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 16th October 2016  
  The Siberian Accentor remained East Yorkshire at Easington, with yet another discovered, at Sunderland, County Durham  - the fourth ever in Britain, and the fourth this week!

Another arrival from the east was an Isabelline Wheatear present for a second day on the Shetland Isles at Loch of Spiggie, Mainland, with elsewhere around that archipelago, two Pine Buntings, Black-faced Bunting, Pied Wheatear and Blyth's Reed Warbler, and around the whole of the British Isles, day totals of three Red-flanked Bluetails, six Siberian Stonechats, seven Radde's Warblers, seven Olive-backed Pipits, and 14 Dusky Warblers. Three Northern Long-tailed Tits were new at Boddam, Aberdeenshire.

Otherwise, a Black-browed Albatross lingered in Gwynedd off Bardsey Island, a Caspian Tern flew past St Margaret's at Cliffe, Kent, a Red-eyed Vireo lingered in Cornwall, and the reported Eastern Bonelli's Warbler on Cape Clear, County Cork, was reidentified as a Western Bonelli's Warbler. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present included the Western Purple Swamphen in Lincolnshire, Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall, Black Duck in Highland, Bonaparte's Gull in County Clare, Baird's Sandpiper in Northumberland, Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent, and Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 15th October 2016  
  Britain's third Siberian Accentor was discovered this morning at Saltburn-by-the-Sea in Cleveland. It remained extremely elusive throughout the rest of the day, much more so than the Yorkshire bird, which showed well all day at Easington. The first Eastern Bonelli's Warbler for Ireland was found on Cape Clear.

The headline news elsewhere was the large arrival of Dusky Warblers and Radde's Warblers along the east coast. Twelve Dusky Warblers were in Yorkshire, eight at Spurn and four in the Flamborough area, with three in Norfolk, three in Suffolk, two in Cleveland, and singles in Northumberland, Lincolnshire and Cornwall. Three Radde's Warblers were in County Cork, with four in Yorkshire, four in Norfolk, two in Cleveland and singles in County Waterford and Lincolnshire.

A Red-eyed Vireo was at Porthgwarra, Cornwall, with a new Red-throated Pipit also in the county, whilst other new discoveries included a Red-flanked Bluetail, a Siberian Stonechat and two Olive-backed Pipits in Shetland and a Blue-winged Teal in Lancashire.

Other lingering rarity highlights included the Black-faced Bunting, Pine Bunting, Pechora Pipit, Pied Wheatear and another Siberian Stonechat in Shetland (with others of the latter in Cleveland and County Cork), Western Purple Swamphen, Red-flanked Bluetail and Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Subalpine warbler species in the Isles of Scilly, Olive-backed Pipits in Fife and Norfolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset and Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 14th October 2016  
  In East Yorkshire, the Siberian Accentor remained at Easington, with the Spurn recording area also hosting an Olive-backed Pipit, a Tawny Pipit, five Dusky Warblers, a Rose-coloured Starling, two Pallas's Warblers, two Little Buntings, two Richard's Pipits, a Great Grey Shrike and 18 Shorelarks, along with an excellent selection of other scarce migrants.

In Norfolk the Black-browed Albatross was reported again, off Cley, with new discoveries in the county including a Black-throated Thrush on Scolt Head Island, single Dusky Warblers at Brancaster, Wells and Stiffkey, a Radde's Warbler at Warham Greens and a second Olive-backed Pipit in Wells Woods.

New discoveries in Shetland included a Pied Wheatear and Olive-backed Pipit at Scatness (with another of the former at Flamborough, East Yorkshire briefly), Pechora Pipit on Foula, Siberian Stonechat on Fair Isle, an Arctic Warbler at Weisdale and two Northern Long-tailed Tits at Sumburgh.

A Red-eyed Vireo was trapped on Portland, Dorset, with other new discoveries today including an Iberian Chiffchaff at Sennen, Cornwall, a Desert Wheatear at Hartlepool, Cleveland, single Siberian Stonechats at Donna Nook, Lincolnshire and Dowlaw, Borders, Radde's Warbler at Scarborough, North Yorkshire, other Dusky Warblers at Corton, Suffolk, Hartlepool, Cleveland, Tynemouth, Northumberland and Isle of May, Fife, Greenish Warbler on Cape Clear, County Cork, Pallid Harrier at Potteric Carr, South Yorkshire, Semipalmated Sandpiper on Inch Island, County Donegal and a Baird's Sandpiper on Achill Island, County Mayo.

Other lingering rarities included the Black-faced Bunting, Pine Bunting and Pechora Pipit in Shetland, Semipalmated Plover in County Mayo, two Red-flanked Bluetails in Lincolnshire, Siberian Stonechat in Cleveland and Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 13th October 2016  
  Today's hot news related to the discovery of Britain's second Siberian Accentor at Easington (East Yorkshire), less than a week after the first for Britain was found on Shetland. The two British records are part of a significant arrival in Europe; since 4th October there have been eleven in Sweden, six in Finland, three in Germany two in Britain and one in Denmark.

On Shetland lingering rarities included the Black-faced Bunting, Pine Bunting, Pechora Pipit, Olive-backed Pipit, Red-flanked Bluetail, Dusky Warbler, Pallid Harrier, whist on Isles of Scilly a Subalpine Warbler and a probable Eastern Yellow Wagtail were logged.

Elsewhere new discoveries included Olive-backed Pipits in Fife, East Yorkshire and Borders, Siberian Stonechat in Cleveland, Dusky Warblers in East Yorkshire (2) and Norfolk, Arctic Warbler on Western Isles, Red-flanked Bluetails in East Yorkshire and Orkney, Radde's Warbler in Gwynedd and East Yorkshire and Baird's Sandpiper in Glamorgan. In North Yorkshire a Black-browed Albatross was reported flying past Filey Brigg.

Lingering rarities comprised Paddyfield Warbler (East Yorkshire), Olive-backed Pipit and Dusky Warbler (Norfolk), Baird's Sandpiper (Northumberland), Red-flanked Bluetail (Lincolnshire [2]), Western Purple Swamphen (Lincolnshire), Dalmatian Pelican (Cornwall), Long-billed Dowitcher (Kent), Lesser Yellowlegs (Dorset), Radde's Warbler (Co Waterford) and Bonaparte's Gull (Co Clare).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 12th October 2016  
  On Shetland the Black-faced Bunting lingered on Bressay, whilst the archipelago also hosted Pine Bunting, Red-flanked Bluetail, Pallid Harrier, Arctic Warbler,  two Olive-backed Pipits, two Dusky Warblers and two Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls.

Elsewhere new discoveries included Booted Warbler (East Sussex), Paddyfield Warbler (East Yorkshire), Dusky Warbler (North Yorkshire), Arctic Redpolls (in Norfolk and Lincolnshire), Red-flanked Bluetails (Lincolnshire and Northumberland) and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak was reported in Co Kerry.

Lingering rarities away from Shetland included Siberian Stonechat (Co Cork), Red-flanked Bluetails (Co Down and Lincolnshire), Radde's Warbler (Co Waterford), Dusky Warbler and Olive-backed Pipit (Norfolk), Dalmatian Pelican and Hudsonian Whimbrel (Cornwall), Lesser Yellowlegs (Dorset), Black Duck (Highland), Long-billed Dowitcher (Kent), Western Purple Swamphen (Lincolnshire), Baird's Sandpiper (Northumberland) and Subalpine Warbler (Isles of Scilly), whilst a Lesser Scaup returned to Glamorgan.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 11th October 2016  
  The bird of the day was a Pine Bunting on Fair Isle, where a Red-throated Pipit also remained. Elsewhere on the Shetland Isles the Black-faced Bunting remained on Whalsay, with archipelago totals of Red-flanked Bluetail, Pechora Pipit, Arctic Redpoll, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Dusky Warbler, Rose-coloured Starling, Ortolan Bunting, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Short-toed Lark, Richard's Pipit, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, two Olive-backed Pipits, two Bluethroats and eight Little Buntings, but the Siberian Accentor could not be found at Scousburgh, Mainland.

On the Isles of Scilly the Sora remained, along with Subalpine Warbler, Pallas's Warbler, Short-toed Lark, two each of Cattle Egret, Dotterel and Wryneck, and five Red-breasted Flycatchers.

Other eastern rarities comprised Red-flanked Bluetails in both East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, Siberian Stonechat new in County Cork at Barrys Head, Radde's Warblers in Norfolk and County Waterford, two Dusky Warblers in Norfolk, Olive-backed Pipits in East Yorkshire and Norfolk, a Red-throated Pipit briefly in Lancashire, and an Arctic Warbler in Norfolk at Wells Woods.

The best of the rest were the Western Purple Swamphen still in Lincolnshire, Dalmatian Pelican and Hudsonian Whimbrel still in Cornwall, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Wexford, Baird's Sandpipers in both County Galway and Northumberland, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, and single Long-billed Dowitchers in Kent and Lincolnshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 10th October 2016  
  Shetland was once again the place to be with not only the Siberian Accentor, which remained and showed well at Scousburgh on Mainland, but there was also a Black-faced Bunting discovered on Bressay in the afternoon. This represents the sixth record for Britain and the second for Shetland. Supporting cast was provided by Red-flanked Bluetail and Dusky Warbler on Mainland, Swainson's Thrush still on Fetlar, Blyth's Reed Warbler on Whalsay and Lesser Yellowlegs on Unst, as well as good numbers of the usual scarce migrants.

On Scilly, new rarities comprised a Red-eyed Vireo and a Western Subalpine Warbler on St.Mary's, with the long-staying Sora still on Tresco.

Elsewhere new rarities included King Eider in County Sligo, Lesser Yellowlegs in Essex, Red-flanked Bluetails in Conwy and Lincolnshire, Blyth's Reed Warblers in Suffolk and Fife, Arctic Warbler in Northumberland, Penduline Tit in Kent, Olive-backed Pipit in County Cork and Tawny Pipit in Devon.

Lingering rarities included the Rose-breasted Grosbeak in County Cork, Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall, Hooded Merganser in Clyde, Western Purple Swamphen in Lincolnshire, Hudsonian Whimbrel in Cornwall, Long-billed Dowitchers in Kent and Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, Baird's Sandpipers in Northumberland and County Galway, Red-flanked Bluetails in Cleveland and County Down, Radde's Warblers in Norfolk and County Waterford, Dusky Warbler in Norfolk and Olive-backed Pipit in Yorkshire. Yellow-browed Warblers were still the main species amongst continuing large numbers of scarce migrants, especially along the east coast.
-  Pete Hayman, RBA
Sunday 9th October 2016  
  A stunning Siberian Accentor was discovered today in Shetland. This first for Britain spent mid afternoon onwards in a quarry near Scousburgh, entertaining the small gathered crowd until it appeared to go to roost at 6.40pm.

A Two-barred Greenish Warbler was found on Papa Westray, Orkney, with other new discoveries including a Black-throated Thrush and Dusky Warbler at Kenidjack and Blyth's Pipit at Porthgwarra, both Cornwall, a Pacific Golden Plover over Rattray Head, Aberdeenshire, single Red-flanked Bluetails at Hartlepool, Cleveland, Amble, Northumberland and Grimston, East Yorkshire, a Siberian Stonechat at Thornham and a second Dusky Warbler at Cromer, both Norfolk, single Subalpine Warblers at Hugh Town, Isles of Scilly and Portland, Dorset, a Radde's Warbler at Brownstown Head, County Waterford, a Blyth's Reed Warbler on Whalsay and a Dusky Warbler on Out Skerries, both Shetland, an Olive-backed Pipit at Spurn, East Yorkshire and a Long-billed Dowitcher at Oare Marshes, Kent.

Lingering rarity highlights included the Rose-breasted Grosbeak in County Cork, Semipalmated Plover in County Mayo, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in County Kerry, Hooded Merganser in Clyde, Swainson's Thrush in Shetland, Red-flanked Bluetail in County Down, Sora in the Isles of Scilly, Western Purple Swamphen and probable Stejneger's Stonechat in Lincolnshire, Dalmatian Pelican in Devon, Hudsonian Whimbrel in Cornwall and Forster's Tern in both County Dublin and County Louth.

Today was the busiest day in the history of Rare Bird Alert, with over a thousand news reports sent.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 8th October 2016  
  In Norfolk the immature Black-browed Albatross reappeared in the north-west of the county, firstly off Hunstanton, then Scolt Head Island then back at Old Hunstanton late afternoon.

The first Red-flanked Bluetail for Northern Ireland was discovered at St John's Point, County Down, whilst another was trapped at Beachy Head, East Sussex. A Great Snipe and a Dusky Warbler were both found in Shetland, at Houbie, Fetlar and Garth, Mainland respectively, with a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll, Blyth's Reed Warbler and Greenish Warbler a little further south in Orkney (the former on South Ronaldsay, the others on Sanday). Further south still, Olive-backed Pipits were at Dunbar (Lothian), Whitburn (County Durham) and Flamborough and Easington (both East Yorkshire), a Rustic Bunting was at Spurn (East Yorkshire), a Dusky Warbler was at Burnham Overy (Norfolk) and a Red-throated Pipit was on The Lizard (Cornwall). Other new discoveries included a Baird's Sandpiper in County Galway and a Baltic Gull in County Cork.

Lingering rarities included the Hooded Merganser in Clyde, Brown Shrike, Swainson's Thrush, Pechora Pipit and Olive-backed Pipit in Shetland, Rose-breasted Grosbeak in County Cork, Sora in the Isles of Scilly, Semipalmated Plover in County Mayo, Hudsonian Whimbrel in Cornwall, Dalmatian Pelican and Caspian Tern in Devon, Forster's Tern in County Dublin, Booted Warbler in Conwy, Arctic Warbler in East Yorkshire, single Dusky Warblers in East Yorkshire and Norfolk, single Radde's Warblers in Norfolk and Fife, Blyth's Reed Warbler in Dorset, Siberian Stonechat, Western Purple Swamphen and Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, single Baird's Sandpipers in Cornwall and Northumberland, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Wexford and Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 7th October 2016  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in County Kerry at Carrahane Strand, whilst in Highland a Black-browed Albatross flew past Sheigra, on the Orkney Isles a Red-flanked Bluetail was new on North Ronaldsay, in Clyde a Hooded Merganser arrived at Lochwinnoch, in County Cork a Booted Warbler joined the Rose-breasted Grosbeak at Firkeel, and in Devon a Caspian Tern accompanied the Dalmatian Pelican at Fremington. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present included the Semipalmated Plover in County Mayo, Booted Warbler in Conwy, Radde's Warbler in Fife, Western Purple Swamphen in Lincolnshire, both Hudsonian Whimbrel and Baird's Sandpiper in Cornwall, Baird's Sandpiper in Northumberland, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Wexford, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, and Black Duck in Highland.

On the Shetland Isles neither the Orphean Warbler species nor the Siberian Thrush could be found, but a White's Thrush and a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll were on Unst, Brown Shrike and Blyth's Reed Warbler on Mainland, the Swainson's Thrush on Fetlar, both Pechora Pipit and Red-flanked Bluetail on Fair Isle, along with around island totals of 16 Little Buntings, seven Bluethroats, four Red-breasted Flycatchers, three each of both Olive-backed Pipit and Barred Warbler, and single Marsh Warbler, Ortolan Bunting, Short-toed Lark and Red-backed Shrike.

On the Scilly Isles the Sora remained, with Arctic Warbler, Red-throated Pipit and Olive-backed Pipit all seen briefly, and a supporting cast of Spotted Crake, two each of both Red-breasted Flycatcher and Cattle Egret, and three each of Little Bunting and Wryneck.

The English east coast yielded Siberian Stonechats in Lincolnshire and Suffolk (both thought likely to be Stejneger's Stonechats), Dusky Warbler and Radde's Warbler (2) in Norfolk, and in East Yorkshire Red-flanked Bluetail, Rustic Bunting, Olive-backed Pipit, Arctic Warbler and Dusky Warbler were all seen.
-  Chris Batty, RBA