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 11th September 2011  
  New rarities discovered today included a Western Bonelli's Warbler alongside a Melodious Warbler in County Cork at Mizen Head, a Wilson's Petrel in County Clare passing the Bridges of Ross, and a Red-footed Falcon seen briefly in Norfolk. A suspected Red-necked Stint at Weir Wood Reservoir, East Sussex remained frustratingly distant until dusk.

Lingering rarities included the Little Bittern in Norfolk, Semipalmated Sandpipers in both County Cork and County Wexford, Baird's Sandpiper and Black Kite in Cornwall, Spotted Sandpiper in Devon, Bonaparte's Gull and American Golden Plover together in County Durham, Blue-winged Teal in Cleveland, and three White-rumped Sandpipers in County Wexford.

Highlights from the Scilly Isles comprised Aquatic Warbler, Baird's Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Bee-eater, Red-backed Shrike, two each of both Woodchat Shrike and Wryneck, three Pectoral Sandpipers, five Lapland Buntings and six Buff-breasted Sandpipers. Meanwhile, on Shetland Isles at least four Pallid Harriers were logged, with two each of both Barred Warbler and Common Rosefinch also noted.

Elsewhere, scarcity tallies included 43 Lapland Buntings, 19 Buff-breasted Sandpipers, 17 Pectoral Sandpipers, eight Wrynecks, four Common Rosefinches, two Barred Warblers, and single White-winged Black Tern (Oxfordshire), Rose-coloured Starling (Suffolk), Hoopoe (Northumberland) and Corncrake (Orkney Isles). Seawatchers logged 49 Sabine's Gulls, seven Great Shearwaters, six each of Cory's Shearwater and Long-tailed Skua, whilst Balearic Shearwaters passed Devon and Dorset in impressive numbers, including 316 off Orcombe Point alone.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 10th September 2011  
  A rarity-filled Saturday produced new Pallid Harriers in Norfolk and Shetland, Semipalmated Sandpipers in East Yorkshire, Co Cork and Co Wexford, Citrine Wagtail in Oxfordshire and Blue-winged Teal in Clyde.

Lingering rarities included Little Bittern and Citrine Wagtail (Norfolk), Baird's Sandpiper (at least one on Isles of Scilly and another reappeared in Cornwall), Bonaparte's Gull and American Golden Plover (Co Durham), Bee-eater (Isles of Scilly), Black Kite (Cornwall), Bee-eater (Isles of Scilly) and Spotted Sandpiper (Devon).

In Ireland Tacumshin (Co Wexford) continued to host Sharp-tailed and White-rumped Sandpipers and a Pallid Harrier, whilst elsewhere in Ireland an American Golden Plover (Co Wexford) and Greenish Warbler (Co Cork) both lingered.

The best of the rest comprised White-winged Black Tern in  Oxfordshire, Woodchat Shrike on Isles of Scilly, Spotted Crake in Cheshire, Red-breasted Flycatcher in East Yorkshire, Hoopoe in East Sussex, Common Rosefinch in Pembrokeshire, and at least 29 Pectoral Sandpipers, 27 Buff-breasted Sandpipers, 12 Wrynecks, four Cattle Egrets and two Dotterel were logged today. A flock of seven Long-tailed Skuas flew over Abberton Reservoir (Essex).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 9th September 2011  
  A Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Greatham Creek (Cleveland) and a Little Bittern at Titchwell RSPB (Norfolk) were today's headline discoveries, but the latter was probably present for its second day.

Elsewhere an Aquatic Warbler was located on Isles of Scilly (where a Baird's Sandpiper, at least one Bee-eater, Woodchat Shrike, two Pectoral Sandpipers, four Buff-breasted Sandpipers and three Wrynecks were also logged) and in East Yorkshire a Bee-eater flew over Swine Moor.

In Co Wexford Tacumshin continued to host a phenomenal list of rarities; Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Pallid Harrier, Citrine Wagtail, American Golden Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper, at least six Buff-breasted Sandpipers, Red-necked Phalarope and Pectoral Sandpiper were all recorded today. Elsewhere in Ireland an American Golden Plover was at Rosslate (Co Wexford), two Semipalmated Sandpipers were recorded in Co Cork and in addition to the Tacumshin birds, seven Buff-breasted Sandpipers were reported (five in Co Clare and two in Co Kerry).

Back across the Irish Sea lingering rarities comprised Citrine Wagtail in Norfolk, Spotted Sandpiper in Devon, Arctic Warbler on Shetland, Blue-winged Teal in Cleveland and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset.

