyll and Glaucous Gull in Devon.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Saturday 16th July 2011  
  Lingering rarities confirmed as still present today comprised the territorial Western Bonelli's Warbler in Derbyshire, Marsh Sandpiper in East Yorkshire, Spotted Sandpiper in Leicestershire, two Pacific Golden Plovers together in County Londonderry, Black-headed Bunting on the Shetland Isles, and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset.

Seawatching was headlined by a Wilson's Petrel passing the Bridges of Ross, County Clare, with elsewhere Cory's Shearwaters (including at least 25 off County Cork), three Great Shearwaters, six Pomarine Skuas and at least 28 Balearic Shearwaters noted.

Scarcities included White-winged Black Tern (Shetland Isles), Common Rosefinch (Cambridgeshire), American Wigeon (both Lincolnshire and Western Isles), Pectoral Sandpiper (Essex), Cattle Egret (West Sussex) and Great White Egret (both Carmarthenshire and Kent).
-  Chris Batty, RBA