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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Friday 26th October 2018  
  Today's best new discovery was an American Robin on Lundy (Devon), whilst lingering rarities comprised the Grey Catbird (Cornwall), Eastern Stonechats (Norfolk and Shetland), two Gull-billed Terns (Northumberland), Dusky Warbler and Rustic Bunting (Isles of Scilly), Blue-winged Teal (Shetland), Long-billed Dowitcher (Lincolnshire), Lesser Yellowlegs (Dorset and Highland), Baird's Sandpiper (Gwent), Spotted Sandpiper (Co Durham) and Lesser Scaup (Anglesey). A White-billed Diver flew past Fife Ness (Fife) and two White-rumped Sandpipers were logged at Tacumshin (Co Wexford).

Seawatchers enjoyed an excellent Pomarine Skua passage, particularly off North Sea watchpoints - top counts included 166 past Holme (Norfolk), 156 past Flamborough Head (East Yorkshire), 146 past Spurn (East Yorkshire), 123 past Titchwell RSPB (Norfolk), 94 past Hartlepool Headland (Clevleand), 87 past Grimston (East Yorkshire) and 75 past Long Nab (North Yorkshire).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Thursday 25th October 2018  
  Highlight of the day was the identification of a Taiga Flycatcher at Galley Head, Co Cork - the first for Ireland. The bird has been present for three days, but the its true identity was not established until today.

Elsewhere rarity highlights included the Grey Catbird (Cornwall), Eastern Stonechats (Norfolk and Shetland), Rustic Bunting and two Dusky Warblers (Isles of Scilly), two Gull-billed Terns (Northumberland), Long-billed Dowitcher (Lincolnshire), Lesser Yellowlegs (Highland), Black Scoter (Northumberland), Baird's Sandpiper (Gwent), Spotted Sandpiper (Co Durham), White-rumped Sandpiper (Co Dublin), King Eider (Ceredigion), Lesser Scaup (Anglesey) and a report of a Pallid Harrier (Cambridgeshire).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 24th October 2018  
  The highlight of the day was the arrival of a Little Bittern in Suffolk at Minsmere. Other discoveries included a Baird's Sandpiper in Gwent at Goldcliff, an Eastern Stonechat species on the Shetland Isles at Scalloway, Lesser Yellowlegs in Highland on the Isle of Skye at Broadford and a Tawny Pipit briefly at Portland Bill, 

Lingering or returning rarities today included the Grey Catbird still in Cornwall, both Booted Warbler and Black Scoter in County Kerry, Eastern Stonechat species in Norfolk, two Gull-billed Terns together and Black Scoter in Northumberland, Spotted Sandpiper in County Durham, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, White-rumped Sandpiper in County Dublin, Lesser Scaup on Anglesey and Ferruginous Duck in Forth.

On the Isles of Scilly the roll call was Grey-cheeked Thrush (St Agnes), Red-eyed Vireo (Bryher), Rustic Bunting, Serin, two Dusky Warblers and two Richard's Pipits (St Mary's) and Surf Scoter and Cattle Egret (Tresco).

Elsewhere the best of the rest were Rose-coloured Starling (Merseyside), Purple Heron (Isle of Wight), American Golden Plover (Kent), Temminck's Stint (Cornwall), Surf Scoter (Lothian), American Wigeon (Western Isles) and two each of Red-breasted Flycatcher, Red-backed Shrike, Richard's Pipit and Ring-necked Duck.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 23rd October 2018  
  Today's new discoveries included a Red-eyed Vireo in Co Cork and Rustic Bunting on Isles of Scilly. Isles of Scilly also continued to host Grey-cheecked Thrush, Red-eyed Vireo, Dusky Warbler, two Richard's Pipits, two Little Bunting, Wryneck, Red-backed Shrike, Rose-coloured Starling, Surf Scoter and Cattle Egret.

Elsewhere lingering rarities comprised Grey Catbird (Cornwall), Eastern Stonechat (Norfolk), two Gull-billed Terns (Northumberland), Long-billed Dowitcher (Lincolnshire), Ferruginous Duck (Forth), Dusky Warbler (Cornwall), Booted Warbler (Co Kerry), Spotted Sandpiper (Co Durham), White-rumped Sandpiper (Co Dublin), Lesser Yellowlegs (Borders), Richardson's Canada Goose (Argyll) and Lesser Scaup (Anglesey). In Norfolk a probable flyover Nutcracker was observed near Cromer.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 22nd October 2018  
  New rarities today were all in Ireland where a Red-eyed Vireo was found in County Cork at Lehanemore, a White-rumped Sandpiper in County Dublin at Sandymount Strand and a Booted Warbler present at Bolus Head, County Kerry for its second day.

On the Isles of Scilly the Grey-cheeked Thrush remained on St Agnes with the Red-eyed Vireo still on Bryher, both Red-throated Pipit and Dusky Warbler on St Mary's and around island totals of Serin, Rose-coloured Starling, Red-backed Shrike, Wryneck, Lapland Bunting and two each of Little Bunting, Richard's Pipit and Cattle Egret.

Lingering rarities elsewhere comprised the Grey Catbird still in Cornwall, two Gull-billed Terns together in Northumberland, Eastern Stonechat species in Norfolk, Black Scoter in Northumberland, Blue-winged Teal on the Shetland Isles, Spotted Sandpiper in County Durham, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Lesser Scaup on Anglesey, Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in County Cork and Lesser Yellowlegs in both Cornwall and Dorset.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 21st October 2018  
  The first Brown Shrike for Norfolk was discovered at Weybourne Camp this morning, whilst the Eastern Stonechat species remained nearby at Salthouse. Other new discoveries included single Dusky Warblers on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly and at Porthgwarra, Cornwall, and a Lesser Yellowlegs at Crailing, Borders.

Lingering rarities still present today included the Grey Catbird in Cornwall, Scarlet Tanager in County Cork, Baltimore Oriole in Western Isles,  Grey-cheeked Thrush and Red-eyed Vireo in Scilly, Red-eyed Vireo and White-rumped Sandpiper in County Galway, Rustic Bunting in London, two Gull-billed Terns and Black Scoter in Northumberland, single Spotted Sandpipers in Aberdeenshire and County Durham, single Lesser Yellowegs' in Dorset and Cornwall, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Pied-billed Grebe in Shetland, Lesser Scaup in Anglesey and Ferruginous Duck in Forth.

Scarcity highlights included a Melodious Warbler, a Red-breasted Flycatcher, a Common Rosefinch, a Red-backed Shrike, two Wrynecks, two Waxwings, three Great Grey Shrikes, three Barred Warblers, four Rose-coloured Starlings, five Shorelarks, six Richard's Pipits, seven Little Buntings, eight Lapland Buntings, a Buff-breasted Sandpiper, two Pectoral Sandpipers, two American Golden Plovers, two Rough-legged Buzzards, two Pomarine Skuas, two Leach's Petrels, a Todd's Canada Goose, a Taiga Bean Goose, a Surf Scoter, three Ring-necked Ducks, a Glaucous Gull and a Glossy Ibis.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 20th October 2018  
  New rarities today comprised a Red-eyed Vireo in Cornwall on The Lizard with a Black Kite near St Buryan, a Spotted Sandpiper in Aberdeenshire at Girdle Ness, Bonaparte's Gull in Argyll at Lochgilphead, Lesser Scaup on Anglesey at Llyn Llygeirian and in County Londonderry three White-rumped Sandpipers together at Myroe.

Lingering rarities included the Grey Catbird and Lesser Yellowlegs both still in Cornwall, Baltimore Oriole on the Western Isles, Scarlet Tanager in County Cork, Rustic Bunting in London, Eastern Stonechat species in Norfolk, Black Scoter and two Gull-billed Terns in Northumberland, Blue-winged Teal on the Shetland Isles, Spotted Sandpiper in County Durham, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, White-rumped Sandpiper in County Galway, Black Duck in Highland and Ferruginous Duck in Forth.

On the Isles of Scilly the Grey-cheeked Thrush remained on St Agnes with around island totals of Melodious Warbler, Surf Scoter, Common Rosefinch, Richard's Pipit, Red-backed Shrike, two Cattle Egrets, three Little Buntings and 15 Great Shearwaters.

Scarcities elsewhere included Pallas's Warbler (Suffolk), Melodious Warbler (County Galway), Surf Scoter (Fife), Temminck's Stint (Lincolnshire), Pectoral Sandpiper (Devon), Rough-legged Buzzard (Norfolk), two each of both Little Bunting and American Golden Plover, three Barred Warblers, four Rose-coloured Starlings, and six each of both Richard's Pipit and Ring-necked Duck.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 19th October 2018  
  New discoveries today included single Red-eyed Vireos on Bryher, Isles of Scilly and Lundy, Devon, an Eastern Stonechat species at Kelling, Norfolk, single Olive-backed Pipits at Tetney, Lincolnshire and on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, a Red-throated Pipit on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, a White-rumped Sandpiper at Cashen, County Kerry and a Richardson's Cackling Goose on Islay, Argyll.

Lingering rarities seen today included the Grey Catbird in Cornwall, Baltimore Oriole in Western Isles, Scarlet Tanager and White-rumped Sandpiper in County Cork, Grey-cheeked Thrush in the Isles of Scilly, Red-eyed Vireo in County Galway, Rustic Bunting in London, two Gull-billed Terns in Northumberland, Spotted Sandpiper in County Durham, two White-rumped Sandpipers in County Galway, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Pied-billed Grebe and Blue-winged Teal in Shetland, Black Scoter in Northumberland and single Ferruginous Ducks in Suffolk and Forth.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 18th October 2018  
  Today's new discoveries included Red-eyed Vireo (Co Galway), Pallid Swift (Northumberland), Blyth's Reed Warbler (Shetland) and two Richardson's Cackling Geese (Argyll). Two Gull-billed Terns in inland Northumberland have apparently been present for 15 days.

The Grey Catbird (Cornwall), Veery and Scarlet Tanager (Co Cork), Baltimore Oriole (Western Isles), Spotted Sandpiper (Co Durham), White-rumped Sandpipers (Co Galway [2] and Co Cork), Lesser Yellowlegs (Dorset and Suffolk), Olive-backed Pipit (East Yorkshire), Ferruginous Ducks (Forth and Suffolk), Eastern Stonechat (Gwynedd), Long-billed Dowitcher (Lincolnshire), Rustic Bunting (London), Black Scoter (Northumberland), Grey-cheeked Thrush (Isles of Scilly) and Blue-winged Teal (Shetland) all lingered.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Wednesday 17th October 2018  
  Three Mega-alerts chimed today - a Veery on Cape Clear (Co Cork), Baltimore Oriole on Barra (Western Isles) and Grey-cheeked Thrush on St Agnes (Isles of Scilly). A Swainson's Thrush (Co Cork), Pallid Swift (East Yorkshire), Olive-backed Pipits (Fife and Shetland), Rustic Bunting (London), Red-flanked Bluetail (Norfolk), Blue-winged Teal (Shetland) and dowitcher species (Somerset) were also discovered.

The Grey Catbird (Cornwall), Two-barred Greenish Warbler (Norfolk), Scarlet Tanager and White-rumped Sandpiper (Co Cork), Eastern Stonechat (Gwynedd), Pied-billed Grebe (Shetland), Long-billed Dowitcher (Lincolnshire), King Eider (Ceredigion), Spotted Sandpiper (Co Durham), Olive-backed Pipit (East Yorkshire) and Ferruginous Duck and Lesser Yellowlegs (Sufolk) all lingered.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA