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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Thursday 19th May 2016  
  New discoveries today included a singing Savi's Warbler at Five Mile Point, County Wicklow, a Bee-eater over Wimbledon Common, London and a Black Kite over Saltholme RSPB, Cleveland.

Lingering rarities included the Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall, Great Spotted Cuckoo in Dorset, Gull-billed Tern in Glamorgan, two Black-winged Stilts and a Red-footed Falcon in Essex, Spotted Sandpiper and Red-rumped Swallow in the Isles of Scilly, Iberian Chiffchaff in London, Great Reed Warbler in Cambridgeshire, two Whiskered Terns in Cleveland and King Eider in Highland.

Scarcity highlights included a Hoopoe, a Red-necked Phalarope, a Pectoral Sandpiper, a Long-tailed Skua, a Surf Scoter, two Serins, two Red-backed Shrikes, two Roseate Terns, two Temminck's Stints, two Honey Buzzards, three Bluethroats and three Dotterel.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 18th May 2016  
  New discoveries today included single Gull-billed Terns at Marazion, Cornwall and Loughor Bridge, Glamorgan, a Red-footed Falcon in the Cotswold Water Park, Wiltshire, a Red-rumped Swallow at Stodmarsh, Kent and single White-billed Divers off Balranald, Western Isles and North Ronaldsay, Orkney.

Lingering rarities included the Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall, Great Spotted Cuckoo in Dorset, Snowy Owl, Iberian Chiffchaff and Spotted Sandpiper in the Isles of Scilly, another Iberian Chiffchaff in London, Great Reed Warbler in Cambridgeshire, two Whiskered Terns in Cleveland, Lesser Yellowlegs in Shetland and White-billed Diver in the Western Isles.

Scarcity highlights included an Icterine Warbler, a Woodchat Shrike, a Bluethroat, a Purple Heron, a Night Heron, a White-winged Black Tern, a Pectoral Sandpiper, two Hoopoes, two Dotterel, three Temminck's Stints, four Red-backed Shrikes, four Glossy Ibises, six Long-tailed Skuas and 11 Pomarine Skuas.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 17th May 2016  
  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.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 16th May 2016  
  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.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Sunday 15th May 2016  
  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.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 14th May 2016  
  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.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 13th May 2016  
  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.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 12th May 2016  
  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.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 11th May 2016  
  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.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 10th May 2016  
  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.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA