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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Sunday 14th April 2013  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Red-flanked Bluetail in Norfolk at Horsey Gap, where it went on to show throughout the afternoon. Elsewhere, the first Alpine Swifts of the year arrived in Britain - more than three weeks later than is typical - in Cleveland (Skinningrove), Lancashire (Marton Mere) and West Sussex (Pagham Harbour), but none of them lingered for long. A Lesser Scaup identified at Borwick Water, Lancashire, was perhaps the twelth individual of this species to be recorded across Britain and Ireland in 2013, but only the second female.

Elsewhere, lingering rarities confirmed as still present were both the Harlequin Duck and Richardson's Canada Goose on the Western Isles, Pied-billed Grebe in Somerset, Red-breasted Goose in Dumfries and Galloway, Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan, Little Bunting in County Durham, Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire and West Sussex, with single Lesser Scaups in Cleveland, Clyde, Glamorgan, Herefordshire and Lincolnshire.

The best of rest included Hoopoes in Glamorgan and Somerset, White Storks over Bedfordshire and Cornwall, a new Ring-billed Gull in Argyll, the Pallas's Warbler still in Berkshire, and the Rose-coloured Starling in Devon.
Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 13th April 2013  
  In Scotland another White-billed Diver was located; a new bird joining the existing individual in Gruinard Bay, Highland, whilst the long-staying returning bird remained off South Ronaldsay, Orkney Isles. This brings the total of White-billed Divers noted in Scotland during March and April 2013 to eighteen.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the American Coot in County Galway, Pied-billed Grebe in Sonmerset, Red-breasted Goose in Dumfries and Galloway, Long-billed Dowitcher in Pembrokeshire, King Eider in the Shetland Isles, Little Bunting in County Durham, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, and single Lesser Scaups in each of Cleveland, Clyde, Herefordshire and Lincolnshire. In Suffolk a Black Kite flew over Stowmarket.

The Pallas's Warbler remained in Berkshire, as did the American Wigeon in Devon, whilst newly discovered scarcities included Serin (Kent), Hoopoe (Glamorgan), Dotterel (Lancashire), Lapland Bunting (Gwynedd) and three Shorelarks (Ceredigion).
Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 12th April 2013  
  The highlight of the day was the return of the drake King Eider to Aberdeenshire; seen first on the Ythan Estuary then later at Blackdog. Presumably it is the same individual that has frequented this coast between March and June every year since 2010.

Other rarities comprised the Pied-billed Grebe still in Somertset, Red-breasted Goose in Dumfries and Galloway, Little Bunting in County Durham, single Lesser Scaups in Clyde, Cornwall, Gwent, Herefordshire and Lincolnshire, and the count of White-billed Divers off Lewis, Western Isles, reached seven.

Otherwise, the Pallas's Warbler remained in Berkshire, as did the American Wigeon in Devon and the Black Brant in Cumbria, with new arrivals including a Ring-necked Duck in Derbyshire, Ring-billed Gull in Somerset and Green-winged Teal in London. Migrant totals from across Britain included 62 Ring Ouzels, 31 Black Redstarts, 26 Garganey and 14 Firecrests.
Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 11th April 2013  
  A Black Kite was seen in Suffolk flying north over Bramfield. A new White-billed Diver was off Port Skigersta, Lewis, Western Isles whilst the new White-billed Diver in Gruinard Bay, Highland was the third found by the same observer in three days.

Lingering rarities included the Harlequin Duck on the Western Isles, American Coot in County Galway, Pied-billed Grebe in Somerset, Little Bunting in County Durham, Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire, Red-breasted Goose in Dumfries and Galloway and single Lesser Scaups in Lincolnshire, Cornwall, Cleveland and Herefordshire.
Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 10th April 2013  
  Another White-billed Diver near Gairloch, Highland was the only new rarity found today, whilst late news was released of a Red-flanked Bluetail in Norfolk, at Burnham Overy last Sunday.

Lingering rarities still present today included the Harlequin Duck and two White-billed Divers on the Western Isles, Pied-billed Grebe in Somerset, Little Bunting in County Durham, two Penduline Tits in Kent, Red-breasted Goose and Richardson's Canada Goose in Dumfries and Galloway and single Lesser Scaups in Gwent, Glamorgan, Clyde, Lincolnshire and Cornwall.
Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 9th April 2013  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a White-billed Diver in Highland at Gairloch. Rarities elsewhere comprised the Red-breasted Goose still in Dumfries and Galloway, Little Bunting in County Durham, and single Lesser Scaups in both Cornwall and Herefordshire.

Scarce migrants included Hoopoe (Cornwall), Kentish Plover (East Sussex), Pallas's Warbler (Berkshire), Surf Scoter (Lothian), Rough-legged Buzzard (Shetland Isles), Temminck's Stint (four together in Kent), Rose-coloured Starling and American Wigeon (both in Devon). Otherwise, across-Britain migrant totals included 26 Garganey, 36 Firecrests, 56 Ring Ouzels and 59 Black Redstarts.
Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 8th April 2013  
  The highlight of the day was the reappearance of the Killdeer in Lancashire at Alston Wetland, albeit only present there briefly. Elsewhere, a Black Kite flew over Brighton, East Sussex, a new White-billed Diver was found on Lewis, Western Isles, Little Bunting reappeared in County Durham at Houghton-le-Spring, as did the King Eider on Fetlar, Shetland Isles.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present included the American Coot in County Galway, Pied-billed Grebe in Somerset, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, White-billed Diver on the Orkney Isles, Glossy Ibis in West Sussex, and single Lesser Scaups in Cleveland, Cornwall, Gwent and Herefordshire.

Scarcities included Pallas's Warbler in Berkshire, Kentish Plover and three Temminck's Stints in Kent, Rose-coloured Starling and American Wigeon in Devon, and a Ring-billed Gull in London.
Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 7th April 2013  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of Lancashire's first ever Killdeer at Alston Reservoirs, Longridge, present for a couple of hours from mid morning. Typically mobile, it flew off once, only to reappear a short while later, before doing the same, but not returning. Astonishingly, it was found by the same observer who found what may have been the same individual in County Donegal on 29th March, which was also a county first.

Lingering rarities included the Pied-billed Grebe at Ham Wall RSPB, Somerset, Lesser Yellowlegs at Ernesettle, Devon, White-billed Diver off Herston, Orkney, Long-billed Dowitcher and Glossy Ibises at Dale and Marloes, Pembrokeshire, Ferruginous Duck at Otmoor RSPB, Oxfordshire and single Lesser Scaups at Cosmeston Lakes, Glamorgan, Tredegar, Gwent, Siblyback Lake, Cornwall, Freiston Shore RSPB, Lincolnshire, Saltholme RSPB, Cleveland and Wellington GPs, Herefordshire.
Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 6th April 2013  
  A Red-breasted Goose flew past Oare Marshes NR and Margate, both Kent with Dark-bellied Brent Geese mid morning.

Elsewhere, lingering rarities comprised the Harlequin Duck and Richardson's Canada Goose on the Western Isles, Pied-billed Grebe in Somerset, Penduline Tit in Kent, Long-billed Dowitcher and Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire (with another of the latter in Sussex), Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, Bonaparte's Gull in Highland, Ferruginous Duck in Oxfordshire and single Lesser Scaups in Cornwall, Gwent, Glamorgan, Herefordshire, Lincolnshire and Cleveland.
Will Soar, RBA
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