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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Wednesday 26th October 2016  
  Once again, Siberian Accentor was the headline bird, with the eleventh individual of this remarkable influx located on Fetlar, Shetland Isles, with other remaining both on nearby Unst and on the Orkney Isles. Other mega rarities included Pine Buntings in both Dorset at Portland, and on Fair Isle, an Isabelline Wheatear still in Norfolk, and a probable Dusky Thrush seen briefly on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly. Other eastern rarities today included a Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in East Yorkshire at Flamborough Head, three Desert Wheatears in Norfolk, three Siberian Stonechats, four Olive-backed Pipits on the Isles of Scilly on St Mary's, and a total of eight Dusky Warblers.

Other rarities comprised a Squacco Heron in Pembrokeshire at Llangwm, a Franklin's Gull in Cornwall at Hayle Estuary, both Western Purple Swamphen and Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Dalmatian Pelican and Hudsonian Whimbrel in Cornwall, Coues's Arctic Redpoll on the Shetland Isles, Ferruginous Duck in Hertfordshire, Black-bellied Dipper in Suffolk, and Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset and Somerset.

Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starling (Ayrshire), Bluethroat (Orkney Isles), Serin (Pembrokeshire), Red-breasted Flycatcher (Western Isles), Hoopoe (Conwy), two Barred Warblers, four Richard's Pipits, five Pallas's Warblers, eight Little Buntings and 54 Shorelarks.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 25th October 2016  
  Once again, eastern vagrants dominated with a Siberian Accentor in Northumberland on Holy Island, as well as further lingering birds on the both the Orkney Isles and Shetland Isles, Pine Buntings in East Yorkshire at Kilnsea and on the Shetland Isles (2), an Eastern Black Redstart in East Yorkshire at Easington, Isabelline Wheatear and Desert Wheatear still together in Norfolk, Red-flanked Bluetails in Dorset and East Yorkshire (2), two Hume's Yellow-browed Warblers (both in East Yorkshire), two Siberian Stonechats, four Olive-backed Pipits (all on the Isles of Scilly), and a total of eight Dusky Warblers.

Otherwise, Pallid Swifts were identified in Devon and the Isles of Scilly, the Black Scoter returned to County Kerry, Western Purple Swamphen and Long-billed Dowitcher remained in Lincolnshire, as did Baird's Sandpiper in Northumberland, a Lesser Yellowlegs was in Somerset, a Black Kite briefly in Cornwall, Ferruginous Duck in Hertfordshire, Coues's Arctic Redpoll on the Shetland Isles, Black-bellied Dipper in Suffolk, and both Long-billed Dowitcher and Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Wexford.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 24th October 2016  
  Highlight of the day was the discovery of a Siberian Accentor on Mainland Orkney, the ninth for Britain.

Elsewhere new discoveries included Pallid Swift, two Olive-backed Pipits and two Dusky Warblers on Isles of Scilly, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and four Coues's Arctic Redpoll on Shetland, Radde's Warbler and two Dusky Warblers in Norfolk and Dusky Warbler in East Yorkshire.

Lingering rarities comprised Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler and Siberian Stonechat in East Yorkshire, Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall, Long-billed Dowitchers in Co Louth and Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, Western Purple Swamphen in Lincolnshire, Baird's Sandpiper in Northumberland, Isabelline Wheatear, Desert Wheatear and two Dusky Warblers in Norfolk, Northern Harrier on Orkney, Black-faced Bunting, Siberian Accentor, Pied Wheatear, Pine Bunting and Siberian Stonechat on Shetland and Black-bellied Dipper in Suffolk.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 23rd October 2016  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Siberian Accentor on the Shetland Isles on Unst, with, on nearby islands, a Pine Bunting still on Fair Isle, Pied Wheatear and two Coues's Arctic Redpolls.

Elsewhere, eastern vagrants comprised Isabelline Wheatear, Desert Wheatear, Black-throated Thrush, Siberian Stonechat and two Dusky Warblers all in Norfolk, Red-flanked Bluetails in both County Cork and Lincolnshire, Siberian Stonechat in East Yorkshire, Hume's Yellow-browed Warblers in Cornwall and East Yorkshire (2), further Dusky Warblers in Essex and the Orkney Isles, Red-throated Pipit in County Wexford, Eastern Yellow Wagtail on the Western Isles, and Black-bellied Dipper in Suffolk.

Otherwise, an American Herring Gull was identified on the Isles of Scilly, a King Eider flew past County Durham and Northumberland, the Northern Harrier returned to the Orkney Isles, the Western Purple Swamphen remained in Lincolnshire, as did both the Dalmatian Pelican and Hudsonian Whimbrel in Cornwall, Baird's Sandpiper remained in Northumberland, with Lesser Yellowlegs in both Dorset and Somerset, and single Long-billed Dowitchers in Kent, County Louth and County Wexford.

Significant late news concerned the Siberian Stonechat present yesterday on the Isles of Scilly being reidentified as a Caspian Stonechat.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 22nd October 2016  
  Today's new Siberian Accentors were both in Shetland, with one on Unst at Lund and another on Fair Isle. The fourth Isabelline Wheatear for Norfolk was found at Burnham Overy Dunes, and proved to be the first twitchable record for the county.

Other new discoveries included another Pine Bunting on Fair Isle, Shetland, a Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler and a Dusky Warbler at Flamborough, East Yorkshire, single Red-flanked Bluetails at Lissagriffin, County Cork and Chapel Six Marshes, Lincolnshire, a Rustic Bunting at Peninnis, Isles of Scilly, other Dusky Warblers on North Ronaldsay, Orkney, on Holy Island, Northumberland and at Cley, Holme and Sea Palling, all Norfolk, a Blyth's Reed Warbler on Tiree, Argyll and single Siberian Stonechats at Spurn, East Yorkshire and Maypole, Isles of Scilly.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 21st October 2016  
  A dead Pale-legged or Sakhalin Leaf Warbler was found in the lighthouse garden on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly. DNA analysis should confirm which species it actually is, and it should therefore be a first for Britain. A male Pine Bunting was also found at Brake, Shetland today.

Other new discoveries today included three Red-flanked Bluetails (two in the Isles of Scilly and one in Norfolk), two Arctic Redpolls in Shetland (one confirmed as an exilipes), single Siberian Stonechats in East Yorkshire, Norfolk and Cornwall, an Olive-backed Pipit in East Yorkshire and a Long-billed Dowitcher in County Wexford.

Lingering rarities included the Western Orphean Warbler in Orkney, Isabelline Wheatear, Pied Wheatear and Desert Wheatear in Shetland, Isabelline Wheatear in Yorkshire, Western Bonelli's Warbler in County Galway, single Dusky Warblers in Cleveland and Lothian, Hudsonian Whimbrel and Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall, Western Purple Swamphen in Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, Baird's Sandpiper in Northumberland, single Long-billed Dowitchers in Lincolnshire and Kent and Black-bellied Dipper in Suffolk.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 20th October 2016  
  It's almost a daily occurrence now, as Britain's sixth Siberian Accentor was found on Fair Isle, Shetland mid morning. Another Isabelline Wheatear was also discovered today, this time at Godrevy Point, Cornwall, making this a record year for the species in Britain. A White-throated Sparrow was in a Lochmaddy garden in the Western Isles, which has been present there since 1st October.

Other new discoveries today included a Red-flanked Bluetail at Geosetter and a Dusky Warbler on Fair Isle, both Shetland, a Paddyfield Warbler at Nanjizal, Cornwall, a Western Bonelli's Warbler at Inishmore, County Galway, a Greenish Warbler at Knockadoon, County Cork, a Siberian Stonechat on Inner Farne, Northumberland, a Rustic Bunting at South Gare, Cleveland, a Lesser Yellowlegs at Meare Heath, Somerset and a Long-billed Dowitcher at Dundalk, County Louth.

Lingering rarity highlights included the Western Orphean Warbler in Orkney, Isabelline Wheatear, Pied Wheatear, Desert Wheatear, probable Stejneger's Stonechat and Olive-backed Pipit all in Shetland, other Isabelline Wheatears in Northumberland in East Yorkshire, Isabelline Shrike in Aberdeenshire, Radde's Warbler in County Cork, Dusky Warbler and Baird's Sandpiper in Northumberland, Hudsonian Whimbrel, Dusky Warbler and Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall, Western Purple Swamphen in Lincolnshire, single Long-billed Dowitchers in Kent and Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset and seven Richardson's Cackling Geese in Argyll.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 19th October 2016  
  Eastern birds once again stole the show today, with the Siberian Accentor still in East Yorkshire at Easington, with both Isabelline Wheatear and two Dusky Warblers remaining nearby, Isabelline Wheatear and Isabelline Shrike together in Northumberland, Isabelline Wheatear, Pine Bunting, Pied Wheatear, Desert Wheatear, Siberian Stonechat, Olive-backed Pipit and Dusky Warbler all on the Shetland Isles, Isabelline Shrike in Aberdeenshire, Radde's Warbler and Olive-backed Pipit in County Cork, and further Dusky Warblers in Cornwall, Lothian and Northumberland.

Other rarities comprised the Western Orphean Warbler still on the Orkney Isles, the Dalmatian Pelican still in Cornwall, Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, and a total of six Richardson's Cackling Geese on Islay, Argyll.

On the Isles of Scilly Short-toed Lark, Serin, Wryneck, Lapland Bunting and three Little Buntings were all logged.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 18th October 2016  
  A Western Orphean Warbler was trapped and ringed at Finstown, Orkney mid morning, where it remained throughout the day. Britain's fifth Siberian Accentor was discovered on Holy Island, Northumberland, with an Isabelline Wheatear also present there, and the immature Black-browed Albatross was seen flying south off Cape Cornwall, Cornwall early morning. Late news from yesterday also concerned the Black-browed Albatross, which was seen off the Landing Bay on Lundy in Devon.

Single Isabelline Shrikes were found at Girdle Ness, Aberdeenshire and on Holy Island, Northumberland, a Desert Wheatear was at Spiggie, Shetland, a Western Bonelli's Warbler was at Firkeel, County Cork and a Richardson's Cackling Goose was on Islay, Argyll.

In Shetland the Black-faced Bunting remained, as did the two Pine Buntings, Isabelline Wheatear, two probable Stejneger's Stonechats, Red-flanked Bluetail, two Olive-backed Pipits and the Dusky Warbler.

Other lingering rarities included the Siberian Accentors in Yorkshire and County Durham, Isabelline Wheatear and Dusky Warbler in Yorkshire (with others of the latter in Cornwall, Northumberland and Lothian), two Radde's Warblers and another Western Bonelli's Warbler in County Cork, three Northern Long-tailed Tits in Aberdeenshire, Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent and Pallid Harrier and Ferruginous Duck in Somerset.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Monday 17th October 2016  
  Three Siberian Accentors lingered today (in Cleveland, Co Durham and East Yorkshire). In Easington (East Yorkshire) an Isabelline Wheatear was present throughout the day.

On the Shetland Isles a White's Thrush, three Pine Buntings, two Siberian Stonechats, Pied Wheatear, Isabelline Wheatear, Dusky Warbler and three Olive-backed Pipits were logged. On Isles of Scilly a Black-browed Albatross was reported flying past St Mary's and the probable Eastern Yellow Wagtail lingered, whilst another was in Norfolk.

Elsewhere new discoveries included Franklin's Gull (Kent), Alpine Swift (Devon), Dusky Warbler (Co Durham), Lesser Yellowlegs (Co Offaly), Desert Wheatear (East Yorkshire), Northern Long-tailed Tits (Orkney [4]) and Ferruginous Duck (Somerset). A Pallid Harrier (Somerset), Olive-backed Pipits (Norfolk [2] and East Yorkshire), Dusky Warblers (East Yorkshire [2], Norfolk and Northumberland), Baird's Sandpiper (Northumberland), Western Purple Swamphen (Lincolnshire), Western Bonelli's Warbler (Co Cork), Long-billed Dowitcher (Lincolnshire), Siberian Stonechats (East Yorkshire and Co Durham), Lesser Yellowlegs (Dorset), Dalmatian Pelican (Cornwall), Radde's Warbler (Co Cork [2]) and Northern Long-tailed Tits (Aberdeenshire [3] all lingered.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA