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.

Choose a starting date
Wednesday 2nd October 2013  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a White's Thrush on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, with Glossy Ibis, Subalpine Warbler, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Purple Heron, Bluethroat and two Wrynecks all noted around the archipelago. Meanwhile, on the Shetland Isles, the Hudsonian Whimbrel remained with Pechora Pipit, Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Arctic Warbler, Lesser Yellowlegs, Little Bunting, two each of both Olive-backed Pipit and Red-breasted Flycatcher, 17 Yellow-browed Warblers, and single Great Grey Shrike, Dotterel and Lapland Bunting all noted.

Other new rarities today comprised a Black-eared Wheatear in Cornwall on The Lizard, Sykes's Warbler in County Cork at Garinish with an Ortolan Bunting on nearby Dursey Island, Siberian Stonechat in Kent at Cliffe Pools, and American Golden Plovers in South Yorkshire at Old Moor, and on North Uist, Western Isles.

Elsewhere, lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Isabelline Wheatear in Pembrokeshire, Sardinian Warbler in Borders, Red-eyed Vireo in County Kerry, Western Bonelli's Warbler in County Cork, Blyth's Reed Warbler reported still in Wirral, Siberian Stonechat in Suffolk, Olive-backed Pipit in East Yorkshire, Little Bunting in Northumberland, three Blue-winged Teals together in Lincolnshire, Black-winged Stilt in Cornwall, Lesser Yellowlegs in Kent, American Golden Plover on the Western Isles, Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan, and Glossy Ibises in Anglesey, Cumbria (5), Denbighshire, Devon, Dumfries and Galloway (4), and Somerset.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 1st October 2013  
  Whilst not the rarest bird of the day, an Olive-backed Pipit at Spurn, East Yorkshire was probably the highlight. Despite being elusive at times, great views could be had throughout the day, made even better when it was trapped and ringed early evening. This is, perhaps surprisingly, the second Olive-backed Pipit to be ringed at Spurn, following one in 1981.

Other new discoveries included a Red-eyed Vireo at Dunquin, County Kerry, a Siberian Stonechat at Trimley, Suffolk, a Snowy Owl near Ardara, County Donegal, a Greenish Warbler near Campbeltown, Argyll and an American Golden Plover at Eoropie, Western Isles. New arrivals on Shetland included an Arctic Warbler and Blyth's Reed Warbler on Unst and Little Buntings on Fair Isle and Mainland.

Lingering rarity highlights included the Hudsonian Whimbrel, Pechora Pipit, Arctic Warbler, Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Blyth's Reed Warbler and Lesser Yellowlegs on Shetland, Isabelline Wheatear in Pembrokeshire, Sardinian Warbler in Borders, Western Bonelli's Warbler in County Cork, Black-winged Stilt in Cornwall and Two-barred Crossbill in Norfolk.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Monday 30th September 2013  
  Shetland achieved its fourth Hudsonian Whimbrel today, this time on Yell. No other county in Britain or Ireland has had more than one record of the species. The sixth Isabelline Wheatear for Wales was also found today, with the second for Pembrokeshire being seen at Martin's Haven from late morning.

A Booted Warbler at Seaford Head, Sussex was the best of the rest, with other new rarities today including an Arctic Warbler, two Olive-backed Pipits and a Little Bunting on Shetland (with another Olive-backed Pipit in Fife and two Little Buntings in Northumberland), a Lesser Scaup in Glamorgan, an American Golden Plover in County Wexford and Glossy Ibises in Devon, Lancashire, Anglesey and four in Dumfries and Galloway. A Blyth's Reed Warbler was reported from Red Rocks, Wirral.

Lingering rarity highlights included Sykes's Warbler, Brown Shrike, Pechora Pipit, Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and Lesser Yellowlegs on Shetland, Roller on the Western Isles, Sardinian Warbler in Borders, Western Bonelli's Warbler in County Cork, Subalpine Warbler and Little Bunting on the Isles of Scilly, Black-winged Stilt in Cornwall and Red-breasted Goose in Dumfries and Galloway.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 29th September 2013  
  The first Red-flanked Bluetail of the autumn was seen on the Out Skerries, Shetland this afternoon with, elsewhere on the archipelago, a Western Bonelli's Warbler on Whalsay, a Blyth's Reed Warbler on Mainland and a Little Bunting on Foula. A Roller was on Barra, Western Isles. Further south, new rarities included a Two-barred Crossbill at Challock, Kent, an Ortolan Bunting on Bardsey Island, Gwynedd, a Little Bunting on Holy Island, Northumberland, a Tawny Pipit at East Soar, Devon, a Forster's Tern at Rogerstown, County Dublin, a Glossy Ibis at Wall Farm, Shropshire and an American Golden Plover at Rosslare, County Wexford.

Lingering rarity highlights included the Sykes's Warbler, Brown Shrike, Pechora Pipit, Eastern Subalpine Warbler and Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on Shetland, other Brown Shrikes on Orkney and in Aberdeenshire, Sardinian Warbler in Borders, Western Bonelli's Warbler in County Cork, Subalpine Warbler and Little Bunting on the Isles of Scilly, four Two-barred Crossbills in Yorkshire and one in Norfolk, Black-winged Stilt in Cornwall and Siberian Stonechat in Gwynedd.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 28th September 2013  
  Two new Brown Shrikes today made it a record breaking year for the species. Both on the Scottish east coast, the first was found at Balcomie, Fife mid morning, and the second at Collieston, Aberdeenshire from early afternoon. Both represent the first record for their respective counties.

A Pechora Pipit was at Levenwick, Mainland Shetland this evening, while a Lanceolated Warbler was on Fair Isle, a Blyth's Reed Warbler was at Northdale, Unst, a Little Bunting was at Wester Quarff, Mainland and single Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls were at Virkie, Mainland and Ham, Foula. The lingering Subalpine warbler on Yell was re-identified as an Eastern Subalpine Warbler.

An Aquatic Warbler at Brow Head, County Cork is a very good record for Ireland, with at least one also seen on the Isles of Scilly. Fifteen Glossy Ibises were found in Cumbria, with singles nearby in Lancashire, Merseyside and Denbighshire. Other new discoveries included a Blyth's Reed Warbler in Northumberland, a Little Bunting on the Isles of Scilly, a Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Donegal, Baird's Sandpiper in County Kerry and single American Golden Plovers in Cornwall and County Donegal.

Lingering rarity highlights included Syke's Warbler, Brown Shrike and Arctic Warbler on Shetland, Sardinian Warbler in Borders, Laughing Gull on Orkney, Black-winged Stilt in Cornwall and Siberian Stonechat in Gwynedd.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 27th September 2013  
  Today's eastern Mega on Shetland was a Brown Shrike at Wester Quarff, Mainland this evening. Also new on the islands were three Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls at Sullom, and a Booted Warbler on the Out Skerries for its second day.

Other new discoveries today included a Greenish Warbler in a garden at Killimster, Highland, a Blyth's Reed Warbler trapped on Skokholm, Pembrokeshire, a Western Bonelli's Warbler at Garinish, County Cork, a Rustic Bunting at Whitburn, County Durham, a Black Kite over Christchurch Harbour, Dorset, a Black-winged Stilt on the Hayle Estuary, Cornwall, a Baird's Sandpiper on Carrahane Strand, County Kerry, single American Golden Plovers at Lough Foyle, County Derry and Ballycotton, County Cork and single Red-breasted Geese at Mersehead RSPB, Dumfries and Galloway and in Langstone Harbour, Hampshire. Glossy Ibises were seen at Leighton Moss RSPB, Lancashire (12), Doffcocker, Greater Manchester, Ynys-hir RSPB, Ceredigion, Gillan, Cornwall and Chew Valley Lake and Blagdon Lake, Somerset.

Lingering rarity highlights included the Brown Shrike on North Ronaldsay, Sykes's Warbler on Fair Isle, Sardinian Warbler in Borders, Booted Warbler in County Wexford, Arctic Warbler, Western Subalpine Warbler and Blyth's Reed Warbler on Shetland (with another of the latter in County Durham), Siberian Stonechat in Gwynedd and Laughing Gull on Orkney.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 26th September 2013  
  A fantastic day for avian arrivals from the east was headlined by a Sykes's Warbler on Fair Isle, Shetland this afternoon. Other new discoveries on Shetland included Blyth's Reed Warblers at Funzie, Fetlar and Burrafirth, Unst, and single Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls in the Norwick area of the latter island and at Fladdabister, Mainland. Further south, on Orkney, a Blyth's Reed Warbler and an Arctic Warbler were on South Ronaldsay, and an Olive-backed Pipit was seen on Papa Westray, while other Blyth's Reed Warblers were on Barra, Western Isles, and at Whitburn, County Durham. A Tawny Pipit was reported from Zennor, Cornwall, an Alpine Swift was at Old Head of Kinsale, County Cork, a Red-rumped Swallow flew over Landguard NR, Suffolk, a Little Bunting was on Blakeney Point, Norfolk and 15 Glossy Ibises were briefly at the Cotswold Water Park, Wiltshire.

The only arrivals from the west found today was the first Red-eyed Vireo of the year, at Inch Strand, County Cork and a American Golden Plover over Appleby Carrs, Lincolnshire.

Lingering rarity highlights included Booted Warbler and Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Wexford, Sardinian Warbler in Borders, Siberian Stonechat in Gwynedd, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll, Western Subalpine Warbler and Olive-backed Pipit in Shetland, Lesser Yellowlegs' in Kent and County Galway and three Blue-winged Teals in Lincolnshire.

The big talking point of the day, however, involved Yellow-browed Warblers, with one of the biggest arrivals ever noted in Britain. At least 490 individuals were counted, the vast majority predictably on the Northern Isles and the east coast. The largest counts came from Shetland, with 102 on Unst, 57 on Mainland, 40 on Fair Isle, 15 on Fetlar and 13 on Foula. Elsewhere, 17 were on North Ronaldsay, Orkney, 13 at Mire Loch, Borders, 12 in the Spurn area, Yorkshire and 11 on Holy Island, Northumberland.

Smaller (but still good) numbers of Red-breasted Flycatchers, Wrynecks, Common Rosefinches, Barred Warblers, Bluethroats, Richard's Pipits, Red-backed Shrikes and Corncrakes were also seen, along with an Icterine Warbler, a Marsh Warbler, a Woodchat Shrike and a Serin.

A Sooty Shearwater at Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire is potentially the first inland record of the species for Britain.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 25th September 2013  
  On a highly eventful day the main news was the unfortunate disappearance of the Eastern Kingbird on Inishboffin, Co.Galway. Reported in thick fog as still present at 8.10am by two observers, it was not subsequently relocated by others despite improved visibility. For most, it was an unfortunate deja vu of last year's '2nd day' dip of the same species in the same county! Today, a Blackpoll Warbler was a minor consolation.

Away from western Ireland it was far north east Scotland, and Fair Isle in particular, which stole the show. An uncharacteristically showy White's Thrush was found on Fair Isle early morning and before lunch was joined by an Upland Sandpiper. Later in the day a Lanceolated Warbler and Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll completed a stellar Fair Isle day. Meanwhile, Shetland mainland hosted its own Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll as well as an Olive-backed Pipit. On Unst there was an Ortolan Bunting.

The UK mainland 'rarity of the day' was an Olive-backed Pipit at Runswick, North Yorkshire. However, it was a major fall of Yellow-browed Warblers which overshadowed just about everything else.  All the way up the East Coast, from Essex to Unst, there were multiples at many sites including 17 on Holy Island, Northumberland.

Rarities elsewhere included a Booted Warbler on Skokholm, a White-rumped Sand on The Farnes, Tawny Pipit briefly in E.Sussex and a Glossy Ibis in Devon.

Finally, although not in the UK, a Rufous Bush Chat in the Netherlands might be a sign of even better things to come on this side of the North Sea in the next 24-48 hours, let's hope so!
-  Brian Egan, RBA
Tuesday 24th September 2013  
  The higlight of the day was the discovery of the second Eastern Kingbird for the Western Palearctic, again - like last year - in County Galway, but this time on Inishbofin. New rarities elsewhere included a Brown Shrike on North Ronaldsay, Orkney Isles, a Siberian Stonechat in Gwynedd on Bardsey Island, and a Booted Warbler found on Hook Head, County Waterford.

On the Shetland Isles Two-barred Crossbill, three Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls, Arctic Warbler, Citrine Wagtail, Western Subalpine Warbler, Little Bunting, Ortolan Bunting, three each of Red-breasted Flycatcher, Barred Warbler and Red-backed Shrike, 11 Common Rosefinches, 14 Lapland Buntings and 58 Yellow-browed Warblers were logged. Meanwhile, on the Isles of Scilly Ortolan Bunting, Rose-coloured Starling, Icterine Warbler, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, two Roseate Terns, four Sabine's Gulls and eight Wrynecks were noted.

Nearctic waders included Baird's Sandpiper (County Donegal (2) and County Kerry (2)), Lesser Yellowlegs (Kent and County Wexford), American Golden Plover (County Clare and County Kerry) and six Pectoral Sandpipers.

Otherwise, lingering rarities confirmed as still present included the Elegant Tern in County Kerry, four Two-barred Crossbills together in South Yorkshire, Bonaparte's Gull and nine Glossy Ibises in Devon, Lesser Scaup in Greater Manchester, Ferruginous Duck in Somerset, and Glossy Ibis in Cornwall.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 23rd September 2013  
  Shetland produced a fine selection of rarities today - the Baltimore Oriole reappeared on Unst (having initially been found on 19th September), whilst Unst also hosted Two-barred Crossbill, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll, Blyth's Reed Warbler and Arctic Warbler. Elsewhere on the Shetland Isles a Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler was discovered on Out Skerries, a Citrine Wagtail was on Foula and Olive-backed Pipit, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and two Blyth's Reed Warblers were on Mainland.

Away from Shetland new discoveries included a River Warbler on North Ronaldsay and a Bonelli's warbler species on Burray (Orkney), Booted Warbler in Pembrokeshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Kent and Black Stork in Cumbria.

The best of the rest included two Semipalmated Sandpipers, Lesser Yellowlegs and American Golden Plover in Co Wexford, American Golden Plovers in Co Clare and Orkney, Baird's Sandpipers in Co Donegal (2) and Co Kerry, at least four Two-barred Crossbills in South Yorkshire, three Blue-winged Teals in Lincolnshire, Lesser Grey Shrike in Suffolk, Lesser Yellowlegs and Bonaparte's Gull in Devon and Glossy Ibises in Devon (flocks of 11 and 9) and Somerset (2). In Co Cork a Fea's Petrel flew past Dursey Island.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA