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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Monday 9th June 2014  
  In Cambridgeshire a Squacco Heron was discovered on the Ouse Washes and in Co Galway a Forster's Tern was at at Inishroo. A flyover Black Kite was reported in Warwickshire.

Lingering rarities comprised Spectacled Warbler in Norfolk, Greenish Warbler and three Two-barred Crossbills in Lothian, Ross's Gull and Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, pair of Black-winged Stilts in West Sussex and Savi's Warbler in Suffolk.

The best of the rest included Hoopoe in Cornwall, Rose-coloured Starling in Anglesey, Ring-necked Duck in Angus, Red-necked Phalaropes in Gloucestershire and Argyll, Red-backed Shrike in East Yorkshire, Marsh Warblers in Essex, Co Cork and Shetland, Cattle Egrets in Somerset and Isle of Wight and Glossy Ibises in Oxfordshire, Kent, Leicestershire and South Yorkshire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 8th June 2014  
  The Short-toed Eagle reappeared in Hampshire today, being seen for around an hour this morning in a tree at Bishop's Dyke, New Forest, before it flew east. A very pale Common Buzzard present mid morning resulted in some brief confusion, but the eagle wasn't seen again all day.

A Savi's Warbler sang and showed on and off all day at Walberswick, Suffolk, a singing Greenish Warbler and at least two Two-barred Crossbills were beside the Hedderwick Burn at Tyninghame Bay, Lothian, a Great Reed Warbler sang in the Swinister Burn, Shetland, a Tawny Pipit was at Saltfleet, Lincolnshire briefly and three Bee-eaters flew over Niton, Isle of Wight.

Long staying rarities once again included the Spectacled Warbler in Norfolk, Ross's Gull and Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Savi's Warbler in Gwent, Black-winged Stilts in Kent (two) and Sussex (three), single King Eiders in Lothian and Aberdeenshire and the Lesser Scaup in Cheshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 7th June 2014  
  A Pallid Swift flew south over Portland Bill, Dorset early afternoon, whilst an Alpine Swift flew north over Braintree this evening. A Blyth's Reed Warbler was trapped on Bardsey Island, Gwynedd, and single Greenish Warblers were on Skomer, Pembrokeshire and South Uist, Western Isles. A Bee-eater was heard over Burton, Dorset.

Lingering rarities today once again included the Spectacled Warbler in Norfolk, the Ross's Gull and Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, singing Savi's Warblers in Gwent and Aberdeenshire, singing Great Reed Warbler in Shetland, Lesser Scaup in Cheshire and three Black-winged Stilts in Sussex.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 6th June 2014  
  New discoveries today included a Blyth's Reed Warbler at Spurn, Yorkshire, a Greenish Warbler on Fair Isle, Shetland, a Bonaparte's Gull at Topsham, Devon (joining the long staying Ross's Gull briefly), a Black Kite over North Creake, Norfolk and a Black-winged Stilt at Barnham Brooks, Sussex.

Other lingering rarities included the Spectacled Warbler in Norfolk, Great Reed Warbler in Shetland, Lesser Scaup in Cheshire, King Eider in Lothian and breeding Black-winged Stilts in Kent and Sussex.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 5th June 2014  
  The highlight of the day was a Black Stork in Suffolk, where it was tracked overhead between Lowestoft and Covehithe during the late morning.

Rarities elsewhere comprised the Spectacled Warbler still in Norfolk, Ross's Gull in Devon, both Caspian Tern and Great Reed Warbler on the Shetland Isles, Savi's Warbler in Gwent, King Eider in Lothian, Lesser Scaup in Cheshire, the pair of Black-winged Stilts in Kent, and two Bee-eaters briefly in Borders.

Scarcities included 12 Red-backed Shrikes, six Glossy Ibises, two each of both Marsh Warbler and migrant Red-necked Phalarope, Rose-coloured Starling (South Yorkshire), Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Woodchat Shrike (both Cleveland), Purple Heron (Cornwall), Red-breasted Flycatcher and Icterine Warbler (both Shetland Isles), Pectoral Sandpiper (Suffolk) and Ring-necked Duck (County Down).

Significant late news concerned a singing Savi's Warbler present yesterday at Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 4th June 2014  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Caspian Tern at Loch of Hillwell, Shetland Isles: the first of the year in Britain, and only the fourth to be recorded alive in Shetland. 

Elsewhere, in Norfolk the territorial Spectacled Warbler remained and the Black Stork showed again briefly, in Devon the Ross's Gull continued to linger, as did the Whiskered Tern on the Western Isles, Great Reed Warbler on the Shetland Isles, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, and the breeding pair of Black-winged Stilts in West Sussex. In Northumberland a Great Reed Warbler was new at Cresswell Pond.

Scarcities included a total of seven Red-backed Shrikes, four Glossy Ibises, two Rose-coloured Starlings, Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Woodchat Shrike (both Cleveland), Purple Heron (Cornwall), Marsh Warbler (Shetland Isles), Hoopoe (Aberdeenshire), Pectoral Sandpiper (Suffolk), American Wigeon (Highland), and Ring-necked Duck (County Down).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 3rd June 2014  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Spectacled Warbler at Burnham Overy Dunes (Norfolk). Nearby a Blyth's Reed Warbler was discovered in Cley and a Black Stork flew over Thornham, Salthouse and Kelling this evening. Elsewhere new discoveries included Great Reed Warbler (Shetland), Black Kites (East Sussex and Norfolk), Whiskered Tern (Western Isles) and Bee-eaters (Hampshire [5] and Isle of Wight [2]).

Lingering rarities comprised Ross's Gull (Devon), Savi's Warblers (Gwent and Aberdeenshire), Lesser Scaup (Cheshire), Black-winged Stilts (pairs in Kent and West Sussex), Rustic Bunting (Argyll), King Eiders (Aberdeenshire and Lothian) and White-billed Diver (Highland).

The best of the rest included Glossy Ibises in Kent, Leicestershire and West Yorkshire, Purple Herons in Cornwall and Norfolk, Pectoral Sandpipers in Suffolk and Western Isles (2), Red-backed Shrike in Norfolk, Buff-breasted Sandpiper in Cleveland, Common Rosefinch in Co Cork, Spotted Crake in Dorset and Hoopoe in Aberdeenshire.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 2nd June 2014  
  The highlight of the day was a singing male Spectacled Warbler at Burnham Overy Dunes, Norfolk. Discovered early in the afternoon, it remained into the late evening and showed well. The eight British record, and the first twitchable record for Norfolk, with the only previous individual there being on Scolt Head Island on 6th May 2011, and suppressed.

New rarities elsewhere comprised a Citrine Wagtail in North Yorkshire at Burniston, Greenish Warbler in Somerset at Sand Point, Rustic Bunting in Argyll on Tiree, a brief Black Kite in Kent, and Bee-eaters in both Hampshire (5) and Somerset (2).

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Ross's Gull in Devon, territorial Savi's Warblers in both Aberdeenshire and Gwent, King Eider in Lothian, Lesser Scaup in Cheshire, and the pair of Black-winged Stilts in Kent.

Scarcities included Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Cleveland), Purple Heron (Cornwall), Woodchat Shrike (Kent), Grey-headed Wagtail (Shetland Isles), migrant Red-necked Phalarope (Cambridgeshire), Common Rosefinch and Pectoral Sandpiper (both on the Western Isles), two each of Marsh Warbler and Hoopoe, and three Cattle Egrets (together in Kent).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 1st June 2014  
  The Short-toed Eagle was, predictably, still at roost in its pine tree at Morden Bog, Dorset early morning, remaining in position until around 10am when it flew SSW, with no confirmed sightings since.

New discoveries today included a Red-throated Pipit on Unst, Shetland, a Blyth's Reed Warbler at Whitburn, County Durham and a Black Kite over Bolderwood, Hampshire. Bee-eaters were found in Wirral, Devon (five), Dorset and Kent (two).

Other lingering rarities included the Black-headed Bunting in Norfolk, Ross's Gull in Devon, Bonaparte's Gull in Surrey, Savi's Warblers in Gwent and Aberdeenshire, King Eiders in Lothian and Aberdeenshire and Lesser Scaup in Cheshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 31st May 2014  
  Britain's third Short-toed Eagle was discovered at Morden Bog, Dorset at 10am. Sitting in a pine for just ten minutes it then flew east, but was seen again in flight nearby at 2.30pm. Late afternoon it returned to the pines, and became the second twitchable Short-toed Eagle ever, being present until dusk.

Other new discoveries today included a Whiskered Tern at Topsham, Devon (joining the long staying Ross's Gull), a Blyth's Reed Warbler near Girdle Ness, Aberdeenshire, a Pallid Swift over Spurn, Yorkshire and single Black Storks over Dawlish, Devon and Kenilworth, Warwickshire. Black Kites were seen over St Ann's Head, Pembrokeshire and Brenchley, Kent, whilst Bee-eaters were at East Prawle, Devon and Pig Bush, Hampshire.

Other lingering rarity highlights included the Black-headed Bunting in Norfolk, Caspian Stonechat in Shetland, Savi's Warblers in Gwent and Aberdeenshire and Bonaparte's Gull in Surrey.
-  Will Soar, RBA