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 13th September 2017  
  Highlight of the day was the discovery of  a Semipalmated Plover at Achill Island (Co Mayo), possibly the same bird which frequented the site from 2nd-14th October 2016. Elsewhere American waders included Least, Stilt and Baird's Sandpipers in Dorset, Semipalmated Sandpipers in Co Kerry, Western Isles and Isles of Scilly, Long-billed Dowitchers in Kent and East Yorkshire, White-rumped Sandpiper (Co Kerry) Baird's Sandpiper in Moray, Lesser Yellowlegs in Angus, three American Golden Plovers, five Buff-breasted Sandpipers and seven Pectoral Sandpipers.

The American Redstart lingered on Barra (Western Isles), whilst Citrine Wagtail (Suffolk) and Arctic Warbler (Shetland) also remained in situ. Seawatching in Cornwall produced a Wilson's Petrel and a Gull-billed Tern.

The best of the rest included American Night Heron (Shropshire), Hoopoe (Dorset), Spotted Crake (Ayrshire), Red-backed Shrike (Aberdeenshire), Purple Heron (Glamorgan), Common Rosefinch (Shetland), White-winged Black Tern (Hertfordshire), two each of Ortolan Buntings, Barred Warblers, three Wrynecks and six Yellow-browed Warblers.

Excellent west coast seawatching produced many Leach's Petrels along with smaller numbers of Sabine's Gulls, Long-tailed Skuas and Grey Phalaropes.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 12th September 2017  
  New discoveries included an American Buff-bellied Pipit (Co Galway), Lesser Yellowlegs (Cornwall), Red-rumped Swallow (Devon), Bee-eater (East Sussex), Greenish Warbler (Orkney) and Arctic Warbler (Shetland), whilst the American Redstart (Barra, Western Isles), Least, Stilt and Baird's Sandpipers (Dorset), Lesser Yellowlegs (Angus), Semipalmated Sandpipers (Isles of Scilly and Western Isles), Long-billed Dowitchers (East Yorkshire and Kent) and Citrine Wagtail (Suffolk) all lingered.

The best of the rest included Purple Heron (Lancashire), American Wigeon (Leicestershire), Kentish Plover (Kent), Woodchat Shrike (Gloucestershire), Common Rosefinch (Co Mayo), Red-necked Phalarope (Cheshire), Hoopoe (Dorset), White-winged Black Tern (Hertfordshire), two each of Red-backed Shrike, Yellow-browed Warblers and American Golden Plovers, six Wrynecks and six Pectoral Sandpipers.

West coast seawatching produced more Sabine's Gulls, Leach's Petrels and Grey Phalaropes, whilst a handful of the latter species made their way to inland sites.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 11th September 2017  
  The highlight of the day was a remarkable double of Stilt Sandpiper and Least Sandpiper together in Dorset at Lodmoor. Canadian waders elsewhere comprised single Semipalmated Sandpipers in both the Isles of Scilly and Western Isles, Baird's Sandpiper in Cornwall, White-rumped Sandpiper in County Cork, Long-billed Dowitcher in East Yorkshire, single Lesser Yellowlegs in both Angus and County Kerry, six Buff-breasted Sandpipers and seven Pectoral Sandpipers.

Meanwhile, on the Shetland Isles a Lanceolated Warbler was discovered at Quendale, Mainland, and a Great Snipe arrived on Fair Isle, with others notables around the archipelago being Little Bunting and Ortolan Bunting, Wryneck, Icterine and Yellow-browed Warbler, and two Common Rosefinches.

Other lingering rarities comprised the American Redstart on the Western Isles, Arctic Warbler on the Orkney Isles and Citrine Wagtail in Suffolk.

Strong westerly winds brought excellent seawatching to west coast locations with multiple Leach's Petrels, Sabine's Gulls, Grey Phalaropes, Long-tailed and Pomarine Skuas, and a Wilson's Petrel passing Cornwall.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 10th September 2017  
  New discoveries today included a Greater Yellowlegs on Hilbre Island, Wirral, a Wilson's Petrel at Saltcoats, Ayrshire, a Fea's/Desertas Petrel at Carnsore Point, County Wexford, an Arctic Warbler at Sandwich Bay, Kent and a Baird's Sandpiper at Clonakilty. County Cork.

The American Redstart remained in the Western Isles, as did the Citrine Wagtail in Suffolk, single Lesser Yellowlegs' in Angus and County Kerry, Long-billed Dowitcher in Yorkshire, single Semipalmated Sandpipers in Isles of Scilly, County Wexford and County Kerry, single Baird's Sandpipers in Cornwall and County Sligo, single White-rumped Sandpipers in Lincolnshire and County Cork, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in County Cork and another Wilson's Petrel in County Clare.

Scarcity highlights included a Red-breasted Flycatcher, a Woodchat Shrike, a Barred Warbler, a Common Rosefinch, a Spotted Crake, a Purple Heron, an American Wigeon, a Surf Scoter, a Glossy Ibis, two Red-backed Shrikes, two Honey Buzzards, three Yellow-browed Warblers, four Wrynecks, four Buff-breasted Sandpipers, eight Pectoral Sandpipers and 21 Lapland Buntings. Seawatching produced four Cory's Shearwaters, 17 Great Shearwaters, 12 Long-tailed Skuas, 15 Pomarine Skuas, 45 Grey Phalaropes, 51 Sabine's Gulls and up to 127 Leach's Petrels.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 9th September 2017  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the American Redstart on Barra, Western Isles.

New discoveries today included a Wilson's Phalarope at Alston Wetland, Lancashire, a Long-billed Dowitcher at Kilnsea, Yorkshire, a Lesser Yellowlegs at Cloghane, County Kerry, a White-rumped Sandpiper at Clogheen, County Cork, a Citrine Wagtail at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk, an Arctic Warbler at Quendale, Shetland and a Greenish Warbler at Flamborough, Yorkshire.

Other lingering rarities included the Lesser Yellowlegs in Angus, single Semipalmated Sandpipers in Isles of Scilly, County Wexford and County Kerry, Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent, Hudsonian Whimbrel in County Sligo,  single Baird's Sandpipers in Cornwall and Dorset, White-rumped Sandpiper in Lincolnshire and Arctic Warbler in Shetland.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 8th September 2017  
  The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the American Redstart on the Western Isles on Barra with Arctic Warblers on the Shetland Isles on Unst and the Orkney Isles on North Ronaldsay, and in Devon the Bonaparte's Gull returned to Dawlish Warren.

Canadian waders comprised the Hudsonian Whimbrel still in County Sligo, Baird's Sandpipers in Cornwall, Dorset and County Wexford (2), Semipalmated Sandpipers on the Isles of Scilly and in both County Kerry and County Wexford, Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent, White-rumped Sandpiper in Lincolnshire, three Buff-breasted Sandpipers and seven Pectoral Sandpipers.

Scarcities included Woodchat Shrike (Gloucestershire), Purple Heron (Lancashire), Richard's Pipit and Spotted Crake (Isles of Scilly), Barred Warbler (Shetland Isles), Red-backed Shrike (Norfolk), Lapland Bunting (Western Isles), American Wigeon (Leicestershire), Glossy Ibis (Essex), American Night Heron (Shropshire), two each of both Hoopoe and Common Rosefinch, three Wrynecks and seven Cattle Egrets.

Seabirds were represented by three Wilson's Petrels passing County Donegal and around island totals of two Cory's Shearwaters, four Long-tailed Skuas, 10 Great Shearwaters, 29 Sabine's Gulls and 98 Leach's Petrels.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Thursday 7th September 2017  
  The highlight of the day, and the autumn so far, was an American Redstart discovered on Barra at Eoligarry - the same site that last year hosted the first British record of Eastern Kingbird. This is the sixth British record and the first here since 1985.

Canadian waders today comprised Semipalmated Sandpipers on the Isles of Scilly, in County Kerry (2) and County Wexford, single Baird's Sandpipers in both Cornwall and County Wexford, Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent, White-rumped Sandpiper in Lincolnshire, Buff-breasted Sandpipers in both County Wexford and the Shetland Isles, and a total of nine Pectoral Sandpipers.

