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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Friday 12th June 2015  
  The highlight of the day was reappearance of the Cretzschmar's Bunting on Bardsey, Gwynedd, where it again showed tantalisingly briefly.

Elsewhere, new rarities included a Blyth's Reed Warbler in Essex at Holland Haven, Bonaparte's Gull in the Western Isles on St Kilda, Long-billed Dowitcher in County Wexford at The Cull, Greenish Warbler in Pembrokeshire on Skomer, and a White-rumped Sandpiper at Cley, Norfolk, whilst briefer encounters were a Snowy Owl (County Mayo), Black Stork and three Bee-eaters (Norfolk), Red-rumped Swallow (County Cork) and Red-footed Falcon (West Sussex).

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Hudsonian Whimbrel (West Sussex), Paddyfield Warbler (Norfolk), Greater Yellowlegs (Hampshire), King Eider (Aberdeenshire), Broad-billed Sandpiper and White-rumped Sandpiper (together in Lincolnshire).

Scarce migrants included Melodious Warbler (West Midlands), Icterine Warbler (Highland), Marsh Warbler (Norfolk), Common Rosefinch (Dorset), Golden Oriole (Wiltshire), Hoopoe and Red-backed Shrike (Kent), and four migrant Red-necked Phalaropes.

Significant late news concerned a male Black-headed Bunting in Pembrokeshire at Saundersfoot on 10th June.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 11th June 2015  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of both a Paddyfield Warbler and a Greenish Warbler on Blakeney Point, Norfolk. Elsewhere, a Gull-billed Tern in Nottinghamshire paid a brief visit to Lound, and on the Shetland Isles a Bonaparte's Gull was new on Unst.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Hudsonian Whimbrel in West Sussex, Greater Yellowlegs in Hampshire, Collared Pratincole and Little Bittern together in Suffolk, Broad-billed Sandpiper and White-rumped Sandpiper together in Lincolnshire, Greenish Warbler on the Isles of Scilly, Black Kite in Warwickshire and Bee-eater on the Shetland Isles.

Scarcities included Melodious Warbler (West Midlands), Ring-necked Duck (East Yorkshire), American Wigeon (Aberdeenshire), and two each of Icterine Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Common Rosefinch, Red-backed Shrike and migrant Red-necked Phalarope.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 10th June 2015  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Cretzschmar's Bunting on Bardsey, Gwynedd, albeit only present there briefly: the sixth British record, but the first away from the Northern Isles.

Equal excitement in Argyll where a Cedar Waxwing briefly visited on Tiree, the sixth record in the British Isles - although the second for that island - and the seventh Nearctic landbird to be found here since the 11th May.

Rarities elsewhere comprised the Hudsonian Whimbrel still in West Sussex, Swainson's Thrush in Pembrokeshire, Greater Yellowlegs in Hampshire, Collared Pratincole in Suffolk, Broad-billed Sandpiper and White-rumped Sandpiper together in Lincolnshire, Squacco Heron in Cornwall, King Eider in both Aberdeenshire and the Shetland Isles, a Black Stork over Staffordshire, a Black Kite over Warwickshire, and Bee-eaters in East Yorkshire (6), Merseyside, Shetland Isles and Somerset (6).

Scarcities included Icterine Warbler (Aberdeenshire), Short-toed Lark (Aberdeenshire), Marsh Warbler (Norfolk), Serin (Dorset), two Golden Orioles, three each of both Red-backed Shrike and migrant Red-necked Phalaropes, and four Common Rosefinches.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 9th June 2015  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Hudsonian Whimbrel in Pagham Harbour, West Sussex in the early afternoon, where it remained into the evening. In Ireland a Slate-coloured Junco arrived on Dursey Island, County Cork - only the fourth national record.

Rarities elsewhere comprised the Veery still on the Orkney Isles, Swainson's Thrush in Pembrokeshire, Greater Yellowlegs in Hampshire, Collared Pratincole in Suffolk, Broad-billed Sandpiper and White-rumped Sandpiper together in Lincolnshire, Squacco Heron still in Cornwall, King Eiders in both Aberdeenshire and the Shetland Isles, White-billed Diver off Ayrshire, Bee-eaters on the Isles of Scilly (12) and Somerset (6), and single Black Storks over-flying the Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, Suffolk and Lincolnshire.

Scarcities included three Marsh Warblers, two each of Common Rosefinch and Red-necked Phalarope, Icterine Warbler (Aberdeenshire), Golden Oriole and Red-backed Shrike (Shetland Isles), Short-toed Lark and Night Heron (Isles of Scilly).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 8th June 2015  
  Rarity highlights included the Swainson's Thrush in Pembrokeshire, Squacco Heron in Cornwall, Greater Yellowlegs in Hampshire, Black Stork in Cornwall and on Isles of Scilly, Great Reed Warbler, Blyth's Reed Warbler, King Eider and Greenish Warbler on Shetland, Red-rumped Swallow on Orkney, Little Bittern and Collared Pratincole in Suffolk and Bee-eaters on Isles of Scilly (12), Cornwall (3+) and Suffolk (2).

The best of the rest included Corncrake (Cheshire), Ring-necked Duck (Orkney), Red-necked Phalarope (Ayrshire), Cattle Egret (Suffolk), two Icterine Warblers, three Golden Orioles, three Marsh Warblers and at least three Common Rosefinches.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 7th June 2015  
  New discoveries today comprised a Collared Pratincole at Lakenheath Fen RSPB, Suffolk, a Black-headed Bunting on Skomer, Pembrokeshire, a Black Stork over Marazion and Constantine, Cornwall, an Alpine Swift over Spurn, Yorkshire, a Red-footed Falcon over the River Nene mouth, Lincolnshire, a Red-rumped Swallow at Landguard NR, Suffolk, a Black Kite over Ford End, Essex and a King Eider on Unst, Shetland. Bee-eaters included seven on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly and singles over Saltford (Somerset), Hauxley (Northumberland), Ballyrobin (County Antrim) and Marazion (Cornwall).

Lingering rarities included the Swainson's Thrush in Pembrokeshire, Greater Yellowlegs in Hampshire, Squacco Heron in Cornwall, Little Bittern in Suffolk, Bee-eater in Yorkshire, King Eider in Aberdeenshire and Black-winged Stilt in Sussex.

Scarcity highlights comprised a Marsh Warbler, an Icterine Warbler, a Pectoral Sandpiper, two Red-backed Shrikes, two Red-necked Phalaropes, two Ring-necked Ducks, two American Wigeon and four Common Rosefinches.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 6th June 2015  
  Another good day for Bee-eaters, with birds at Cliftonville, Kent, St Buryan (two) and Bodmin Moor, both Cornwall, Flamborough Head area, Yorkshire (five) and four on several islands in the Isles of Scilly. Other discoveries today included a Squacco Heron at Marazion, Cornwall and a Greenish Warbler on the Out Skerries, Shetland.

Lingering rarities included the Swainson's Thrush in Pembrokeshire, Greater Yellowlegs in Hampshire, Little Bittern in Suffolk, Great Reed Warbler in Shetland, Black-winged Stilt in Sussex and a Bee-eater in the Spurn area of Yorkshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 5th June 2015  
  New discoveries today included a Black Stork over Newton Abbot, Devon, an Olive-backed Pipit on North Ronaldsay, Orkney, Forster's Tern at Fiddaun Island, County Galway, single Greenish Warblers at Swinister and Swining, both Shetland, single Red-footed Falcons at Kilmurrin County Waterford, Hemsby, Norfolk and Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire, a Black Kite at Wykeham Forest, Yorkshire and a White-billed Diver at Esha Ness, Shetland. Bee-eaters were recorded in Norfolk at Winterton (two), Isles of Scilly on St Agnes (two), Lincolnshire at Wragby (six) and Rimac, Cornwall at Maenporth (two) and Yorkshire at Kilnsea.

Lingering rarities included the Swainson's Thrush in Pembrokeshire, Greater Yellowlegs in Hampshire, Little Bittern in Suffolk, Black-winged Stilt in Sussex, Greenish Warbler on Fair Isle and King Eider in Aberdeenshire.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 4th June 2015  
  New discoveries included Red-footed Falcon in Kent and Norfolk, a Subalpine Warbler on Western Isles (which was probably a Moltoni's Subalpine Warbler), Bee-eaters in Cornwall (4), Isles of Scilly (2), Gloucestershire (2) and Surrey (2) and Greenish Warbler on Isles of Scilly. The Swainson's Thrush (Pembrokeshire), Veery (Orkney), Black-winged Stilt (West Sussex), White-rumped Sandpiper (Lincolnshire), Red-footed Falcon (East Sussex), Little Bittern (Suffolk), Greater Yellowlegs (Hampshire) and Greenish Warbler and Great Reed Warbler (Shetland) all lingered.

The best of the rest included Golden Oriole (Moray), Ring-billed Gull (Cornwall), Bluethroat (Orkney), Montagu's Harrier (Kent), Temminck's Stint (South Yorkshire), Corncrake (Anglesey), White-winged Black Tern (Dorset), Serin (Kent), Surf Scoter (Aberdeenshire), Ring-necked Duck (Orkney), two Red-necked Phalaropes, two Red-backed Shrikes, four Icterine Warblers and four Honey Buzzards.

A probable Short-toed Eagle flew over Lyndhurst (Hampshire).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 3rd June 2015  
  The most exicting birding today was on the northern isles, where on the Orkney Isles the Veery remained (North Ronaldsay), along with a Greenish Warbler (Sanday), Red-spotted Bluethroat and Red-backed Shrike, whilst on the Shetland Isles Great Reed Warbler (Unst), two Greenish Warblers (Fair Isle), Red-spotted Bluethroat, Marsh Warbler, Common Rosefinch, four Icterine Warblers and five Red-backed Shrikes.

Elsewhere, the Black-winged Pratincole was relocated in Aberdeenshire at Loch of Skene, the Swainson's Thrush remained in Pembrokeshire, as did the Greater Yellowlegs (Hampshire), Squacco Heron (Isles of Scilly), Little Bittern (Suffolk), Red-footed Falcon (East Sussex), Black-winged Stilt (West Sussex), and White-rumped Sandpiper (Lincolnshire). Bee-eaters flew over Devon, Dorset and Norfolk (2).

The best of the rest comprised White-winged Black Tern (Dorset), Night Heron (Isles of Scilly), Golden Oriole (Moray), and eight migrant Red-necked Phalaropes.
-  Chris Batty, RBA