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 15th September 2011  
  American waders continued to flood into Britain and Ireland today - Spotted Sandpipers arrived in Cornwall (where one joined a Lesser Yellowlegs and Semipalmated Sandpiper at Drift Reservoir) and Gloucestershire, White-rumped Sandpipers were located in Argyll (2), Co Kerry, Western Isles and Co Galway, a Semipalmated Sandpiper was identified on Western Isles, an American Golden Plover was discovered in Co Kerry and a Baird's Sandpiper was in Co Donegal. In Suffolk a Fea's Petrel flew past Lowestoft this evening and three Wilson's Petrels were logged from an Isles of Scilly pelagic.

In addition to the aforementioned waders new discoveries comprised a Tawny Pipit in East Sussex, at least three Black Kites in Cornwall and Citrine Wagtails in Shetland and Co Kerry.

Lingering rarities included Solitary Sandpiper, Ortolan Bunting, Bee-eater and Baird's Sandpiper on Isles of Scilly, Pallid Harrier on Mainland Shetland, Baird's Sandpiper in Hampshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Cornwall, Spotted Sandpiper in Devon and Blue-winged Teal in Cleveland. At least 38 Buff-breasted Sandpipers were recorded today, including a flock of 15 on Loop Head (Co Clare).

In Ireland lingering rarities comprised American Golden Plover and White-rumped Sandpiper in Co Wexford and two Semipalmated Sandpipers in Co Kerry.

Today's hot topic related to a tit species that had been visiting a garden feeder in High Wycombe (Buckinghamshire) for at least two weeks. The bird was initially thought to be an Azure Tit, but after the possibility of a hybrid Azure Tit x Blue Tit had been considered, it was later decided that the bird was an escaped Yellow-breasted Tit.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 14th September 2011  
  The 13th Solitary Sandpiper for the Isles of Scilly was found today, where it showed very well at Newford Duckpond, St Mary's. An Ortolan Bunting was also new in on the archipelago, with the Red-eyed Vireo, Aquatic Warbler, Spotted Sandpiper and Bee-eater all remaining present.

Other new rarities discovered today included a Fea's Petrel and five Wilson's Petrels in County Clare, Long-billed Dowitcher and Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall, single Baird's Sandpipers in Hampshire and County Donegal and single White-rumped Sandpipers in County Kerry and County Wexford.

Lingering rarities included a Western Bonelli's Warbler, three Pallid Harriers, two Semipalmated Sandpipers, two Spotted Sandpipers, an American Golden Plover and a Black Kite.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 13th September 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Red-eyed Vireo on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly: the earliest ever date for this species in Britain. Other storm-driven arrivals were a Spotted Sandpiper on the Isles of Scilly, Semipalmated Sandpipers in both Cornwall and County Kerry, American Golden Plover in County Clare, and a Baird's Sandpiper together with two White-rumped Sandpiper on Lewis, Western Isles, with seawatching headlined by 11 Wilson's Petrels: six off County Clare, two off County Kerry, and three passing Pendeen Watch, Cornwall.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised both the Greater Yellowlegs and Black Kite in Cornwall, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Pallid Harrier, American Golden Plover and three White-rumped Sandpipers in County Wexford, two Pallid Harriers on the Shetland Isles, Western Bonelli's Warbler and Lesser Yellowlegs in County Cork, Semipalmated Sandpiper and Ferruginous Duck together in Somerset, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Kerry, Aquatic Warbler, Citrine Wagtail and Lesser Yellowlegs on the Isles of Scilly, and an American Golden Plover in County Durham.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 12th September 2011  
  A Greater Yellowlegs present at Treraven Meadows (Cornwall) was today's headline news. After initially being reported as a Lesser Yellowlegs, the bird's true identify became apparent later during the afternoon. Elsewhere new rarities included Semipalmated Sandpipers in East Yorkshire and Somerset, Whiskered Tern in Aberdeenshire, Western Bonelli's Warbler on Shetland, Citrine Wagtail on Orkney, whilst on Isles of Scilly a second Aquatic Warbler arrived on St Agnes. In Cornwall a Wilson's Petrel and a probable Yelkouan Shearwater flew past Pendeen

Lingering rarities included two Pallid Harriers on Shetland, Little Bittern in Norfolk, Lesser Yellowlegs on Isles of Scilly, Spotted Sandpiper in Devon and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset. The bird reported yesterday as a probable Red-necked Stint was still present in East Sussex, but is believed to be a Little Stint.

In Ireland seawatching at Bridges of Ross produced Fea's Petrel and four Wilson's Petrels, whilst two Semipalmated Sandpipers, four White-rumped Sandpipers, Lesser Yellowlegs, Western Bonelli's Warbler, American Golden Plover and Pallid Harrier were all logged in Ireland.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
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