The only other rarity was an Arctic Warbler on North Ronaldsay, Orkney Isles, but scarcities included Woodchat Shrike (Somerset), Bluethroat and Common Rosefinch (both Shetland Isles), Purple Heron (Lancashire), Spotted Crake (Isles of Scilly), two each of both Hoopoe and Glossy Ibis, three of Barred Warbler, Red-backed Shrike and Lapland Bunting, and seven Wrynecks.

Seabirds included a Wilson's Petrel at sea off the Isles of Scilly, and totals of four Sabine's Gulls, 73 Cory's Shearwaters and 128 Great Shearwaters.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 6th September 2017  
  New discoveries included a Long-billed Dowitcher (Orkney) and Semipalmated Sandpiper (Co Kerry). Baird's Sandpipers lingered in Co Sligo, Co Wexford, Cornwall and East Sussex, a White-rumped Sandpiper remained in Lincolnshire and the long-staying Bonaparte's Gull was still in Kent.

The best of the rest included Icterine Warbler (Isles of Scilly), Red-backed Shrike (Kent), Woodchat Shrike (Gloucestershire), Red-necked Phalarope (Lincolnshire), Purple Heron (Lancashire), Glossy Ibis (Somerset), Hoopoe (Lothian), Dotterel (Suffolk), two each of Buff-breasted Sandpiper, 11 Lapland Buntings, 12 Wrynecks and 19 Pectoral Sandpipers.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Tuesday 5th September 2017  
  Canadian waders remained today with single Baird's Sandpipers still in Cornwall, East Sussex and County Wexford, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Wexford, Long-billed Dowitcher in Kent, White-rumped Sandpiper in Lincolnshire, seven Buff-breasted Sandpipers and 17 Pectoral Sandpipers.

Seawatching reports included a Barolo Shearwater in Cornwall past Pentire Head, Wilson's Petrel in County Clare and off County Cork, and totals of three Great Shearwaters, six Sabine's Gulls, 12 Leach's Petrels and 311 Balearic Shearwaters.

Other rarities were confined to the Snowy Owl still in County Mayo and a brief Red-rumped Swallow in North Yorkshire, but scarcities included Icterine Warbler (Aberdeenshire), Woodchat Shrike (Gloucestershire), Red-backed Shrike (Shetland Isles), Purple Heron (Lancashire), Red-necked Phalarope (Lincolnshire), Spotted Crake (Isle of Scilly), two each of Common Rosefinch and migrant Dotterel, three Hoopoes, five Barred Warblers, seven Wrynecks, and 10 each of both Lapland Bunting and Cattle Egret.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 4th September 2017  
  Canadian shorebirds again dominated the headlines with a new Hudsonian Whimbrel on the Western Isles on South Uist whilst in County Sligo the Hudsonian Whimbrel remained at Easkey. Single Baird's Sandpipers remained in Cornwall, Dorset, East Sussex and County Wexford with Semipalmated Sandpipers in both County Cork and County Wexford, White-rumped Sandpiper in Lincolnshire, Long-billed Dowitcher still in Kent, four Buff-breasted Sandpipers and a total of 17 Pectoral Sandpipers.

Other rarity reports were limited to a Citrine Wagtail new in East Yorkshire at Kilnsea and four Wilson's Petrels at sea off the Isles of Scilly.

Scarcities included Melodious Warbler (Cornwall), Woodchat Shrike (Gloucestershire), Ortolan Bunting (Dorset), Purple Heron (Lancashire), White-winged Black Tern (Norfolk), Ring-billed Gull (Ceredigion), Long-tailed Skua (East Yorkshire), Lapland Bunting (County Sligo), Night Heron (Shropshire), two each of Hoopoe, Sabine's Gull and Glossy Ibis, three Barred Warblers, four of both Red-necked Phalarope and Wryneck, five Cory's Shearwaters, 20 Cattle Egrets and 42 Great Shearwaters.
-  Chris Batty, RBA