Daily News Summaries
This page gives you access to all of RBA's daily news summaries (since April 13, 2006), 10 days at a time. The most recent are shown, or you can select a specific date to show (along with the previous 10 days). Prior to April 13, 2006 you can find weekly reviews, located in articles.
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Thursday 22nd September 2011  
  The highlight of the day was a the discovery of a Sandhill Crane in Aberdeenshire at the Loch of Strathbeg, where it remained in nearby fields until dusk.

Nearctic landbirds were represented by Northern Waterthrush still on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, Swainson's Thrush (still on the Shetland Isles) and Red-eyed Vireo on the Western Isles on Barra, with three American Buff-bellied Pipits: two together in the Orkney Isles on North Ronaldsay and one on Foula, Shetland Isles.

Nearctic waders comprised Solitary Sandpiper (Isles of Scilly), Semipalmated Sandpiper (County Mayo (6) and County Cork), Baird's Sandpiper (County Mayo and Scilly), Spotted Sandpiper (Gloucestershire), Long-billed Dowitcher (Clyde and Cornwall), Lesser Yellowlegs (Cornwall), American Golden Plovers (County Mayo and County Wexford), White-rumped Sandpiper (Aberdeenshire, Glamorgan, County Kerry, County Wexford (2) and Western Isles), 16 Buff-breasted Sandpipers and 25 Pectoral Sandpipers.

Otherwise, Pallid Harriers were noted in Argyll, County Wexford and West Sussex, Blyth's Reed Warblers in Argyll and County Kerry, two Citrine Wagtails together on the Orkney Isles, Black Kite in Cornwall, Bee-eater on the Isles of Scilly, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset, American Black Tern in Lincolnshire and Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in Bedfordshire but, disappointingly, the Long-toed Stint had gone from East Sussex.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 21st September 2011  
  After seven days, the identity of the wader at Weir Wood Reservoir, Sussex has been confirmed as Britain's third Long-toed Stint. The extreme distance has hindered viewing, but the light late afternoon enabled all the key features to be noted. On Shetland, a Swainson's Thrush at Boddam suggested that Scilly may not have it all its own way this autumn.

New rare passerines were hard to come by, with just another Red-eyed Vireo and Ortolan Bunting on Scilly and a Red-rumped Swallow in Norfolk. Nearctic waders were, however, very well represented, with totals including 10 Semipalmated Sandpipers (eight new), five White-rumped Sandpipers (four new), four Baird's Sandpipers (three new), two Lesser Yellowlegs (one new) and a new American Golden Plover. Other new discoveries included a Squacco Heron in Dorset, Marsh Sandpiper in Norfolk and a Blue-winged Teal in County Clare. Late news concerned the first American Buff-bellied Pipit of the year, on St Kilda, Western Isles on Sunday.

Scilly held on to the Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-White Warbler, Solitary Sandpiper, Baltimore Oriole, Blue-winged Teal and Bee-eater, the Lesser Kestrel remained in Orkney, as did the Least Sandpiper in Shetland, Hudsonian Whimbrel in County Cork and American Black Tern in Lincolnshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Monday 19th September 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo and Solitary Sandpiper on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, with a supporting cast around the archipelago including Blue-winged Teal, Ortolan Bunting, Bee-eater, Woodchat Shrike, Red-backed Shrike and Lapland Bunting.

Elsewhere, a Pallid Harrier was identified at Burpham, West Sussex, a Blyth's Reed Warbler was discovered in Argyll on Coll, the American Black Tern remained in Lincolnshire, as did the Pallid Harrier in County Wexford, Citrine Wagtail on the Orkney Isles, two Black Kites together in Cornwall and a Ferruginous Duck in Somerset, whilst around the Shetland Isles were two Pallid Harriers, two Blyth's Reed Warblers, a Citrine Wagtail and a Little Bunting.

Nearctic waders comprised Least Sandpiper (Shetland Isles), Semipalmated Sandpiper (County Cork, County Kerry, Gloucestershire and County Sligo), Wilson's Phalarope (County Cork), Spotted Sandpiper (Gloucestershire), Long-billed Dowitcher (Clyde and Cornwall), Lesser Yellowlegs (Cornwall), American Golden Plover (County Kerry and County Wexford), White-rumped Sandpiper (Cornwall, County Offaly and County Wexford (2), with ten Buff-breasted Sandpipers and 19 Pectoral Sandpipers.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 18th September 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo and Solitary Sandpiper on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, with a supporting cast around the archipelago including Blue-winged Teal, Bee-eater, Woodchat Shrike, Red-backed Shrike, Wryneck, Dotterel and four Lapland Buntings. Meanwhile, on the Shetland Isles rarities included Pechora Pipit and Arctic Warbler new on Foula, Great Snipe, Citrine Wagtail and Little Bunting on Fair Isle, with two Pallid Harriers, and both Arctic Warbler and Greenish Warbler together on Mainland.

Seawatchers recorded a Barolo Little Shearwater passing Kilcummin Head, County Mayo, two Wilson's Petrels off Bridges of Ross, County Clare, with another passing Brandon Point, County Kerry.

Nearctic waders comprised Least Sandpiper (Shetland Isles), Semipalmated Sandpiper (County Cork, County Kerry (2), Gloucestershire and Somerset), Baird's Sandpiper (County Donegal (2), Hampshire County Mayo (2) and Isle of Scilly), Wilson's Phalarope (County Cork), Spotted Sandpiper (Devon and Gloucestershire), Long-billed Dowitcher (Clyde, Cornwall and Kent), Lesser Yellowlegs (Cornwall), American Golden Plover (County Wexford), White-rumped Sandpiper (Cornwall (2), County Galway, County Offaly and County Wexford (4)), with 32 Buff-breasted Sandpipers and 24 Pectoral Sandpipers.

Elsewhere, a Blue-winged Teal was discovered in County Clare, as were Tawny Pipit and Little Bunting on the Orkney Isles, the American Black Tern remained in Lincolnshire, as did the Pallid Harriers in both Essex and County Wexford, the Black Scoter in Aberdeenshire, two Black Kites together in Cornwall, and a Ferruginous Duck in Somerset.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 17th September 2011  
  The Isles of Scilly was the place to be today, with the confirmation early morning of the continued presence of the Northern Waterthrush at Lower Moors, St Mary's. Birders searching for this bird then stumbled upon a Black-and-White Warbler late morning, with both birds remaining very elusive - the Northern Waterthrush showing again this evening. Nearby, the Solitary Sandpiper remained at Newford Duckpond, as did the Bee-eater.

The second Pallid Harrier for Essex proved popular, with other new discoveries including an American Black Tern in Lincolnshire, Arctic Warbler in Shetland, Wilson's Phalarope in County Cork and Long-billed Dowitcher in Clyde, together with two Semipalmated Sandpipers in County Kerry, two Baird's Sandpipers in County Mayo and three White-rumped Sandpipers (County Mayo, County Offaly and Cornwall). A Least Sandpiper was on Foula, Shetland for its third day, and a Wilson's Petrel was seen again in County Clare.

Lingering rarities included a Snowy Owl, a Blue-winged Teal, a Long-billed Dowitcher, a Lesser Yellowlegs, an American Golden Plover, two White-rumped Sandpipers, two Baird's Sandpipers, two Spotted Sandpipers, two Citrine Wagtails, two Black Kites, three Pallid Harriers and three Semipalmated Sandpipers.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 16th September 2011  
  The highlight of the day was a Sandhill Crane that flew south over Dunbar, Lothian at 8.15am. Elsewhere, single Fea's Petrels flew past Sheringham, Norfolk, and Frinton-on-Sea, Essex, a Baird's Sandpiper was discovered in County Galway at Mweenish Island, an American Golden Plover arrived in County Wicklow at Kilcoole, as did a Tawny Pipit in County Cork at Dursey Island, and an Ortolan Bunting on North Ronaldsay, Orkney Isles.

Around the Scilly Isles the Solitary Sandpiper remained alongside Bee-eater, Woodchat Shrike, Red-backed Shrike, Dotterel, three each of both Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Pectoral Sandpiper, and five Wrynecks. On the Shetland Isles two Pallid Harriers continued to show along with Yellow-browed Warbler and Lapland Bunting.

Other Nearctic waders comprised lingering Semipalmated Sandpipers in County Cork, Cornwall, County Kerry and the Western Isles, Baird's Sandpiper in Hampshire, Spotted Sandpipers in both Devon and Gloucestershire, Long-billed Dowitcher and Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall, and White-rumped Sandpipers in Argyll, County Galway, County Kerry and County Wexford.

The Pallid Harrier remained in County Wexford, as did the Snowy Owl on the Western Isles, Citrine Wagtails in both County Kerry and the Orkney Isles, Blue-winged Teal in Cleveland, and three Black Kites together in Cornwall.
-  Chris Batty, 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
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