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 24th February 2013  
  Lingering Megas seen today included the Harlequin Duck on North Uist and Pied-billed Grebe in Somerset, but neither the Pacific Diver nor the Pine Grosbeak were seen today, the latter being extensively searched for by locals and visitors alike.

Other rarities seen today included the Desert Wheatear in Aberdeenshire, Black-bellied Dipper in Norfolk, White-billed Diver in Orkney, Red-breasted Goose in Sussex, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, Bonaparte's Gulls in Sussex and Glamorgan, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, Long-billed Dowitchers in Pembrokeshire and County Wexford, two Richardson's Canada Geese in County Sligo, Lesser Scaups in County Clare and Glamorgan, Ferruginous Ducks in Hampshire and Bedfordshire, and Glossy Ibises in Pembrokeshire and Hampshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 23rd February 2013  
  A Glossy Ibis was seen in Hampshire, south-east of Havant at Warblington, and represented the only new rarity of the day.

Lingering Megas once again included the Harlequin Duck on North Uist, Pine Grosbeak on Shetland, Pacific Diver in Mount's Bay, Cornwall and Pied-billed Grebe at Ham Wall RSPB, Somerset. The Hooded Merganser was still present on the Staffordshire /Derbyshire border, but was confirmed as being wing clipped and, therefore, an escape.

Other lingering rarities included the Desert Wheatear and King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, Black-bellied Dipper in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gull in Sussex, White-billed Diver in Orkney, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, single Long-billed Dowitchers in Pembrokeshire and County Wexford, single Richardson's Canada Geese in Argyll, Dumfries and Galloway and the Western Isles, Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan and single Ferruginous Ducks in Hampshire and Bedfordshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 22nd February 2013  
  A drake Hooded Merganser on the Staffordshire /Derbyshire birder was discovered today, at the River Trent /River Dove confluence, where it showed for much of the day. A Ferruginous Duck in Hampshire, at Blashford Lakes HWT, was the only other new rarity.

Lingering Megas included the Harlequin Duck on North Uist, Western Isles, Pine Grosbeak at North Collafirth, Shetland, Pacific Diver in Mount's Bay, Cornwall and Pied-billed Grebe at Ham Wall RSPB, Somerset.

Other rarity highlights included the Desert Wheatear and a King Eider in Aberdeenshire, two Black Ducks in County Cork, White-billed Diver in Orkney, Black-bellied Dipper in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gull in Sussex, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon and Long-billed Dowitcher in Pembrokeshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 21st February 2013  
  Up north, both the drake Harlequin Duck and the male Pine Grosbeak remained available for the keen, both continuing to show well at their respective sites.

Other lingering rarities today comprised the Pied-billed Grebe at Ham Wall RSPB, Somerset, Desert Wheatear at Rattray Head, Aberdeenshire, Black-bellied Dipper in Thetford, Norfolk, two Black Ducks at Mizen Head, County Cork, Ferruginous Duck at Priory Country Park, Bedfordshire, Bonaparte's Gull at Eastbourne, Sussex, Lesser Yellowlegs at Plymouth, Devon, single Richardson's Canada Geese on Islay, Argyll and North Uist, Western Isles and Glossy Ibis at Marloes Mere, Pembrokeshire.

Scarcity highlights included Pallas's Warbler, Rose-coloured Starling, White-tailed Eagle, Temminck's Stint, Green-winged Teal, two Rough-legged Buzzards, two American Wigeon, two Surf Scoters, three Ring-necked Ducks and three Great Grey Shrikes.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 20th February 2013  
  In Scotland two mega-rarities were available - the Harlequin Duck on Western Isles and Pine Grosbeak on Shetland.

Elsewhere lingering rarities comprised Pied-billed Grebe in Somerset, Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan, Black-bellied Dipper in Norfolk, Ferruginous Duck in Bedfordshire, Desert Wheatear in Aberdeenshire, Long-billed Dowitcher and Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire, Lesser Scaup in Cornwall, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon and Richardson's Canada Geese in Argyll (3) and Western Isles. In Ireland the American Coot in Co Galway and a Richardson's Canada Goose in Co Mayo were recorded.

Scarcities included White-tailed Eagle in Norfolk and Pallas's Warbler on the Berkshire/Hampshire border.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 19th February 2013  
  On Western Isles the drake Harlequin Duck remained on the sea off North Uist. Elsewhere lingering rarities included Pied-billed Grebe in Somerset, Penduline Tit in Kent, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, Desert Wheatear in Aberdeenshire, Ferruginous Duck in Bedfordshire, Black-bellied Dipper in Norfolk, American Coot in Co Galway, Red-breasted Goose in Hampshire, Lesser Scaup in Cornwall and Bonaparte's Gulls in East Sussex and Glamorgan.

The best of the rest included Rose-coloured Starling in Devon, Pallas's Warbler on the Berkshire/Hampshire border and White-tailed Eagle in Norfolk.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 18th February 2013  
  A stunning drake Harlequin Duck was found today on the west coast of the Western Isles at Balranald on North Uist. This represents the first Harlequin Duck since a brief drake on St. Kilda in 2007 and the first twitchable one since 2004, with smart drakes at a premium in British waters. A White-billed Diver was found off North Lewis, also on the Western Isles.

The Pine Grosbeak continued its stay on Mainland Shetland and the Pied-billed Grebe was still to be found in Somerset. Other long staying rarities included the Penduline Tit in Kent, Bonaparte's Gull in East Sussex, Desert Wheatear in Aberdeenshire, Ferruginous Duck in Bedfordshire, Lesser Scaup in Cornwall, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon and Black-bellied Dipper in Norfolk. Amongst scarcities, the Pallas's Warbler remained on the Berkshire/Hampshire border, a White-tailed Eagle was seen around the Anmer area in north west Norfolk and American Wigeons were in Lincolnshire and Devon.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Sunday 17th February 2013  
  In Somerset, the Pied-billed Grebe remained at Ham Wall RSPB all day, and the Pine Grosbeak was still at North Collafirth, Shetland.

Other lingering rarities included the Desert Wheatear in Aberdeenshire, Black-bellied Dipper in Norfolk, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, Dark-breasted Barn Owl and Bonaparte's Gull in Sussex, two Penduline Tits in Kent, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, single Long-billed Dowitchers in Pembrokeshire and County Wexford, Forster's Tern in County Galway, Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan, Blue-winged Teal in County Dublin, Lesser Scaups in County Clare and Cornwall, Ferruginous Duck in Bedfordshire and Richardson's Canada Goose in Argyll.

Scarcity highlights included a Pallas's Warbler, a Rose-coloured Starling, a Richard's Pipit, a Kumlien's Gull, a Green-winged Teal, three American Wigeon, three Surf Scoters and four Rough-legged Buzzards.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 16th February 2013  
  The first Pied-billed Grebe for the modern day county of Somerset was confirmed today, after first being seen late yesterday afternoon. Chew Valley Lake and Blagdon Lake, the localities of the individual in the 1960's, are now both in the modern day county of Avon. Present all day at Ham Wall RSPB, today's bird showed very well at times.

Lingering rarity highlights seen today included the Pine Grosbeak in Northmavine, Shetland, Desert Wheatear at Rattray Head, Aberdeenshire, single Penduline Tits at Stodmarsh NNR and Dungeness RSPB, both Kent, two Black Ducks at Mizen Head, County Cork, Northern Harrier at Tacumshin, County Wexford, Black-bellied Dipper at Thetford, Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gull in Eastbourne and Dark-breasted Barn Owl at Rodmell, both Sussex, Lesser Yellowlegs at Ernesettle Creek, Devon and single Long-billed Dowitchers at Dale, Pembrokeshire and Lady's Island Lake, County Wexford.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 15th February 2013  
  The Pine Grosbeak reappeared again today, at Greenbrae, Northmavine, Shetland, as did the Pacific Diver in Mount's Bay, Cornwall.

Other lingering rarities included the Desert Wheatear in Aberdeenshire, Penduline Tit in Kent, Black-bellied Dipper in Norfolk, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, two Black Ducks in County Cork, Snowy Owl in County Fermanagh, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, Bonaparte's Gull and Dark-breasted Barn Owl in Sussex, single Lesser Scaups in Cornwall and County Clare, Ferruginous Duck in Bedfordshire, Richardson's Canada Goose on the Western Isles and Long-billed Dowitcher and Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA