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
Sunday 18th September 2016  
  The highlight of the day was the second Nearctic landbird of the autumn, a Common Yellowthroat at the Bann Estuary, County Londonderry, albeit seen only briefly.

Notable waders comprised a Great Snipe on the Shetland Isles on Fair Isle, the Hudsonian Whimbrel still in Cornwall, Temminck's Stint, two Long-billed Dowitchers, three each of both Semipalmated Sandpiper and Buff-breasted Sandpiper, four Lesser Yellowlegs, five Baird's Sandpipers, and six Pectoral Sandpipers.

Landbirds included an early Red-flanked Bluetail, Arctic Warbler and Greenish Warbler together in Norfolk at East Hills, Thrush Nightingale in Northumberland on Holy Island, Red-throated Pipit on the Shetland Isles, Blyth's Reed Warbler and Greenish Warbler in East Yorkshire around Spurn, and a Citrine Wagtail on Bryher, Isles of Scilly. Scarcities included Serin (Suffolk), Little Bunting (Shetland Isles), Icterine Warbler (Pembrokeshire), Woodchat Shrike (Isles of Scilly), Richard's Pipit and Hoopoe (Norfolk), two Rose-coloured Starlings, two Short-toed Larks, two Ortolan Buntings, four Red-backed Shrikes, five Barred Warblers, five Red-breasted Flycatchers, six Common Rosefinches, 12 Wrynecks, 42 Yellow-browed Warblers and 51 Lapland Buntings.

Otherwise, the Western Purple Swamphen remained in Lincolnshire, as did the Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall, and the Franklin's Gull showed again in Northumberland, an Azorean Yellow-legged Gull was new in Somerset at Chew Valley Lake, and seawatching reports included a Black-browed Albatross pasing Newton Point, Northumberland.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 17th September 2016  
  The Shetland Isles hosted a Lanceolated Warbler and Pallid Harrier (Mainland), Black-headed Bunting (Unst) and Isabelline Shrike (Foula). Elsewhere rarity highlights included Arctic Warbler (Norfolk), Pallid Harrier (Kent), Greenish Warblers (Cleveland, Northumberland and Norfolk), Dalmatian Pelican (Cornwall), Black Duck (Highland), Forster's Tern (Co Louth) and Franklin's Gull (Northumberland).

Rare shorebirds included Long-billed Dowitcher (Co Waterford), Hudsonian Whimbrel (Cornwall), two Semipalmated Sandpipers, three Lesser Yellowlegs and four Baird's Sandpipers.

The best of the rest included Woodchat Shrike (Isles of Scilly), Short-toed Larks (Isles of Scilly and Co Cork), Bluethroat (Shetland), Purple Heron (Oxfordshire), Serin (Norfolk), American Wigeon (Leicestershire) and Rose-coloured Starlings (Cornwall and Dorset).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 16th September 2016  
  The highlight of the day was a Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler trapped and ringed at Kilnsea, East Yorkshire in the early morning, although it was not seen after it was released. Elsewhere, a Franklin's Gull was discovered in Northumberland at Whittle Dene Reservoir, whilst the Pallid Harrier remained on nearby Holy Island. The Western Purple Swamphen lingered in Lincolnshire, both the Dalmatian Pelican and Whiskered Tern continued in Cornwall, as did the Western Bonelli's Warbler in County Cork, and in County Kerry two Wilson's Petrels flew past Brandon Point.

Nearctic waders comprised single Baird's Sandpipers in County Waterford, County Wexford and Worcestershire, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Kerry, American Golden Plover in Norfolk, Lesser Yellowlegs in County Cork, Devon (2) and the Isles of Scilly, three Buff-breasted Sandpipers and seven Pectoral Sandpipers.

Landbirds included Rose-coloured Starling (County Cork), Melodious Warbler (Gwynedd), Woodchat Shrike (Isles of Scilly), Marsh Warbler (Orkney Isles), Short-toed Lark, Little Bunting and Barred Warbler (all Shetland Isles), two each of both Greenish Warbler and Ortolan Bunting, three Red-breasted Flycatchers, four of Common Rosefinch and Red-backed Shrike, 15 Wrynecks, 18 Yellow-browed Warblers and 57 Lapland Buntings.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 15th September 2016  
  New rarities discovered today included an Arctic Warbler at Wells, Norfolk, a Western Bonelli's Warbler at Galley Head, County Cork, a Greenish Warbler at Saltburn, Cleveland, single Lesser Yellowlegs' at Fremington, Devon and Tacumshin, County Wexford and a Pallid Harrier on Holy Island, Northumberland.

Lingering rarities included the Western Purple Swamphen in Lincolnshire, Whiskered Tern in Cornwall, Pallid Harrier in Sussex, Lesser Yellowlegs on the Isles of Scilly, Long-billed Dowitcher and Baird's Sandpiper in County Waterford, other Baird's Sandpipers in Worcestershire, County Derry and County Wexford, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Kerry and Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in County Cork.

Perhaps the most surprising record of the day was a Cory's Shearwater in London, which flew over Regent's Park this morning.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 14th September 2016  
  New discoveries today included a Pallid Harrier at Polgigga, Cornwall, a Citrine Wagtail on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, a Tawny Pipit on Portland, Dorset, a Long-billed Dowitcher at Dungarvan, County Waterford and single Semipalmated Sandpipers at Pilmore, County Cork and Cashen, County Kerry.

Lingering rarities seen today included the Western Purple Swamphen in Lincolnshire, Hudsonian Whimbrel, Dalmatian Pelican and Whiskered Tern in Cornwall, Pallid Harrier in West Sussex, single Lesser Yellowlegs' in the Isles of Scilly and County Cork and single Baird's Sandpipers in Worcestershire, County Waterford and County Wexford.

Scarcity highlights included an American Golden Plover, a White-winged Black Tern, a Red-necked Phalarope, an American Wigeon, a Surf Scoter, a Leach's Petrel, a Sabine's Gull, a Honey Buzzard, two Little Buntings, two Short-toed Larks, two Red-backed Shrikes, two Melodious Warblers, two Yellow-browed Warblers, four Buff-breasted Sandpipers, four Long-tailed Skuas, four Icterine Warblers, four Barred Warblers, five Ortolan Buntings, seven Common Rosefinches, seven Pectoral Sandpipers and 15 Wrynecks.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 13th September 2016  
  New discoveries today included a Lanceolated Warbler and Citrine Wagtail on Fair Isle, Shetland, a Lesser Grey Shrike and Bee-eater at Beadnell and Pacific Golden Plover over Inner Farne, both Northumberland, a Whiskered Tern at Argal Reservoir, Cornwall, a White-rumped Sandpiper at Myroe Levels, County Derry, a Baird's Sandpiper at Dungarvan, County Waterford and single Lesser Yellowlegs' at Youghal, County Cork and Bannow Bay, County Wexford.

Lingering rarities included the Western Purple Swamphen in Lincolnshire, Hudsonian Whimbrel in Cornwall, single Baird's Sandpipers in Worcestershire, South Yorkshire and County Wexford and a Lesser Yellowlegs on the Isles of Scilly.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Monday 12th September 2016  
  Headline rarities included the Western Purple Swamphen in Lincolnshire and Pallid Harrier in Derbyshire, whilst a Tawny Pipit flew over Titchwell RSPB (Norfolk) and the Dalmatian Pelican remained in Cornwall.

Rare waders comprised Hudsonian Whimbrel (Cornwall), two Semipalmated Sandpipers, two Lesser Yellowlegs and three Baird's Sandpipers.

The best of the rest included Yellow-browed Warbler (Cornwall), Common Rosefinch (Argyll), American Wigeon (Leicestershire), Spotted Crake (Isles of Scilly), two White-winged Black Terns, two Purple Herons, three Icterine Warblers and three Buff-breasted Sandpipers.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 11th September 2016  
  New discoveries today included a Baird's Sandpiper at The Cull, County Wexford, and single Tawny Pipits at Dungeness, Kent and Easington, Yorkshire.

Lingering rarities included the Western Purple Swamphen in Lincolnshire, Hudsonian Whimbrel and Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall, Forster's Tern in County Louth, Pallid Harrier in Derbyshire, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Hampshire, single Baird's Sandpipers in Worcestershire, South Yorkshire, County Wexford, County Donegal and County Derry, single Lesser Yellowlegs' in Somerset, Isles of Scilly and Western Isles and Blyth's Reed Warbler in London.

Scarcity highlights included a Woodchat Shrike, a Melodious Warbler, a Red-necked Phalarope, a Rough-legged Buzzard, a Purple Heron, a White-winged Black Tern, a Spotted Crake, a Corncrake, two Ortolan Buntings, two Red-backed Shrikes, two Common Rosefinches, three Icterine Warblers, three Dotterels, four Buff-breasted Sandpipers, six Grey Phalaropes, six Leach's Petrels, nine Pectoral Sandpipers and 22 Wrynecks.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 10th September 2016  
  Headline lingering rarities comprised the Cliff Swallow on Isles of Scilly and Western Purple Swamphen in Lincolnshire, whilst the Black Duck in Highland, Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall and Bonaparte's Gull in Devon were also logged. A  Pallid Harrier was in Derbyshire for its second day, a Booted Warbler arrived on Shetland, an Isabelline Shrike was reported in Cornwall and a Blyth's Reed Warbler was reported in London.

Rare and scarce shorebirds included five Baird's Sandpipers, six Buff-breasted Sandpipers, three Lesser Yellowlegs, Hudsonian Whimbrel (Cornwall), Kentish Plover (East Yorkshire), Spotted Sandpier (Co Clare), Semipalmated Sandpiper (Hampshire) and Long-billed Dowitcher (Co Kerry).

The best of the rest included Barred Warbler (Lancashire), Purple Heron (Anglesey), Melodious Warbler (Gwynedd), Icterine Warbler (Pembrokeshire) and White-winged Black Tern (Cleveland).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Friday 9th September 2016  
  New discoveries comprised Rustic Bunting (Orkney), Baird's Sandpiper (Worcestershire), Booted Warbler (Shetland) and flyover Tawny Pipit (Essex), whilst the Cliff Swallow and Lesser Yellowlegs (Isles of Scilly), Western Purple Swamphen (Lincolnshire) and Dalmatian Pelican and Hudsonian Whimbrel (Cornwall) all lingered.

The best of the rest included Purple Heron (Oxfordshire), Icterine Warbler (Shetland), two Red-backed Shrikes, two American Wigeons and four Buff-breasted Sandpipers.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA