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.


Sunday 22nd September 2013

	On Shetland today's highlights included Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on Mainland and Blyth's Reed Warbler and Two-barred Crossbill on Unst. In Ireland rarities included Elegant Tern in Co Kerry, American Golden Plovers in Co Clare, Co Wexford, Co Galway and Co Derry (2), Baird's Sandpipers in Co Kerry and Co Donegal (2), Semipalmated Sandpipers in Co Cork and Co Wexford (2) and Lesser Yellowlegs in Co Wexford. Elsewhere rarity sightings comprised Lesser Grey Shrike in Suffolk, Red-rumped Swallow in Essex, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Blue-winged Teals in Clyde and Lincolnshire (3), American Golden Plovers in Northumberland and Argyll, Two-barred Crossbills in Norfolk (3) and South Yorkshire (2), Glossy Ibises in Somerset (2) and Cornwall (4), Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon and Carmarthenshire, Lesser Scaup in Greater Manchester, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset and King Eider in Moray.
- Stuart Piner, RBA


Saturday 21st September 2013

	The Wilson's Warbler remained in a garden at the west end of Dursey Island in County Cork throughout the day and, although it continued to be elusive, it was seen by a number of birders who had made the long journey westwards for it. In Hampshire, however, there was no such luck with the Brown Shrike at Hook-with-Warsash, which was not seen at all today. In County Kerry the Elegant Tern was again on the Shannon Estuary. A Semipalmated Sandpiper was seen briefly this a'noon at Hoylake on the Wirral, a Blyth's Reed Warbler was a new find on Foula in the Shetlands and a Lesser Scaup was found at Bryn Bach Country Park in Gwent. Further new rarities were an Ortolan Bunting, which flew over Hayling Island in Hampshire, a second American Golden Plover at Tacumshin in County Wexford and an Arctic Redpoll on Mainland Shetland. A Fea's Petrel was reported from the Fishguard to Rosslare Ferry and a male Red-footed Falcon was reported over Barnes in London. Lingering rarities included Lesser Grey Shrike in Suffolk, three Blue-winged Teals in Lincolnshire, four Two-barred Crossbills in Norfolk, American Golden Plovers in Northumberland, Shetland, Orkney, County Wexford and County Clare, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, County Galway and County Wexford, Baird's Sandpiper in County Kerry, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Wexford, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon and Laughing Gull on Orkney.
- Pete Hayman, RBA


Friday 20th September 2013

	News of the day related to the presence of a male Wilson's Warbler on Dursey Island, County Cork, for the last three days. It was first glimpsed on Wednesday evening, with a single sighting yesterday and it remained in a garden at the west end of the island today, where it maintained its elusiveness. From the east, a first-winter Brown Shrike was discovered in Hampshire at Chilling near Hook-with-Warsash, where it represented the first record for the county. Other new discoveries today included a female Red-footed Falcon near Aylsham, Norfolk, a Blyth's Reed Warbler at Quendale, Shetland and an Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in Leicestershire. New Nearctic waders included a Lesser Yellowlegs at Murlach, County Galway and American Golden Plovers in Shetland (two), Cumbria, County Donegal, County Galway and the Isles of Scilly. The Irish Elegant Tern appeared in County Clare briefly, before heading straight back to County Kerry this evening. Other lingering rarities highlights included the Lesser Grey Shrike in Suffolk, three Blue-winged Teals in Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs' in Devon and County Wexford, Baird's Sandpiper in County Kerry, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Wexford, Laughing Gull in Orkney, Bonaparte's Gulls in Lancashire, Devon and the Isles of Scilly and four Two-barred Crossbills in Norfolk.
- Will Soar, RBA


Thursday 19th September 2013

	The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Baltimore Oriole on the Shetland Isles - the second American landbird of the autumn, following a Black-and-white Warbler on the adjacent island of Fetlar on 6th September. It consitutes the third record of Baltimore Oriole for the Shetland Isles following singles on Fair Isle on 19th-20th Septermber 1974 and at Baltasound, Unst on 26th September 1890 - the latter bird at the very same site of todays record. Other rarities today included the Elegant Tern in County Kerry, Pied-billed Grebe in County Mayo, Lesser Grey Shrike in Suffolk, Laughing Gull and Arctic Warbler on the Orkney Isles, two Arctic Warblers and two Little Buntings on the Shetland Isles, three Two-barred Crossbills together in Norfolk, three Blue-winged Teals together in Lincolnshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Lancashire and Glossy Ibis in Somerset. Nearctic waders comprised the Wilson's Phalarope still in Norfolk, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Dorset, Baird's Sandpiper in County Kerry, Lesser Yellowlegs in both Devon and County Wexford, Buff-breasted Sandpipers in Leicestershire, Orkney Isles and the Scilly Isles, American Golden Plovers in County Clare, Highland, Northumberland, Orkney Isles, and the Shetland Isles, and a total of 14 Pectoral Sandpipers. Scarce migrants included 34 Lapland Buntings, 31 Yellow-browed Warblers, six Common Rosefinches, four each of Barred Warbler, Wryneck and Ring-billed Gull, three Red-backed Shrikes, two each of Rose-coloured Starling, Icterine Warbler and Spotted Crake, and single Marsh Warbler (Orkney Isles), White-winged Black Tern (County Wexford), Cattle Egret (Lincolnshire), Red-breasted Flycatcher, Richard's Pipit and Corncrake (all on Shetland Isles). Seawatching accumulated 341 Balearic Shearwaters, 94 Leach's Petrels, 38 Grey Phalaropes, 34 Sabine's Gulls, 19 Long-tailed Skuas and 12 Great Shearwaters.
- Chris Batty, RBA


Wednesday 18th September 2013

	Rarities noted today included the Pied-billed Grebe still in County Mayo, Lesser Grey Shrike in Suffolk, Two-barred Crossbill in both Norfolk and South Yorkshire, Little Bunting on the Shetland Isles, King Eider in Moray, three Blue-winged Teals together in Lincolnshire, Glossy Ibis in Somerset, and single Bonaparte's Gulls in Devon, Lancashire and the Isles of Scilly. Nearctic waders were represented by the Wilson's Phalarope still in Norfolk, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon and County Wexford, American Golden Plovers in County Clare, Highland, Orkney Isles and County Wexford, eight Buff-breasted Sandpipers and 12 Pectoral Sandpipers. Seawatching highlights comprised two Wilson's Petrels passing County Mayo, and across country totals of 137 Leach's Petrels, 93 Balearic Shearwaters, 40 Grey Phalaropes, 10 Sabine's Gulls and three Long-tailed Skuas. Other scarce migrants included 30 Lapland Buntings, 12 Yellow-browed Warblers, seven Common Rosefinches, six Wrynecks, three Spotted Crakes, two each of both Rose-coloured Starling and Ring-billed Gull, and single Melodious Warbler (Gwynedd), White-winged Black Tern (County Wexford) and Corncrake (Shetland Isles).
- Chris Batty, RBA


Tuesday 17th September 2013

	New discoveries today included a third juvenile Blue-winged Teal joining the lingering two at Boultham Mere, Lincolnshire, a juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs at West Canvey Marsh RSPB, Essex and a Wilson's Petrel off the Bridges of Ross, County Clare. Lingering rarities included the Elegant Tern in County Kerry, Lesser Grey Shrike in Suffolk, Wilson's Phalarope and three Two-barred Crossbills in Norfolk, Lesser Yellowlegs and Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, another Bonaparte's Gull in Lancashire, American Golden Plovers in Highland, Argyll and County Clare, Lesser Scaup in Greater Manchester and Ferruginous Duck and Glossy Ibis in Somerset. The Great Snipe in Yorkshire was unfortunately picked up dead early morning.
- Will Soar, RBA


