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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Wednesday 30th November 2011  
  At Cley NWT (Norfolk) the peep initially identified as a Semipalmated Sandpiper was still present, but it has been suggested that the bird could in fact be a Western Sandpiper.

Elsewhere lingering waders included Greater Yellowlegs in Northumberland, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and two Long-billed Dowitchers in Somerset and Spotted Sandpipers in Devon and Somerset.

Lingering rarities also included Hume's Yellow-browed Warblers in Dorset and Shetland, Penduline Tit in Kent, Glossy Ibis in Dorset and Desert Wheatears in Shropshire and East Yorkshire.

In Ireland the Spotted Sandpiper in Co Meath and American Herring Gull in Co Cork both lingered.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 29th November 2011  
  Lingering rare waders included the Greater Yellowlegs in Northumberland, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Norfolk and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, two Long-billed Dowitchers and Spotted Sandpiper in Somerset.

The Desert Wheatears in East Yorkshire and Shropshire were both still on show, the Red-breasted Goose remained in Devon, the Bufflehead was still in Cornwall and the Ferruginous Duck was seen again in Berkshire.

In Ireland the Least Sandpiper in Co Kerry and American Herring Gull in Co Cork both lingered.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 28th November 2011  
  In Norfolk a Semipalmated Sandpiper was identified at Cley NWT, before it was later seen at Blakeney Point. At Holme NOA at Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler was trapped and ringed.

Lingering rare waders included Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in Somerset, Greater Yellowlegs in Northumberland, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Cleveland and Spotted Sandpipers in Somerset and Devon. The Bufflehead was still in Cornwall and the Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Dorset, Desert Wheatears in East Yorkshire and Shropshire, Blue-winged Teal on Isles of Scilly, Lesser Scaup in Northumberland and Ferruginous Duck in Berkshire all lingered.

In Ireland Spotted Sandpipers were in Co Waterford and Co Meath (with late news of another in Co Cork yesterday) and the American Herring Gull was still in Co Cork.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 27th November 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of an American Herring Gull in County Cork at Baltimore. Other new arrivals included a Blue-winged Teal on the Isles of Scilly on St Mary's, Spotted Sandpiper in County Waterford at Ballyduff, American Golden Plover in County Londonderry at Myroe Levels, and a brief Bonaparte's Gull in Aberdeenshire at Blackdog.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present comprised the Greater Yellowlegs in Northumberland, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and two Long-billed Dowitchers in Somerset, Bufflehead in Cornwall, American Buff-bellied Pipit in County Waterford, Least Sandpiper in County Kerry, Forster's Tern in County Galway, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Dorset, Desert Wheatears in both East Yorkshire and Shropshire, Red-breasted Goose in Devon, Penduline Tit in Kent, Blue-winged Teal in County Wexford, Spotted Sandpipers in both Devon and Somerset, Dusky Warbler on the Isles of Scilly, Lesser Scaup in Northumberland, Glossy Ibises in Dorset and Suffolk, Ferruginous Duck in Berkshire, Ross's Geese in Norfolk and Northumberland (2), House Crow in County Cork and Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in Staffordshire.

Notable scarcities included Rose-coloured Starlings in both Dorset and Essex, two Richard's Pipits together in Gwynedd, a Yellow-browed Warbler in Norfolk, and a Great Shearwater passing County Kerry. A total of 384 Tundra Bean Geese were noted across sixteen counties between the Shetland Isles, Anglesey and Suffolk, with 110 in Lincolnshire alone.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 26th November 2011  
  Highlight of the day was the Desert Wheatear in Shropshire. Found yesterday on Titterstone Clee Hill, but reported as a possible Pied Wheatear, the identification was quickly sorted out  early morning and the bird remained present all day. A Glossy Ibis at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk was the only other new rarity.

The Greater Yellowlegs remained in Northumberland, as did the Bufflehead in Cornwall, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, two Long-billed Dowitchers and Spotted Sandpiper in Somerset, Forster's Tern in County Galway, Little Bunting in Sussex, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Dorset, Desert Wheatear in Yorkshire, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Cleveland, Blue-winged Teal in County Dublin and Red-breasted Goose in Devon.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 25th November 2011  
  Today was the second day in a row that no new rarities were reported, and was significantly quieter than the last few weeks. Rarity highlights included the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper for its 8th day in Somerset, at Chew Valley Lake, along with the two Long-billed Dowitchers and Spotted Sandpiper, Bufflehead at Helston, Cornwall and Least Sandpiper at Black Rock Strand, County Kerry

Other rarities seen were Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler at Wyke Regis, Dorset, Desert Wheatear at Bempton Cliffs RSPB, Yorkshire, Dusky Warbler on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, single Glossy Ibises in Dorset and Kent and single Spotted Sandpipers in Devon and Dorset.

Scarcities included a Night Heron in County Kerry, Hoopoe in County Louth, Rose-coloured Starlings in Dorset and Essex, American Wigeon in Devon and Yorkshire, Ring-necked Ducks in Cornwall and Somerset, Green-winged Teals in Northumberland and Dumfries and Galloway, Rough-legged Buzzards in Norfolk (2+), Cambridgeshire and Sussex and Yellow-browed Warblers in Norfolk and the Isles of Scilly (3). Also seven Grey Phalaropes, ten Great Grey Shrikes, 14 Taiga Bean Geese and at least 153 Tundra Bean Geese.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 24th November 2011  
  Rarities confirmed as still present today comprised the Veery in Highland, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper and two Long-billed Dowitchers together in Somerset, Greater Yellowlegs and two Ross's Geese in Northumberland, Wilson's Snipe and two Dusky Warblers on the Isles of Scilly, Bufflehead in Cornwall, American Buff-bellied Pipit in County Waterford, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Dorset, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Cleveland, Penduline Tit and Glossy Ibis in Kent, Spotted Sandpiper in Devon and the Azorean Yellow-legged Gull, now in the West Midlands.

Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starlings in Anglesey and Dorset, Red-breasted Flycatcher on the Isles of Scilly, American Wigeons in Leicestershire and West Yorkshire, and Ring-necked Ducks in both Cornwall and Somerset. A total of 104 Tundra Bean Geese were reported across nine counties between the Shetland Isles and Essex, including 91 in Lincolnshire.

Significant late news concerns two new Desert Wheatears: a female on 22nd November in County Waterford at Brownstown Head, and a male on 19th November at Bempton Cliffs, East Yorkshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 23rd November 2011  
  Two new Hume's Yellow-browed Warblers were discovered today, one at Holme NOA (Norfolk) and another at Wyke Regis (Dorset).

Lingering rarities included Veery in Highland, Greater Yellowlegs in Northumberland, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Cleveland, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and two Long-billed Dowitchers in Somerset, Glossy Ibises in Dorset and Kent, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Suffolk, Wilson's Snipe and two Dusky Warblers on Isles of Scilly, Bufflehead in Cornwall and Spotted Sandpipers in Devon, Somerset and Dorset.

In Ireland the Least Sandpiper (Co Kerry), American Buff-bellied Pipit (Co Waterford) and Blue-winged Teal (Co Dublin) all lingered.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 22nd November 2011  
  The only new rarity today was another American Buff-bellied Pipit, this time at Ballinclamper, County Waterford, where it represented the second for both site and county.

Lingering rarity highlights seen today included the Veery on Muck, Highland, Greater Yellowlegs at Cresswell, Northumberland, Bufflehead at Helston, Cornwall, Northern Waterthrush and Wilson's Snipe at Lower Moors, Isles of Scilly, Least Sandpiper in County Kerry and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Chew Valley lake, Somerset.

Other rarities included Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Suffolk, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Cleveland, two Dusky Warblers in Cornwall, single Desert Wheatears in Devon and Cornwall, single Red-breasted Geese in Devon and Essex, two Long-billed Dowitchers in Somerset, Lesser Yellowlegs in Anglesey, single Spotted Sandpipers in Somerset, Devon and Dorset and single Glossy Ibises in Kent and Dorset.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Monday 21st November 2011  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Least Sandpiper at Black Rock Strand, County Kerry. Elsewhere, a Penduline Tit was found in Lancashire at Leighton Moss, a Blue-winged Teal was new in County Wexford at Tacumshin, and in Cornwall a Desert Wheatear was found at Porthgwarra, as was a new Dusky Warbler on The Lizard.

The Blackpoll Warbler showed again in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, with other lingering rarities comprising the Veery still in Highland, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper and two Long-billed Dowitchers together in Somerset, Greater Yellowlegs, Eastern Black Redstart and two Ross's Geese in Northumberland, Northern Waterthrush, Wilson's Snipe and two Dusky Warblers on the Isles of Scilly, Bufflehead and another Dusky Warbler in Cornwall, Pallid Harrier in County Cork, Desert Wheatears in both Devon and County Dublin, Hume's Yellow-browed Warblers in both Norfolk and Suffolk, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Cleveland, Spotted Sandpiper in Devon, Lesser Yellowlegs on Anglesey, Red-breasted Geese in both Devon and Essex, Blue-winged Teal in County Dublin, Ross's Goose in Norfolk, and Glossy Ibises in both Dorset and Kent.
-  Chris Batty, RBA