The best of the rest included Night Heron in East Sussex, White-winged Black Tern in Oxfordshire, Common Rosefinch in Pembrokeshire, Icterine Warbler in Co Durham, Spotted Crake in Cheshire, as well as three Barred Warblers, two Cattle Egrets and a scattering of Buff-breasted and Pectoral Sandpipers.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Thursday 8th September 2011  
  A Least Sandpiper at Farlington Marshes HWT (Hampshire) was today's headline discovery, but unfortunately the bird was in an area with no general access. Elsewhere new American waders included Baird's Sandpipers on Isles of Scilly and in Co Cork, a distant dowitcher species in Co Derry and Semipalmated Sandpiper in Co Kerry. A total of 14 Buff-breasted Sandpipers and 23 Pectoral Sandpipers were logged and a Spotted Sandpiper (Devon), Baird's Sandpiper (Cornwall), American Golden Plover (Co Durham) and Semipalmated Sandpiper (Co Cork) all lingered.

A juvenile Pallid Harrier flew over Aston Upthorpe Downs (Oxfordshire) but didn't linger (on Shetland two Pallid Harriers remained on show), a Citrine Wagtail was discovered in Co Kerry and in London a Red-rumped Swallow flew over Crayford Marshes.

In addition to the aforementioned waders lingering rarities included Citrine Wagtails in Norfolk and on Fair Isle, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset, Arctic Warbler on Shetland, Bee-eater on Isles of Scilly (where a pelagic produced five Wilson's Petrels this evening) and Bonaparte's Gull in Co Durham.

The best of the rest included White-winged Black Tern in Oxfordshire, Spotted Crake in Cheshire, Rose-coloured Starling in Dumfries & Galloway, Hoopoe in Carmarthenshire, Melodious Warblers in Dorset and Gwynedd, Woodchat Shrike on Isles of Scilly and Cattle Egrets in Norfolk (2) and Kent.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 7th September 2011  
  A quieter day today, with new discoveries including an Arctic Warbler at Hoswick, Shetland, and a new Citrine Wagtail on North Ronaldsay, Orkney. A Citrine Wagtail was also seen at Cley NWT, Norfolk, for its second day.

The Sharp-tailed Sandpiper remained at Tacumshin, County Wexford, as did the Pallid Harrier, White-rumped Sandpiper, American Golden Plover and two Buff-breasted Sandpipers. Other lingering rarities included the Bonaparte's Gull and American Golden Plover in County Durham, Citrine Wagtail in Isles of Scilly, Spotted Sandpiper in Devon, Baird's Sandpiper in Cornwall, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Cork and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset.

Few scarcities were seen today apart from seabirds (except a Rose-coloured Starling, a White-winged Black Tern, two Melodious Warblers, two Woodchat Shrikes and nine Wrynecks). Seabird totals included 71 Sabine's Gulls, 52 Great Shearwaters, 40 Leach's Petrels, 36 Pomarine Skuas, 14 Long-tailed Skuas, seven Grey Phalaropes and a Red-necked Phalarope, and a few Manx Shearwaters were seen well inland.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 6th September 2011  
  Seawatching, once again, provided the highlights today, with the star being a Madeiran Petrel in Cornwall. First seen at 2.30pm, it was later seen lingering between 3.50pm and 3.55pm, before flying west. Single Wilson's Petrels flew past Brandon Point, County Kerry and Bridges of Ross, County Clare. Other seabird totals included 119 Great Shearwaters, 27 Cory's Shearwaters, 99 Sabine's Gulls, 41 Leach's Petrels and two Grey Phalaropes. In Devon, records were broken with 304 Balearic Shearwaters flying past Berry Head, Brixham, and 238 flying past Start Point.

Other new rarities were limited, with just a Citrine Wagtail on Fair Isle, Shetland, and a Semipalmated Sandpiper at Clonakilty, County Cork.

Lingering rarities included single Pallid Harriers in County Wexford and Shetland, Spotted Sandpiper in Devon, House Crow in County Cork, Bee-eater in Isles of Scilly and American Golden Plover in County Durham.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Monday 5th September 2011  
  The highlight of the day was another sighting of a Fea's Petrel off the Irish coast; passing Mizen Head, County Cork in the afternoon. Seawatching elsewhere produced a Wilson's Petrel and a Sabine's Gull off County Clare, and cumulative totals of at least 146 Cory's Shearwaters (all off County Cork), 108 Great Shearwaters and three Long-tailed Skuas.

A Semipalmated Sandpiper was discovered in County Cork at Pilmore, a Citrine Wagtail made a brief appearance in Hampshire at Pennington Marshes, and an Ortolan Bunting was on St Martin's, Isles of Scilly. Whilst lingering rarities confirmed as still present today were the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Pallid Harrier and American Golden Plover all together in County Wexford, Baird's Sandpiper in Argyll, Spotted Sandpiper in Devon, Greenish Warbler in County Cork, Black Kite in Cornwall, American Golden Plover in County Durham, and Bee-eater on the Isles of Scilly.

Scarcities included 14 Pectoral Sandpipers, six Buff-breasted Sandpipers, four Wrynecks, three Barred Warblers, two each of Woodchat Shrike and Cattle Egret, and single Melodious Warbler (Dorset), White-winged Black Tern (Oxon), Rose-coloured Starling (Dumfries and Galloway), Common Rosefinch (Pembrokeshire), Spotted Crake (Cheshire), Ring-necked Duck (Somerset) and and Lapland Bunting (Orkney Isles).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 4th September 2011  
  The fifth Fea's Petrel of the autumn was seen at Old Head of Kinsale, County Cork today, but it was a slightly quieter day elsewhere for seawatching, with 249 Great Shearwaters, a single Cory's Shearwater, two Long-tailed Skuas, ten Pomarine Skuas, three Leach's Petrels, two Grey Phalaropes and six Sabine's Gulls being the cumulative totals.

An Arctic Warbler was found on Fetlar, Shetland, whilst the Pallid Harrier and Greenish Warbler also remained on the islands, with another of the latter in County Cork. Single American Golden Plovers were in County Durham and County Kerry, with a White-rumped Sandpiper also in the latter county. Five Glossy Ibises flew over Atwick, Yorkshire, a Baird's Sandpiper was in Argyll and an Ortolan Bunting and a couple of Citrine Wagtails were on the Isles of Scilly. A Marbled Duck was present at Freckleton, Lancashire this evening.

Lingering rarities today included Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Pallid Harrier, Citrine Wagtail, American Golden Plover and White-rumped Sandpiper all at Tacumshin, County Wexford (together with a White-winged Black Tern, three Buff-breasted Sandpipers, two Pectoral Sandpipers and a Montagu's Harrier), Black Scoter in Highland, Spotted Sandpiper in Devon, Black Kite and Baird's Sandpiper in Cornwall and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 3rd September 2011  
  The highlight of what was a good day for seawatching was a Fea's Petrel passing the Bridges of Ross, County Clare during the afternoon. Cumulative day totals included six Cory's Shearwaters (all off County Mayo), seven Sabine's Gulls (all off County Clare), 11 Long-tailed Skuas, and a remarkable 2,249 Great Shearwaters logged between County Donegal and Cornwall (where 2,003 passed Porthgwarra alone).

Elsewhere, new discoveries concerned a brief American Black Tern and a Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Kerry, Spotted Sandpiper and Aquatic Warbler in Devon, Greeninsh Warbler in County Cork, King Eider on the Shetland Isles, and a Black Kite briefly in Surrey.

Lingering rarities comprised the Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and Great Snipe still together on the Shetland Isles, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Pallid Harrier, Citrine Wagtail, two American Golden Plovers and a White-rumped Sandpiper together in County Wexford, Black Scoter in Aberdeenshire, Citrine Wagtail in Merseyside, Bonaparte's Gull in County Durham, Black Duck in County Kerry, two Black Kites in Cornwall, Bee-eater on the Isles of Scilly, and both the Ferruginous Duck and Ring-necked Duck in Somerset.

Scarcities included 13 Pectoral Sandpipers, nine Common Rosefinches, seven Wrynecks, five Buff-breasted Sandpipers, three each of Spotted Crake, Cattle Egret and Great White Egret, two Surf Scoters (in Aberdeenshire) and a Barred Warbler (Lincolnshire).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 2nd September 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of an Eastern Olivaceous Warbler on Fair Isle - the fifth to be recorded on the Shetland Isles in a decade. Other new rarities were a Greenish Warbler on the Shetland Isles at Sandwick, a brief Whiskered Tern in London at Barnes, Citrine Wagtails in Merseyside at Seaforth, the Orkney Isles on North Ronaldsay, with two together in County Wexford at Tacumshin, single Ortolan Buntings in Cornwall at Nanquidno and Lancashire at Fleetwood, and American Golden Plovers on the Western Isles at Uig, and in County Wexford at both Rosslare Back Strand and Tacumshin.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Pallid Harrier, Semipalmated Sandpiper and White-rumped Sandpiper all together in County Wexford, Great Snipe and a second Greenish Warbler on the Shetland Isles, Baird's Sandpiper and Black Kite in Cornwall, White-rumped Sandpiper in County Kerry, Bee-eater on the Isles of Scilly and Ferruginous Duck - with a Ring-necked Duck - in Somerset.

Scarcities included 14 Wrynecks, nine Common Rosefinches, five each of Barred Warbler and Pectoral Sandpiper, three each of Red-backed Shrike and Great White Egret, two Buff-breasted Sandpipers, White-winged Black Tern (Staffordshire), Woodchat Shrike (Isles of Scilly), Spotted Crake (Cheshire), Temminck's Stint (East Yorkshire), Ring-billed Gull (Forth) and a Cattle Egret (Kent). Seawatching totals comprised 223 Great Shearwaters, six Long-tailed Skuas, three Cory's Shearwaters (County Mayo) and three Sabine's Gulls (County Clare).
-  Chris Batty, RBA