Monday 16th September 2013

	Highlight of the day was the continued presence of the showy Great Snipe at Kilnsea (East Yorkshire). Elsewhere rarity sightings included Blue-winged Teals in Lincolnshire (2) and Clyde, Bonaparte's Gulls in Devon and Lancashire, three Two-barred Crossbills in Norfolk, Citrine Wagtail in Cornwall, Lesser Scaup in Greater Manchester, Lesser Grey Shrike in Suffolk, two Ferruginous Ducks in Somerset, Western Subalpine Warbler on Fair Isle and Glossy Ibis in Somerset. In Ireland the Elegant Tern (Co Kerry), Semipalmated Sandpipers in Co Kerry and Co Wexford and American Golden Plovers in Co Derry (3) and Co Clare were all recorded. Away from Ireland, Nearctic wader records included Wilson's Phalarope in Norfolk, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon and Shetland and American Golden Plovers in Highland and Argyll.
- Stuart Piner, RBA


Sunday 15th September 2013

	Ireland scored well with seabirds today, as the strong westerly gales hit the coast. A Barolo Shearwater went past Deelick Point, County Kerry, whilst nearby Brandon Point saw a Fea's Petrel. Further Fea's Petrels were also seen past Bridges of Ross, County Clare and Mizen Head, County Cork, and a Wilson's Petrel also went past the latter site. The most unexpected Fea's Petrel, however, was one which flew south past Bardsey Island, Gwynedd early evening, where a probable Barolo Shearwater was also seen mid afternoon. A Lesser Grey Shrike was discovered near Sizewell, Suffolk late afternoon, where it continued to show well into the evening. An Ortolan Bunting was seen at Dungeness, Kent, whilst new rare waders found today included a Baird's Sandpiper at Killala, County Mayo and single American Golden Plovers at Portnaluchaig, Highland and The Hermitage, County Louth, with another joining the recent bird at Lady's Island Lake, County Wexford. A Bonaparte's Gull was reported from the Isles of Scilly, where it apparently flew through Porthcressa Bay. Despite all the new rarities today, the lingering Great Snipe at Kilnsea, East Yorkshire will go down as the highlight for many, as it continued to show ridiculously well down to a couple of feet. Other lingerers included the Elegant Tern at Beal Point, County Kerry, Wilson's Phalarope and five American Golden Plovers in County Derry, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, two Two-barred Crossbills in Yorkshire and one in Norfolk, Lesser Scaup in Greater Manchester and Glossy Ibis in Somerset.
- Will Soar, RBA


Saturday 14th September 2013

	Despite nearly 700 British records, a truly twitchable Great Snipe has been very hard to come by in recent years, so a bird found in a ditch at Kilnsea, East Yorkshire will undoubtedly be very popular if it lingers, especially if it continues to show as well as it did this evening. In County Kerry, the Elegant Tern remained in the Beal Point area on the south side of the Shannon Estuary. Other new discoveries today included a Greenish Warbler on the Great Orme, Conwy, a Tawny Pipit at Abbotsbury and a Red-rumped Swallow at Middlebere, both Dorset, a Two-barred Crossbill at Grindon Lough, Northumberland and a Ferruginous Duck at Portrunny, Count Roscommon. New waders found included a Baird's Sandpiper in County Dublin and American Golden Plovers in County Derry (five), County Wexford (two) and County Mayo.
- Will Soar, RBA


Friday 13th September 2013

	An orange-billed tern was present at Beale, County Kerry from mid afternoon, and was eventually identified as an Elegant Tern. This is the first record of the species in Ireland since 2005, when one was seen at Gormanston, County Meath on 19th July. The best of the rest was a totally unexpected Great Reed Warbler found in a mist net on Salisbury Plain, the first record for Wiltshire. The other new passerines today were two Arctic Warblers, one on Dursey Island, County Cork and one on Fair Isle, Shetland. New waders included a Baird's Sandpiper in County Dublin, two Semipalmated Sandpipers in County Kerry and two in County Wexford, where there was also at least two American Golden Plovers. Lingering rarities included the Pied-billed Grebe in County Mayo, Western Bonelli's Warbler on Shetland, six Two-barred Crossbills in Yorkshire (with one in Norfolk), Citrine Wagtail in Cornwall, single Lesser Yellowlegs' in Devon and Carmarthenshire, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Kent, two Baird's Sandpipers on the Western Isles, White-rumped Sandpiper in Cornwall, Lesser Scaup in Greater Manchester, two Ferruginous Ducks in Somerset and a Glossy Ibis in Somerset.
- Will Soar, RBA