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| Tuesday 17th May 2016 | ||
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| Despite much searching across Dartmoor, Devon, the Lammergeier was only reported briefly, at North Hessary Tor mid afternoon, and could not be relocated. Rarities elsewhere comprised a Spotted Sandpiper new on the Isles of Scilly, where both Snowy Owl and Red-rumped Swallow remained, a Lesser Yellowlegs discovered on the Shetland Isles on Foula, as well as the lingering Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall, Great Spotted Cuckoo in Dorset, two Whiskered Terns together in Cleveland, Iberian Chiffchaff in London, Red-footed Falcon in Essex, Great Reed Warbler in Cambridgeshire, and Savi's Warbler in Somerset. Scarcities included Serin (Suffolk), Bluethroat (Fife), Purple Heron (Essex), Surf Scoter (Shetland Isles), Pectoral Sandpiper (Norfolk), Long-tailed Skua (Western Isles), Grey-headed Wagtail (Aberdeenshire), two Hoopoes, three Temminck's Stints and six Glossy Ibises. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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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 16th May 2016 | ||
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| The Lammergeier was re-found today in Devon on Dartmoor, seen twice by
single observers late morning and mid afternoon. The Green Warbler was
also seen briefly at Baltasound, Unst, Shetland and the Dalmatian Pelican
remained in Cornwall, roosting at Drift Reservoir this evening.
New discoveries today included a Sardinian Warbler at Spurn, Yorkshire, a Savi's Warbler at Greylake RSPB, Somerset, a Subalpine Warbler at Loch Kinnabus, Argyll, a Red-rumped Swallow in Lincoln, Lincolnshire and a Spotted Sandpiper in Findhorn Bay, Moray. Lingering rarities included the Great Spotted Cuckoo in Devon, Snowy Owl, Iberian Chiffchaff and Red-rumped Swallow in the Isles of Scilly, Franklin's Gull and Red-footed Falcon in Essex, two Whiskered Terns in Cleveland, Great Reed Warbler in Cambridgeshire, Bee-eater in Norfolk and Black Kite in County Wexford. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 15th May 2016 | ||
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| Significant late news from Thursday concerned an immature Lammergeier
in Gwent. It was videoed on a rock by the Severn Estuary at Sudbrook, before it
flew up the channel then headed west. It appears to be the individual present in
Belgium on Monday, and is thought to be a wild bird. This would represent the
first record for Britain.
Back to today, the Green Warbler remained at Baltasound on Unst, Shetland, where it showed well into the evening. New discoveries today included an Eastern Subalpine Warbler on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, and Black Kites over Bockhill, Gillingham and Grove Ferry (all Kent), Ashington (Sussex), North Tuddenham (Norfolk) and South Slob (County Wexford). Lingering rarities seen today included the Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall, Great Spotted Cuckoo in Dorset, Snowy Owl and Iberian Chiffchaff in the Isles of Scilly, Franklin's Gull, Red-footed Falcon and two Black-winged Stilts in Essex, two Whiskered Terns and a Great Reed Warbler in Cleveland, another Great Reed Warbler in Cambridgeshire, Western Subalpine Warbler in Northumberland, Thrush Nightingale in Fife, Bee-eater in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gull in Carmarthenshire and King Eider in Highland. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 14th May 2016 | ||
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| Britain's second Green Warbler is present for its second day at
Baltasound, Unst, Shetland where it was trapped and ringed this afternoon. The
only other British record is of a bird in the Isles of Scilly in autumn 1983.
Further south, a Fea's or Zino's Petrel flew north past Flamborough Head,
Yorkshire.
Other new discoveries today included a Thrush Nightingale at Easington, Yorkshire, a Great Reed Warbler at Paxton, Cambridgeshire, a Dusky Warbler on Walney Island, Cumbria, a Red-footed Falcon and two Black-winged Stilts at Vange, Essex, another Red-footed Falcon over Verwood, Dorset, an Eastern Subalpine Warbler on Skokholm, Pembrokeshire, a Subalpine warbler species on Holy Island, Northumberland, single Bee-eaters over Sherborne and Weymouth, both Dorset, single Red-throated Pipits on Fair Isle, Shetland and Bryher, Isles of Scilly and a Black Kite over Durlston and a Red-rumped Swallow over Lodmoor, both Dorset. Lingering rarities included the Great Spotted Cuckoo in Dorset, Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall, Snowy Owl in the Isles of Scilly, Great Reed Warbler and two Whiskered Terns in Cleveland, Thrush Nightingale in Fife, Franklin's Gull in Essex, Broad-billed Sandpiper in Lincolnshire, Black-winged Stilt in Dorset, Bee-eater in Norfolk and White-billed Diver in Aberdeenshire. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Friday 13th May 2016 | ||
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| New rarities today were a Great Spotted Cuckoo on Portland, Dorset, an
Iberian Chiffchaff at Barnes, London, a Rustic Bunting on Fair
Isle, a Greenish Warbler at Baltasound and a White-billed Diver
past Esha Ness, all Shetland, single Subalpine warblers on Skokholm,
Pembrokeshire, Red Rocks NR, Wirral and Bryher, Isle of Scilly and a
Red-throated Pipit at East Denwick, Orkney.
Lingering rarities comprised the Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall, Calandra Lark in Shetland, Snowy Owl, Iberian Chiffchaff, Great Reed Warbler and Red-rumped Swallow in the Isles of Scilly, Franklin's Gull in Essex, two Whiskered Terns and a Great Reed Warbler in Cleveland, single Broad-billed Sandpipers in Lincolnshire and Cheshire, Black-winged Stilt in Dorset, Bee-eater in Norfolk and single White-billed Divers in County Donegal and Aberdeenshire. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 12th May 2016 | ||
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| New rarities today were a Pallid Swift in Norfolk at Blakeney, a Thrush Nightingale in Northumberland at Holy Island,
Western Subalpine Warbler off the Isle of Man on Calf of Man, Caspian Tern in Lancashire at Rossall Point,
Broad-billed Sandpipers in Cheshire at Hale and Lincolnshire at Frampton Marsh, Bonaparte's Gull
in Carmarthenshire, Red-rumped Swallows in East Sussex (2) and West Sussex,
Red-footed Falcon in South Yorkshire, Black-headed Wagtail in Forth at Skinflats, and a new
Bee-eater at Cley, Norfolk. Lingering rarities comprised the Dalmatian Pelican still in Cornwall, Calandra Lark on the Shetland Isles, Western Rufous Turtle Dove in Kent, Franklin's Gull in Essex, Thrush Nightingale in Fife, Iberian Chiffchaff and two Red-rumped Swallows on the Isles of Scilly, Great Reed Warbler and two Whiskered Terns together in Cleveland, Bee-eater in Norfolk, Black-winged Stilt in Dorset, King Eider and White-billed Diver in Aberdeenshire, King Eider in Highland, and White-billed Divers in Moray and County Donegal (3). Scarcities included Red-breasted Flycatcher (Fife), Common Rosefinch (Isle of Man), Purple Heron (Devon), two Golden Orioles, three of Short-toed Lark and Icterine Warbler, four each of Woodchat Shrike, Serin and Grey-headed Wagtail, eight Red-spotted Bluethroats and 10 Red-backed Shrikes. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 11th May 2016 | ||
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| Another cracking day for rare birds was headlined by the finding of a
Semipalmated Plover at Tacumshin in Co Wexford. A strong supporting
cast of new discoveries included Blyth's Pipit in Gwynedd,
Franklin's Gull in Essex, two Caspian Terns in
Somerset and Pacific Golden Plover in Co Donegal, along with
Black Kites (Cumbria and Argyll), Black-winged Stilt
and Western Bonelli's Warbler (Dorset), Alpine Swift
and Bee-eater (Norfolk), subalpine warbler
species (Isles of Scilly), Great Reed Warbler (Cleveland),
Citrine Wagtail (East Yorkshire) and Two-barred
Crossbill (Northumberland). Lingering rarities included Dalmatian Pelican (Cornwall), Caspian Stonechat (Hampshire), Calandra Lark (Shetland), Western Rufous Turtle Dove (Kent), Whiskered Terns (Cleveland), Snowy Owl and Red-rumped Swallows (Isles of Scilly), White-billed Diver (Aberdeenshire), Red-footed Falcon (South/East Yorkshire), Eastern Subalpine Warbler (Shetland), Thrush Nightingale (Northumberland) and Citrine Wagtail (Fife). The best of the rest included Ortolan Bunting (Shetland), Hoopoe (Highland), Purple Heron (Devon), Spotted Crake (Isles of Scilly), Richard's Pipit (Norfolk), two Serins, two Melodious Warblers, two Woodchat Shrikes, two White-winged Black Terns, two Bluethroats, four Wrynecks, at least four Grey-headed Wagtails and six Red-backed Shrikes. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 10th May 2016 | ||
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| An excellent day for rarities was headlined by the discovery of a
Calandra Lark on Fair Isle (Shetland) and a Caspian Stonechat
in Hampshire, whilst Collared Pratincole (London),
Thrush Nightingales (Fife and Northumberland), Citrine Wagtails
(Cleveland and Fife), Bee-eaters (Cornwall, East
Yorkshire and Dorset [2]), Eastern Subalpine Warbler
(Shetland), Black Kite (Gwynedd/Anglesey), Black-winged
Stilt (Dorset), Whiskered Tern (Gloucestershire),
Great Reed Warbler (Isles of Scilly) and subalpine
warbler species (Cornwall) were all new in. Lingering rarities included Dalmatian Pelican (Cornwall), King Eider and White-billed Diver (Aberdeenshire), Whiskered Terns (Cleveland), Eastern Subalpine Warbler (Gwynedd), Western Subalpine Warbler and subalpine warbler species (Shetland), Western Rufous Turtle Dove (Kent) and Red-rumped Swallows (Isles of Scilly). The best of the rest included White-winged Black Terns (Warwickshire), Serin (Cornwall), Ortolan Bunting (North Yorkshire), Red-breasted Flycatcher (Fife), Common Rosefinch (Isle of Man), Melodious Warblers (Isles of Scilly and probably East Yorkshire), two Wrynecks, three Woodchat Shrikes, four Red-backed Shrikes and seven Bluethroats. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Monday 9th May 2016 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was a Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall, where it was actually first seen on Saturday, at Gwithian. Today the bird lingered between Land's End, Sennen and Polgigga for much of the day, and it transpired that it had previously visited Poland between 6th-11th April, Germany on 16th April-1st May, and eastern France on 3rd May. New discoveries included a Terek Sandpiper in Ceredigion at Ynys-hir, Baird's Sandpiper in Lancashire at Stocks Reservoir, three White-billed Divers together in County Donegal, Great Reed Warblers in both Derbyshire at Willington, and at Netherfield, Nottinghamshire, and Subalpine Warblers in Cornwall, Gwynedd, Isles of Scilly, and the Shetland Isles (3). In addition, brief encounters included both Pallid Harrier and Black Kite in County Kerry, Gull-billed Tern in Pembrokeshire, Black Kite in Lancashire, Red-footed Falcon in West Yorkshire and Bee-eater in Kent. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Western Rufous Turtle Dove in Kent, Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll, both Snowy Owl and two Red-rumped Swallows on the Isles of Scilly, Western Bonelli's Warbler in Lincolnshire, two Whiskered Terns together on Cleveland, King Eider in Highland, Red-footed Falcon in South Yorkshire, and Ferruginous Duck in County Durham. The best of the rest comprised Melodious Warbler (Isles of Scilly), two each of White-winged Black Tern, Short-toed Lark and Serin, three of Bluethroat, Red-backed Shrike and Wryneck, four of both Woodchat Shrike and Grey-headed Wagtail, and six Golden Orioles. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 8th May 2016 | ||
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| An exiciting day with new rarities including a Broad-billed Sandpiper in Merseyside at Marshside, Bonelli's Warbler sp in Lincolnshire at Gibraltar Point, two Whiskered Terns together in Cleveland at Saltholme, Western Subalpine Warblers in County Wexford on Great Saltee and on Fair Isle, Red-footed Falcon in South Yorkshire at Thorne Moors, Black-headed Wagtails in both Denbeighshire and Pembrokeshire, White-billed Diver in County Donegal, Red-rumped Swallow in Cornwall, three Red-rumped Swallows together on the Isles of Scilly, Tawny Pipit and a Subalpine Warbler on the Shetland Isles, whilst elsewhere brief encounters included two Whiskered Terns and an Alpine Swift in Gloucestershire, Black Kites in Cornwall and Lancashire, Red-footed Falcon in Norfolk, Red-rumped Swallow in Kent and Bee-eater in Dorset. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Western Rufous Turtle Dove in Kent, Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll, Hudsonian Whimbrel in Cornwall, Snowy Owl on the Isles of Scilly, Red-footed Falcon in Dorset, Black-winged Stilt in Norfolk, and both Lesser Yellowlegs and King Eider in Aberdeenshire. Scarcities included Kentish Plover (Dorset), Serin (London), Purple Heron (Norfolk), two each of White-winged Black Tern, Red-backed Shrike and Grey-headed Wagtail, three Hoopoes, four each of Short-toed Lark, Bluethroat and Golden Oriole, and six of both Woodchat Shrike and Temminck's Stint. | ||
| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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