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| Friday 26th April 2019 | ||
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The most significant of the day's discoveries were a Spanish Wagtail at Leasowe Lighthouse, Wirral, and a brief Tawny Pipit at Southwold, Suffolk. In Norfolk, an Alpine Swift first seen over Walsey Hills settled at Sheringham in the evening. Another was reported over Ham Wall, Somerset. Red-rumped Swallows were found at Minsmere, Suffolk, and Tacumshin, Co.Wexford. Subalpine Warblers at Beachy Head, East Sussex, and Holy Island, Northumberland, were too fleeting for more precise identification. In Devon, the male Dark-eyed Junco reappeared in its favoured Westward Ho! garden and was on view into the evening. The Marsh Sandpiper was still in Essex today, though now appears to have switched base to Blue House Farm, North Fambridge. Gloucestershire's Citrine Wagtail showed for much of the day at Pilning Wetland. Savi's Warblers still in voice included the two at Minsmere and the Nottinghamshire bird. Meanwhile, the Bonaparte's Gulls of Hampshire and Glamorgan remained in place. Old favourites still with us were the American White-winged Scoter in Lothian, Black Duck in Highland, Lesser Scaup in Somerset, Dresser's Eider in Co.Dublin, Black-winged Stilt in Norfolk and Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire. Nine White-billed Divers included five in Moray and three in Aberdeenshire. Scarcities included Purple Heron (Norfolk), Rough-legged Buzzard (North Yorkshire), White Stork (Kent), Iceland Gull (Cornwall); two each of Serin, Yellow-browed Warbler, Glossy Ibis and Glaucous Gull; three Green-winged Teal; four Hoopoes, Surf Scoters (all off Musselburgh, Lothian) and Wrynecks; five Ring-necked Ducks, up to seven Pomarine Skuas and 15 Dotterel (including a trip of 10 in Conwy). |
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| - David Campbell, RBA | ||
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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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| Thursday 25th April 2019 | ||
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| A Slate-coloured Junco visited a Westward Ho! garden in Devon briefly, and a Black-browed Albatross flew past Marazion, Cornwall. Other new discoveries today included a Marsh Sandpiper at Vange Marsh RSPB, Essex, a male Citrine Wagtail at Northwick Warth, Gloucestershire (joining the lingering female), a Western Subalpine Warbler on Cape Clear, County Cork, single Alpine Swifts at Ham Wall RSPB, Somerset and Grimley, Worcestershire, an Iberian Chiffchaff near Dunsford, Devon, and single Bonaparte's Gulls in Cardiff Bay, Glamorgan and Blashford Lakes, Hampshire.
Other lingering rarities included singing Savi's Warblers in Suffolk (two), Nottinghamshire and Hampshire, American White-winged Scoter in Lothian, Black Duck and Blue-winged Teal in Highland, Lesser Scaup in Somerset, Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll, two White-billed Divers in both Aberdeenshire and Moray, Black-winged Stilt in Norfolk, Lesser Yellowlegs in Cornwall and Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire. Scarcity highlights included a Melodious Warbler, an Ortolan Bunting, a Golden Oriole, a Wryneck, two Hoopoes, four Yellow-browed Warblers, a Spotted Crake, a Purple Heron, four Glossy Ibises, two White Storks, a Red-necked Phalarope, ten Dotterel, 29 Pomarine Skuas, two Tundra Bean Geese, two Green-winged Teal, four Ring-necked Ducks, six Surf Scoters, a Glaucous Gull and two Iceland Gulls. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 24th April 2019 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Citrine Wagtail in Gloucestershire
at Northwick Warth. Rarities elsewhere comprised the American White-winged Scoter still in Lothian, Black Kite still on the Shetland Isles on Unst, Kentish Plover in Kent at Pegwell Bay,
Western Subalpine Warbler on the Isles of Scilly, Dresser's Eider in County Dublin,
Blue-winged Teal and King Eider in Highland, Savi's Warblers in Hampshire, Nottinghamshire and Suffolk (2), Black-winged Stilts in Kent (2), Norfolk and Suffolk,
Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Lesser Scaup in Somerset and a
White-billed Diver in County Donegal. Scarcities included Ortolan Bunting (Essex), Serin (West Sussex), Purple Heron and Wryneck (Norfolk), Yellow-browed Warbler (Suffolk), Spotted Crake (Cleveland), Temminck's Stint (County Durham), Red-necked Phalarope (Gwent), two each of Hoopoe and Rough-legged Buzzard, three of Woodchat Shrike and Dotterel, four Surf Scoters and five Ring-necked Ducks. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 23rd April 2019 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was the discovery of the fourth Subalpine Warbler in seven days on the Isles of
Scilly; a Western Subalpine Warbler on St Agnes. Rarities elsewhere comprised the
American White-winged Scoter still in Lothian, Black Duck, Blue-winged Teal
and King Eider all still in Highland, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire,
Black Kites briefly in both Gwent and Somerset, Black-winged Stilts in Kent (2), Norfolk and Suffolk (2),
White-billed Divers in Aberdeenshire (2) and Moray (2), and Savi's Warblers in Aberdeenshire, Dorset, Kent, Nottinghamshire and Suffolk. Scarcities included Little Bunting (Shetland Isles), Serin (West Sussex), Purple Heron (Norfolk), Red-necked Phalarope (Gwent), Rough-legged Buzzard (Kent), Yellow-browed Warbler (Suffolk), two each of both Ortolan Bunting, Hoopoe and Temminck's Stint, three of Woodchat Shrike and Ring-necked Duck, four of Surf Scoter and Glossy Ibis, and 6 migrant Dotterel. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Monday 22nd April 2019 | ||
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| New rarities today comprised an Eastern Subalpine Warbler in Devon on Lundy, in Suffolk
Iberian Chiffchaff at Lowestoft and two Black-winged Stilts at Minsmere,
a Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan at Cardiff Bay, a Red-rumped Swallow briefly in Dorset and
Black Kites passing over Kent, the Shetland Isles, Somerset, Suffolk and Worcestershire. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the American White-winged Scoter in Lothian, Dresser's Eider in County Dublin, Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll, Black Duck, Blue-winged Teal and King Eider all in Highland, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Oxfordshire, Lesser Scaup in Somerset, Savi's Warblers in Dorset, Nottinghamshire and Suffolk, Black-winged Stilts in Kent (2) and Norfolk, and at least 12 White-billed Divers in Aberdeenshire. Scarcities included an early Red-necked Phalarope (Gwent), Ortolan Bunting (Essex), Serin (West Sussex), Richard's Pipit (Lincolnshire), two Woodchat Shrikes, three each of Hoopoe, Surf Scoter and Glossy Ibis, six Ring-necked Ducks and a total of 17 Shorelarks. Significant late news concerned a Slate-coloured Junco present yesterday on the Isle of Wight at Ventnor. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 21st April 2019 | ||
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A female Bufflehead arrived at Hanningfield Reservoir, Essex. Savi's Warblers were in voice at Radipole Lake RSPB, Dorset, and Attenborough NR, Nottinghamshire, into the evening. A trio of Black-winged Stilts was new at Christchurch Harbour, Dorset. A Black Kite flew south over Marshchapel, Lincolnshire. Ongoing rarities were represented by the Eastern Subalpine Warbler on Scilly, Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll, American White-winged Scoter in Lothian, Dresser's Eider in Co.Dublin, Bonaparte's Gulls in Devon and Oxfordshire, Lesser Scaup in Somerset and Orkney, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Black-winged Stilt in Norfolk, and Blue-winged Teal, King Eider and Black Duck all in Highland. Seven White-billed Divers were off the Aberdeenshire coast, with another two off Moray. Scarcities included three Woodchat Shrikes (two Scilly, one Co.Cork), two Serins (Kent and Dorset), two Purple Herons (Norfolk and Somerset), three Hoopoes (two in Dorset and another on Scilly), four Temminck's Stints, Spotted Crake (Cleveland), Richard's Pipit (Lancashire), Great Grey Shrike (Norfolk), three Glossy Ibises, two White Storks, three Pomarine Skuas (two Kent, one Sussex), Rough-legged Buzzard (Bedfordshire), three Dotterel (Cumbria), two Shorelarks (East Yorkshire), two Surf Scoters (Lothian), two Green-winged Teal, five Ring-necked Ducks, Black Brant, Tundra Bean Goose and three Iceland Gulls. Notable common spring migrants included two Spotted Flycatchers and three Turtle Doves. |
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| - David Campbell, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 20th April 2019 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was confirmation of a Dresser's Eider in County Dublin at Skerries where it was first suspected yesterday; only the second record of this subspecies in both Ireland and the Western Palearctic. Elsewhere rarities included
American White-winged Scoter still in Lothian, Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll,
Blue-winged Teal in Highland, Bonaparte's Gull in Oxfordshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Spotted Sandpiper in County Wexford, King Eider
in Moray, Lesser Yellowlegs still in Dorset with another new in County Cork at Clogheen Marsh,
whilst White-billed Divers were off both Moray (2) and the Western Isles. From the Mediterranean were Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Night Heron and Golden Oriole all on the Isles of Scilly, a passage Bee-eater in County Cork at Mizen Head, Black-winged Stilts in Kent (2) and Norfolk, Serin in Cornwall, three Hoopoes, three Woodchat Shrikes and four Glossy Ibises, with Black Kites seen briefly in Cleveland, East Sussex, Orkney Isles and Shetland Isles. Other scarcities included remarkably early Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Merseyside), Honey Buzzard (Suffolk) and Red-backed Shrike (County Donegal), along with Pallas's Warbler (Cornwall), two Yellow-browed Warblers (North Yorkshire and Devon), Wryneck (Lothian), Temminck's Stint (Dorset), American Wigeon (Lancashire), Black Brant, three Rough-legged Buzzards, two each of Surf Scoter and Spotted Crake, 14 Shorelarks, four migrant Dotterel, a Pomarine Skua and a total of six Ring-necked Ducks. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Friday 19th April 2019 | ||
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| Rarities today comprised the American White-winged Scoter still in Lothian, two
Subalpine Warblers on the Isles of Scilly, Red-rumped Swallow and Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, both
Black Duck and Blue-winged Teal still in Highland, Bonaparte's Gull
in Oxfordshire, territorial Savi's Warbler in Suffolk, Ferruginous Duck in Northumberland,
Black-winged Stilts in East Sussex (2) and Norfolk, White-billed Divers in Aberdeenshire and Moray (2) and
Black Kites briefly on the Shetland Isles and in Suffolk. Scarcities included Pallas's Warbler (Cornwall), Night Heron (Isles of Scilly), Montagu's Harrier (County Waterford), Temminck's Stint (Suffolk), Pectoral Sandpiper (Nottinghamshire), Grey-headed Wagtail (Lothian), American Wigeon (Lancashire), two each of Woodchat Shrike, Serin, Rough-legged Buzzard, Spotted Crake and Surf Scoter, three Glossy Ibises, four Hoopoe and a total of six Ring-necked Ducks. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 18th April 2019 | ||
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The adult drake American White-winged Scoter resurfaced off Musselburgh Lagoons, Lothian. In Suffolk, a male Western Subalpine Warbler was seen at Westleton Heath. Alpine Swifts appeared at Sandy Point, Hampshire, and at Ivinghoe Beacon, Buckinghamshire. Continuing rarities were represented by the Iberian Chiffchaffs in Essex and Conwy, Great Spotted Cuckoo on the Isle of Wight, Bonaparte's Gull in Oxfordshire, Black-winged Stilt in Argyll, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Dorset, Lesser Scaup in Somerset, King Eider in Highland, and two White-billed Divers in Moray. Scarcities included Ortolan Bunting (Cornwall), Night Heron (Scilly), Grey-headed Wagtail (Lothian), Bluethroat (Orkney), two Serins (both at Portland, Dorset), seven Hoopoes, a Wryneck (Norfolk), two Spotted Crakes (South Yorkshire and Cleveland), Pallas's Warbler (Cornwall), two Great Grey Shrikes, 27 Shorelarks (Norfolk), five Glossy Ibises, two White Stork, two Surf Scoters (Lothian), five Green-winged Teal, an American Wigeon, seven Ring-necked Ducks, a Black Brant, two Tundra Bean Geese and an Iceland Gull. |
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| - David Campbell, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 17th April 2019 | ||
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| New discoveries today included singing Iberian Chiffchaffs at Seaforth, Merseyside and The Naze, Essex, a Red-rumped Swallow at Far Ings NR, Lincolnshire, Black Stork at Arundel WWT, Sussex, two Black-winged Stilts at Rye Harbour NR, Sussex, and a White-billed Diver at Malin Head, County Donegal, but there was no sign of the Eastern Yellow Wagtail seen yesterday on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly.
Lingering rarities included Iberian Chiffchaff in Conwy, Great Spotted Cuckoo on the Isle of Wight, Savi's Warbler in Suffolk, Bonaparte's Gull in Oxfordshire, Black-winged Stilt in Argyll, single Lesser Yellowlegs' in Dorset and Cornwall, Long-billed Dowitcher in Lincolnshire, three White-billed Divers in Aberdeenshire and another in Moray, Blue-winged Teal, Black Duck and King Eider in Highland and Lesser Scaup in Somerset. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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