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| Sunday 26th May 2019 | ||
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The mega alert sounded with the unexpected news of an Upland Sandpiper briefly at Sheringham in Norfolk mid-afternoon, however there was no sign later in the day. Fair Isle had a Tawny Pipit, and there was late news of another in Co.Galway yesterday. Two Black-winged Stilts at Catcott Lows NR in Somerset were new, as was a Subalpine Warbler in Co.Wexford. A Bee-eater visited Holme Dunes in Norfolk and another flew over Bockhill Farm in Kent. In East Yorkshire, a Red-rumped Swallow spent a short while at Spurn. The Baikal Teal lingered in East Yorkshire while other stayers included Squacco Heron in Hampshire, Thrush Nightingale in Shetland, Iberian Chiffchaff in Lancashire, Eastern Subalpine Warbler in Shetland, Savi's Warblers in Co.Wicklow and Gwent, Great Reed Warblers in West Yorkshire and Cleveland, Blue-winged Teal in Highland, Red-footed Falcon on Scilly and Lesser Yellowlegs in Shetland. Scarcities included American Golden Plover (Pembrokeshire), Woodchat Shrike (Anglesey), Night Heron (North Yorkshire), three Purple Herons, three Grey-headed Wagtails (Shetland), 10 Temminck's Stints, four Serins, two Bluethroats and Common Rosefinch (both Shetland), Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, White Stork, Great Grey Shrike (Cambridgeshire), two Grey Phalaropes, two Golden Orioles (Kent and Surrey), five Glossy Ibises and two migrant individuals each of Honey Buzzard and Dotterel. There was a significant push of Long-tailed Skuas off the Western Isles, including 250 past Aird an Runair on North Uist, where seven Pomarine Skuas were thrown in. Further Long-tailed Skuas were seen past Cumbria (two) and Ayrshire, while Pomarine Skuas were also logged in Lancashire (three) and Ayrshire. |
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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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| Saturday 25th May 2019 | ||
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| New discoveries today included single Savi's Warblers at Uskmouth, Gwent and Buckroney, County Wicklow, single Bee-eaters at Constantine, Cornwall, Cart Gap, Norfolk and Deerness, Orkney, a Red-footed Falcon in County Wexford and a Black Kite in East Sussex.
Lingering rarities included the Baikal Teal in Yorkshire, Black Duck and Blue-winged Teal in Highland, Squacco Heron in Hampshire, single Great Reed Warblers in Yorkshire and Cleveland, Savi's Warbler in Suffolk, single Iberian Chiffchaffs in Aberdeenshire and Lancashire, Western Subalpine Warbler in Isle of Man, Thrush Nightingale in Shetland, Red-footed Falcon in Scilly and Broad-billed Sandpiper in Northumberland. Scarcity highlights included an Icterine Warbler, a Red-backed Shrike, a Grey-headed Wagtail, two Bluethroats, three Serins, three Common Rosefinches, three Golden Orioles, a White-winged Black Tern, a Purple Heron, two Glossy Ibises, five Honey Buzzards, a Green-winged Teal, a Ring-necked Duck, an American Golden Plover, three Dotterel, six Temminck's Stints and an Iceland Gull. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Friday 24th May 2019 | ||
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| The drake Baikal Teal continued its journey northwards, being discovered at Hornsea Mere, Yorkshire where it remained all day. New discoveries today included a male Pallid Harrier at Helperby, Yorkshire, a Squacco Heron at Titchfield, Hampshire, a Thrush Nightingale on Fair Isle, Shetland, Eastern Subalpine Warblers on Out Skerries, Shetland (two) and at The Naze, Essex, a Red-flanked Bluetail on North Ronaldsay, Orkney and a Red-rumped Swallow at Gibraltar Point NNR, Lincolnshire.
Lingering rarities included single Great Reed Warblers in Yorkshire and Cleveland, Rustic Bunting in Orkney, Iberian Chiffchaff in Aberdeenshire, Broad-billed Sandpiper in Northumberland, Red-footed Falcon in Scilly and Black Duck in Highland. Scarcity highlights included a Red-backed Shrike, a Grey-headed Wagtail, two Golden Orioles, two Bluethroats, three Serins, three Common Rosefinches, a White-winged Black Tern, a Night Heron, two Purple Herons, three Glossy Ibises, a Long-tailed Skua, five Honey Buzzards, a Dotterel, 13 Temminck's Stints, a Green-winged Teal and a Ring-necked Duck. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 23rd May 2019 | ||
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The Baikal Teal was relocated at Kilnsea Wetlands in East Yorkshire. A Squacco Heron stopped briefly on Lundy in Devon. Also new was a Lesser Yellowlegs on Mainland Shetland at Gards Loch. Other fresh news from Shetland included a Blyth's Reed Warbler on Out Skerries for its 2nd day, a Rustic Bunting on Unst and a Great Reed Warbler on Whalsay. Another Great Reed Warbler was reported in West Yorkshire at Dewsbury. A Western Subalpine Warbler was ringed on Isle of Man at Calf of Man. Kent and Sussex had two Bee-eaters each. In East Sussex, the Crag Martin was reported again at Beachy Head. Continuing their stays were Broad-billed Sandpiper in Northumberland, Eastern Subalpine Warbler and Rustic Bunting in Shetland, Iberian Chiffchaffs in Aberdeenshire and Lancashire, Gull-billed Tern in Argyll, Great Reed Warblers in Cleveland and West Yorkshire, Thrush Nightingale in Shetland, Lesser Scaup in Borders, Red-footed Falcon on Scilly, Scarcities included two Marsh Warblers (Shetland and Borders), Night Heron (Yorkshire), 13 Temminck's Stints (including four at Cley NWT in Norfolk), three Golden Orioles, four Serins, four Common Rosefinches, two Red-backed Shrikes, Melodious Warbler (Cornwall), two Purple Herons, three Glossy Ibises, two White Storks, Ring-necked Duck, Montagu's Harrier, Spotted Crake (Yorkshire), five migrant Honey Buzzards, Bluethroat, Roseate Tern, three Long-tailed Skuas and six Pomarine Skuas. |
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| - David Campbell, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 22nd May 2019 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was a Crag Martin seen briefly in East Sussex at Beachy Head whilst other discoveries included a
Paddyfield Warbler on the Shetland Isles on Out Skerries, a Great Reed Warbler in Cleveland at Saltholme,
Red-footed Falcon in East Yorkshire at Kilnsea, two Black-winged Stilts
together in Norfolk at Wells and a flyover Bee-eater in Suffolk. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were two Thrush Nightingales, a Rustic Bunting and an Eastern Subalpine Warbler on the Shetland Isles, Rustic Bunting and Eastern Subalpine Warbler on the Orkney Isles, Forster's Tern in County Galway, Squacco Heron in County Wexford, Black Duck and Blue-winged Teal in Highland, Great Reed Warbler in West Yorkshire, Red-footed Falcon Isles of Scilly, Iberian Chiffchaff in Lancashire and Lesser Scaup in Borders. Scarcities included Serin (Kent), Night Heron (Nottinghamshire), Ring-necked Duck (Suffolk), Montagu's Harrier (East Yorkshire), Wryneck and Shorelark (Shetland Isles), two each of Purple Heron, Bluethroat, Golden Oriole and migrant Dotterel, three of Red-backed Shrike and Glossy Ibis, five Common Rosefinches and six Temminck's Stints. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 21st May 2019 | ||
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The pick of the day's finds were Squacco Heron at Tacumshin in Co.Wexford, Rustic Bunting and Red-rumped Swallow on Fair Isle, Tawny Pipit near Margate in Kent and a pair of Black-winged Stilts at Pulborough Brooks RSPB in West Sussex, while Bee-eaters were seen over Kent and Norfolk, and Black Kites flew over Kent and Co.Wexford. Two Thrush Nightingales were confirmed in Shetland. A Black Stork near Fenhurst in West Sussex was probably the bird seen in the county on Saturday. In Kent, the Whiskered Tern stayed just into a second day at Dungeness RSPB before clearing off. Other ongoing rarities included Baikal Teal in Cambridgeshire, Stilt Sandpiper in Lancashire, Eastern Subalpine Warbler in Orkney, Great Reed Warbler in West Yorkshire, Iberian Chiffchaff in Lancashire, Red-footed Falcons in Co.Wexford and Scilly, and Savi's Warbler in Suffolk. The supporting cast involved three Purple Herons, Icterine Warbler (Shetland), Melodious Warbler (Isle of Man), six Bluethroats, Little Bunting (Shetland), two Serins, 11 Golden Orioles, White-winged Black Tern (Co.Wexford), eight Temminck's Stints, three Red-backed Shrikes, Montagu's Harrier (Norfolk), Hoopoe (Dorset), Wryneck, seven Common Rosefinches, Ring-necked Duck, Taiga Bean Goose, two Glossy Ibises, two Pomarine Skuas, four Roseate Terns and four migrant Dotterel. The Pied Crow remained in Kent. |
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| - David Campbell, RBA | ||
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| Monday 20th May 2019 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was a Whiskered Tern in Kent at Dungeness -
where a Bee-eater also flew over - whilst other discoveries included a Subalpine Warbler
off the Isle of Man on Calf of Man, a mobile Black Kite in Essex, a
Red-rumped Swallow in East Yorkshire and a Bee-eater briefly in Dorset. Around the Shetland Isles
Thrush Nightingale, Rustic Bunting, Red-rumped Swallow and two
Eastern Subalpine Warblers were all logged. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the American White-winged Scoter in Lothian, Baikal Teal in Cambridgeshire, Stilt Sandpiper in Merseyside, Gull-billed Tern in Argyll, Broad-billed Sandpiper in Lincolnshire, Great Reed Warblers in both London and West Yorkshire, Red-footed Falcons in County Wexford and the Isles of Scilly, Iberian Chiffchaffs in Aberdeenshire and Lancashire, and territorial Savi's Warbler in Suffolk. Scarcities included Serin (Kent), Red-necked Phalarope (Lincolnshire), Montagu's Harrier (East Yorkshire), Marsh Warbler, Grey-headed Wagtail and 13 Common Rosefinches (all on the Shetland Isles), two each of Purple Heron, Long-tailed Skua, Glossy Ibis and migrant Honey Buzzard, three Ring-necked Ducks, four Red-backed Shrikes, four migrant Dotterel, five White-winged Black Terns, six each of Icterine Warbler, Golden Oriole and Temminck's Stint, and a total of 28 Bluethroats. Significant late news concerned a male Collared Flycatcher present on Stronsay, Orkney Isles on 18th May; bringing the total this spring to five birds. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 19th May 2019 | ||
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| The highlights of the day were a Western Orphean Warbler in Gwynedd
trapped and ringed on Bardsey Island, a Lesser Grey Shrike discovered in
Kent at Northward Hill, and in Cornwall both Black-headed Wagtail and Dusky Warbler
found on The Lizard. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Baikal Teal in Cambridgeshire, Stilt Sandpiper in Merseyside, Eastern Subalpine Warblers on both the Orkney Isles and Shetland Isles, Black Duck and Blue-winged Teal in Highland, Great Reed Warblers in London and West Yorkshire, Iberian Chiffchaffs in Highland and Lancashire, Red-footed Falcon and Red-rumped Swallow on the Isles of Scilly, two territorial Savi's Warblers in Suffolk, Lesser Yellowlegs on the Shetland Isles and Ferruginous Duck in West Yorkshire. An easterly airflow brought off-course Scandinavian bound migrants to the British east coast and islands with a male Collared Flycatcher on the Shetland Isles on Out Skerries the standout bird, a Broad-billed Sandpiper arrived in Lincolnshire at Frampton Marsh, a brief Greenish Warbler in Norfolk at Blakeney Point, Rustic Buntings on both Orkney and Shetland, two Icterine Warblers, three Grey-headed Wagtails, six Red-backed Shrikes, 10 Temminck's Stints, 13 Common Rosefinches (all on the Shetland Isles) and a total of 53 Bluethroats that included 12 in Aberdeenshire, 14 on the Isle of May, Fife, and 17 around the Shetland Isles. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 18th May 2019 | ||
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| A classic mid-May day with plenty of rarities discovered including a Collared Flycatcher and Rustic Bunting on Papa Westray, Orkney, another Rustic Bunting at Levenwick, Shetland, a Great Reed Warbler at Crossness, London, a Broad-billed Sandpiper on Holy Island, Northumberland, a Lesser Yellowlegs on Fair Isle, Shetland, a Whiskered Tern at Tacumshin, County Wexford, a Black Stork at Knepp, West Sussex, an Iberian Chiffchaff at Pilling, Lancashire, five Bee-eaters at Winterton, Norfolk and at least two on The Lizard, Cornwall, a Lesser Scaup at St Abbs, Borders, an Alpine Swift at Templepatrick, County Antrim and another at Felixstowe, Suffolk, single Red-footed Falcons on St Martin's then St Mary's, Scilly and on Lundy, Devon and a Black Kite over High Eske NR, Yorkshire.
Lingering rarities included the Baikal Teal in Cambridgeshire, Scops Owl in County Kilkenny, Stilt Sandpiper in Merseyside, single Eastern Subalpine Warblers on both Noss and Out Skerries, Shetland and on North Ronaldsay, Orkney, two Savi's Warblers in Suffolk, Great Reed Warbler in Yorkshire, Iberian Chiffchaff in Aberdeenshire and Black Duck and Blue-winged Teal in Highland. Scarcities were headlined by up to 44 Bluethroats from Yorkshire to Shetland. Also an Ortolan Bunting, a Serin, a Wryneck, a Red-backed Shrike, a Great Grey Shrike, two Woodchat Shrikes, two Icterine Warblers, two Common Rosefinches, three Golden Orioles, a White Stork, two Glossy Ibises, three Purple Herons, two Red-necked Phalaropes, 17 Dotterel, 24 Temminck's Stints, a White-winged Black Tern, two Honey Buzzards, two Ring-necked Ducks and 11 Pomarine Skuas. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Friday 17th May 2019 | ||
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| New discoveries today included a Stilt Sandpiper at Lunt Meadows, Lancashire (the second county record following one in 1967), a Broad-billed Sandpiper on Inishbofin, County Galway (the first county record), a Kentish Plover at Breydon Water, Norfolk, a Spotted Sandpiper at Langton Herring, Dorset, a Gull-billed Tern on Tiree, Argyll, an Iberian Chiffchaff at Balnakeil, Highland (the first county record), single Eastern Subalpine Warblers on Noss and Out Skerries (both Shetland) and on North Ronaldsay, Orkney, a Red-footed Falcon on St Martin's and a Red-rumped Swallow on St Mary's, Scilly and a Black Kite near Salisbury, Wiltshire.
Lingering rarities present today included the Scops Owl in County Kilkenny, Iberian Chiffchaff in Aberdeenshire, Great Reed Warbler in Yorkshire, two Savi's Warblers in Suffolk, Black Duck and King Eider in Highland, American White-winged Scoter in Lothian and Ferruginous Duck in Yorkshire. Scarcity highlights included a Red-breasted Flycatcher, a Wryneck, a Red-backed Shrike, two Woodchat Shrikes, two Serins, two Golden Orioles, two Common Rosefinches, seven Bluethroats, two Red-necked Phalaropes, 14 Temminck's Stints, 15 Dotterel, a Glossy Ibis, two Purple Herons, a White-winged Black Tern, a Honey Buzzard, two Montagu's Harriers, a Roseate Tern, a Glaucous Gull, a Taiga Bean Goose, two Ring-necked Ducks, two Surf Scoters, a Long-tailed Skua and approximately 64 Pomarine Skuas. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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