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 7th November 2016  
  Highlight of the day was the discovery of a Western Rufous Turtle Dove on Mainland Shetland, whilst an Eastern Black Redstart (North Yorkshire) and two Northern Long-tailed Tits (Argyll) were also discovered. Lingering rarities included Siberian Accentor (Highland), Isabelline Wheatear (Norfolk), Pallid Harrier (East Yorkshire), Hudsonian Whimbrel and Dusky Warbler (Cornwall), Long-billed Dowitcher (Co Wexford) and Eastern Black Redstart (Cleveland).

The best of the rest included Red-breasted Flycatcher (Co Galway), Purple Heron (Cornwall) and three Richard's Pipits.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 6th November 2016  
  The highlight of the day was another Siberian Accentor, this one in Highland at Avoch, the thirteenth to be discovered in Britain since the first on 9th October this year. Elsewhere, the Cliff Swallow was still present in Suffolk early morning but not since, a Pallid Harrier was found in East Yorkshire at Welwick, the Isabelline Wheatear remained in Norfolk, as did both Eastern Black Redstarts in Cleveland, Forster's Tern in County Galway, both Dusky Warbler and Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Long-billed Dowitchers in both Kent and County Wexford, Richardson's Cackling Goose in County Sligo, Ferruginous Duck in Hertfordshire and Black-bellied Dipper in Suffolk.

Scarcities included Richard's Pipit (Kent), Snow Goose (Highland), Rose-coloured Starling (Cornwall and Norfolk), three Surf Scoters and four American Wigeons. Waxwing aggregations included 60 in Lothian, 50 in Norfolk, 30 in Northumberland, 20 in County Durham, and 12 in both Aberdeenshire and West Yorkshire.

Seawatching produced a White-billed Diver passing the Orkney Isles as well as, at North Sea sites, small numbers of Little Auk, Pomarine Skua, Glaucous Gull and Sooty Shearwater, and reports of Sabine's Gull, Long-tailed Skua and Balearic Shearwater.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 5th November 2016  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Cliff Swallow in Suffolk at Minsmere, where it showed all day. Rarities elsewhere comprised a Isabelline Shrike new in County Down at Murlough, two Eastern Black Redstarts in Cleveland, Dalmatian Pelican still in Cornwall, Forster's Tern in County Galway, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Long-billed Dowitchers in both Kent and County Wexford, Lesser Yellowlegs in Somerset, Ferruginous Duck in Hertfordshire, Richardson's Cackling Goose in County Sligo and Black-bellied Dipper in Suffolk.

Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starling (Cornwall and Norfolk), American Golden Plover and Richard's Pipit (Cornwall), Snow Goose (Highland), Surf Scoter (Lothian and County Louth), American Wigeon (Highland and Lancashire) and four Ring-necked Ducks. Waxwing aggregations included 150 in Lothian, 100 in Norfolk, 70 in Kinross, 32 in County Durham, 30 in Moray, 25 in Fife and 16 in Derbyshire.

Seawatching between the Shetland Isles and Norfolk produced small numbers of Little Auk, Pomarine Skua and Glaucous Gull.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 4th November 2016  
  An exciting day with two mega rarities discovered on the English mainland in the late afternoon: an Eyebrowed Thrush in Northumberland at Bolam Lake, and a Cliff Swallow in Suffolk at Minsmere. Other new rarities comprised a Pallid Harrier identified at Buckton, East Yorkshire, a Dusky Warbler in Devon at Broadsands, and the Forster's Tern returned to Nimmo's Pier, County Galway.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Isabelline Wheatear in Norfolk, two Eastern Black Redstarts in Cleveland, Western Purple Swamphen in Lincolnshire, Dalmatian Pelican and Hudsonian Whimbrel in Cornwall, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset and Somerset, Ferruginous Duck in Hertfordshire, and Richardson's Cackling Goose in County Sligo.

Scarcities included Rose-coloured Starling (Norfolk), Red-breasted Flycatcher (Dorset), Little Bunting (Western Isles), American Golden Plover (Cornwall) and Surf Scoter (Lothian and Shetland Isles). Waxwing aggregations included 120 in Norfolk, 105 in Lothian, 30 in the Borders, 24 on the Western Isles, 24 in Cleveland, 15 in Kent and 13 in Forth.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 3rd November 2016  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a second Eastern Black Redstart in Cleveland, at Hartlepool Headland, with the lingering bird still present at Skinningrove. Other eastern rarities comprised the Isabelline Wheatear still in Norfolk, Dusky Warblers in both Cornwall and the Shetland Isles, and Pallas's Warblers in Glamorgan and Gywnedd.

Other rarities noted were the Red-eyed Vireo still on the Isles of Scilly, Western Purple Swamphen and Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Dalmatian Pelican and Hudsonian Whimbrel in Cornwall, a King Eider in Moray, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Lesser Yellowlegs in both Dorset and Somerset, Ferruginous Duck in Hertfordshire and Black-bellied Dipper in Suffolk. 

Scarcities included Red-breasted Flycatcher (County Cork), American Golden Plover (Cornwall) and Serin (Dorset and Essex). Waxwings continue to arrive with birds recorded in 20 counties, and aggregations including 18 in Cleveland, 19 in Northumberland, 28 in North Yorkshire and 223 over-flying Hunstanton, Norfolk.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 2nd November 2016  
  New discoveries today included a probable Turkestan Shrike at Sennen, Cornwall and a Baird's Sandpiper at Dornoch Point, Highland.

Lingering rarities seen today included the Isabelline Wheatear in Norfolk, Red-eyed Vireo in the Isles of Scilly, Eastern Black Redstart in Cleveland, Dusky Warbler in Shetland, single Lesser Yellowlegs' in Dorset and Somerset, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Richardson's Cackling Goose in County Sligo and Ferruginous Duck in Hertfordshire.

Scarcity highlights were a Red-breasted Flycatcher, a Little Bunting, a Sabine's Gull, an Iceland Gull, a Pectoral Sandpiper, a Snow Goose, two Barred Warblers, two Green-winged Teals, two Rough-legged Buzzards, three American Wigeon, four Richard's Pipits, four Glaucous Gulls, five Ring-necked Ducks and six Great Grey Shrikes.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Tuesday 1st November 2016  
  New discoveries included a Red-eyed Vireo on Scilly and Red-footed Falcon in Dumfries & Galloway, whilst a White-billed Diver flew past Cley and a probable Scopoli's Shearwater flew past Cley and Sheringham, Norfolk. The Squacco Heron was reportedly relocated in Pembrokeshire.

Lingering rarities included Eastern Black Redstart (Cleveland), Isabelline Wheatear (Norfolk), Isabelline Shrike and Radde's Warbler (Co Cork), American Buff-bellied Pipit (Co Sligo), Dusky Warbler (Cornwall), Long-billed Dowitcher (Co Wexford), Bonaparte's Gull (Devon) and Lesser Yellowlegs (Dorset).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 31st October 2016  
  Highlight of the day was the discovery of a Brown Shrike at Spurn, East Yorkshire, the fifth record of the autumn, but the first away from the Northern Isles.

Elsewhere new discoveries comprised Blyth's Pipit (Isles of Scilly), Dusky Warblers (Devon and Isle of Wight) and Isabelline Shrike (Co Cork), whilst American Buff-bellied Pipit (Co Sligo), Eastern Black Redstart (Cleveland), Radde's Warbler (Co Cork), Long-billed Dowitcher (Kent, Co Wexford and Lincolnshire), Lesser Yellowlegs (Somerset and Dorset), Dalmatian Pelican, Franklin's Gull and Hudsonian Whimbrel (Cornwall), Western Purple Swamphen (Lincolnshire), Isabelline Wheatear (Norfolk), Olive-backed Pipit (Scilly) and Coues's Arctic Redpoll (Shetland) all lingered.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 30th October 2016  
  New discoveries today included a Pine Bunting and Dusky Warbler at Baltasound, Unst, Shetland, an American Buff-bellied Pipit at Dunmoran Strand, County Sligo, a Pied Wheatear at Donmouth, Aberdeenshire, an Isabelline Shrike on Portland, Dorset, a Red-flanked Bluetail at St Abb's Head, Borders, a Siberian Stonechat at Quendale, Shetland, a Rustic Bunting on Tresco, Isles of Scilly, another Dusky Warbler at Land's End, Cornwall and single Fea's or Zino's Petrels past North Ronaldsay, Orkney and Unst, Shetland.

Lingering rarity highlights included the Siberian Accentor in Northumberland, single Isabelline Wheatears in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, Pied Wheatear and Eastern Black Redstart in Cleveland, Hudsonian Whimbrel, Franklin's Gull and Dalmatian Pelican in Cornwall, Northern Harrier in Orkney, Western Purple Swamphen in Lincolnshire, Daurian Shrike in County Durham, probable Stejneger's Stonechat and Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Shetland, single Hume's Yellow-browed Warblers in Glamorgan and Yorkshire, single Dusky Warblers in London, Norfolk, Dorset and Cornwall, Radde's Warbler in County Cork, two Olive-backed Pipits in the Isles of Scilly, single Long-billed Dowitchers in Lincolnshire and County Wexford, single Lesser Yellowlegs' in Somerset and Dorset and Black-bellied Dipper in Suffolk.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 29th October 2016  
  A Siberian Accentor was at Newbiggin, Northumberland today, but was unfortunately in an area with no general access.

Other new discoveries today included an Isabelline Wheatear at Wardy Hill, Cambridgeshire, a Pied Wheatear at Redcar, Cleveland, single Dusky Warblers at Rainham, London and Dursey Island, County Cork, a Radde's Warbler on Cape Clear, County Cork, a Tawny Pipit at Loop Head, County Clare, a Red-throated Pipit over Portland, Dorset, a second Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Lerwick, Shetland and the Bonaparte's Gull returned to Dawlish Warren, Devon.

Lingering rarities included the White-throated Sparrow in the Western Isles, Franklin's Gull, Hudsonian Whimbrel, Dalmatian Pelican and Dusky Warbler in Cornwall, Isabelline Wheatear, Desert Wheatear and three Dusky Warblers in Norfolk, Daurian Shrike in County Durham, Black Scoter in County Kerry, Northern Harrier in Orkney, Eastern Black Redstart in Cleveland, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in Yorkshire, two Olive-backed Pipits and at least three Dusky Warblers in the Isles of Scilly, Dusky Warbler and Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent, Dusky Warbler and Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, Long-billed Dowitcher in County Wexford, Long-billed Dowitcher and Western Purple Swamphen in Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Somerset and Black-bellied Dipper in Suffolk.
-  Will Soar, RBA