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.

Choose a starting date
Wednesday 25th May 2022  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Kentish Plover in Kent where it joined the lingering Caspian Tern at Pegwell Bay, whilst elsewhere brief encounters included a Black Kite in Cumbria, Bee-eater in Essex, and Red-rumped Swallows in both East Yorkshire and Northumberland.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Moltoni's Warbler in Pembrokeshire, Black-browed Albatross in East Yorkshire, Roller in Cornwall, American Black Tern in Northumberland, both Caspian Tern and Great Reed Warbler in Norfolk, territorial Iberian Chiffchaff in London, Lesser Yellowlegs in South Yorkshire, Red-rumped Swallow on the Western Isles, King Eider in Highland, White-billed Diver on the Shetland Isles, and the flock of eight Bee-eaters Kent.

Scarcities included Short-toed Lark and Red-backed Shrike (Isles of Scilly), Rose-coloured Starling and Surf Scoter (Western Isles), Common Rosefinch (Essex), Purple Heron (Kent), Montagu's Harrier (East Yorkshire), Green-winged Teal (Shetland), two each of Woodchat Shrike, Serin, and Ring-necked Duck, six Golden Orioles, 12 Glossy Ibises, and a total of 15 Long-tailed Skuas.

Significant late news concerned a Black-headed Bunting present yesterday in Argyll on Mull.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 24th May 2022  
  In Highland, a Short-toed Eagle was seen near Lairg. A Great Reed Warbler was reported from Hook, Hampshire, a Subalpine Warbler species was on Out Skerries, Shetland (for its second day), a Red-footed Falcon flew over Boyton Marshes RSPB, Suffolk and Bee-eaters were seen at Portland, Dorset, Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire and three were on Bryher, Isles of Scilly.

Lingering rarities included the White-tailed Lapwing, Caspian Tern and Great Reed Warbler in Norfolk, Roller in Cornwall, Black-headed Bunting in Scilly, Iberian Chiffchaff in London, Blyth's Reed Warbler and White-billed Diver in Shetland, Red-rumped Swallow in Western Isles, Black-browed Albatross, Bee-eater and Lesser Yellowlegs in Yorkshire, Caspian Tern in Kent and American Black Tern in Northumberland.

Scarcity highlights included a Serin, a Red-breasted Flycatcher, an Icterine Warbler, a Hoopoe, a Red-spotted Bluethroat, a Common Rosefinch, two Short-toed Larks, three Woodchat Shrikes, four Golden Orioles, a Temminck's Stint, three Dotterel, five Honey Buzzards, 13 Glossy Ibises, a Surf Scoter, an American Wigeon, two Ring-necked Ducks and two Glaucous Gulls.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Monday 23rd May 2022  
  The highlight of the day was the identitication of a Moltoni's Warbler on Skokholm, Pembrokeshire where it has first been seen seven days ago; the first record of this species for Wales. Other discoveries included a Roller in Cornwall near Camborne, a Black-headed Bunting on the Isles of Scilly on Bryher, Caspian Tern in Kent at Pegwell Bay, Lesser Yellowlegs in South Yorkshire at Old Moor, five Black-winged Stilts together in Norfolk at Sculthorpe Moor, Red-rumped Swallow in Somerset at Westhay Moor, and a Bee-eater in East Yorkshire at Easington.

Rarities elsewhere comprised the White-tailed Lapwing showing again in Norfolk at Hickling Broad where it joined the lingering Caspian Tern, Black-browed Albatross still in East Yorkshire, Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll, Snowy Owl, Red-rumped Swallow, and White-billed Diver on the Western Isles, American Black Tern in Northumberland, territorial Great Reed Warbler in Norfolk, Blyth's Reed Warbler and two White-billed Divers on the Shetland Isles, Iberian Chiffchaff in London, and Ferruginous Duck in Staffordshire.

Scarcities included Short-toed Lark (Scilly), Red-spotted Bluethroat (Aberdeenshire), Purple Heron (Gwent), Hoopoe (Buckinghamshire), American Wigeon (County Londonderry), Surf Scoter (Western Isles), Red-necked Phalarope (Northumberland), Long-tailed Skua and Dotterel (Shetland), Black Brant (East Yorkshire), two each of Common Rosefinch, Temminck's Stint, and Ring-necked Duck, three of Woodchat Shrike and Grey-headed Wagtail, five Golden Orioles, and a total of 15 Glossy Ibises.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 22nd May 2022  
  The highlight of the day was an Egyptian Vulture that flew south over Devoran, Cornwall. It was believed to be a subadult and therefore not the adult present in England and Ireland between 13th May 2021 and 6th May 2022.

Other new rarities comprised a Slate-coloured Junco in Pembrokeshire at St Ishmael's with a Kentish Plover nearby at the Gann Estuary, a White-rumped Sandpiper in Leicestershire at Rutland Water, a Subalpine Warbler species on the Orkney Isles on North Ronaldsay, a Red-rumped Swallow briefly in Essex, White-billed Diver on the Shetland Isles, and Bee-eaters in Kent (9) and Suffolk (3).

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Black-browed Albatross in East Yorkshire, Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll, Snowy Owl and two Red-rumped Swallows on the Western Isles, American Black Tern in Northumberland, territorial Great Reed Warbler and at least one Caspian Tern in Norfolk, Black Kite on the Shetland Isles, Tawny Pipit on the Isles of Scilly, territorial Iberian Chiffchaff in London, and a Ferruginous Duck reappeared in Staffordshire.

Scarcities included Red-backed Shrike (North Yorkshire), Long-tailed Skua (Shetland), Surf Scoter (Western Isles), Red-necked Phalarope (Northumberland), two each of Purple Heron, Temminck's Stint, and Ring-necked Duck, three Woodchat Shrikes, seven of Serin and Glossy Ibis, and a total of eight Golden Orioles.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Saturday 21st May 2022  
  Rarities discovered today were a Tawny Pipit on the Isles of Scilly on St Martin's, Blyth's Reed Warbler on the Shetland Isles on Fair Isle, two Black-winged Stilts in East Sussex at Down Level with another in Essex at Wallasea Island, a Bee-eater in Highland at Skirza, and in Cornwall Bee-eater and Red-rumped Swallow together at Skewjack. Elsewhere, brief encounters included two Red-footed Falcons together in Hampshire near Beaulieu Road Station, two Red-rumped Swallows in Kent, a Black Kite on the Orkney Isles, and Bee-eaters in both Anglesey and Suffolk (3).

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Black-browed Albatross in East Yorkshire, Pied-billed Grebe in Argyll, Broad-billed Sandpiper and two Red-rumped Swallows on the Western Isles, Great Reed Warbler in Norfolk, American Black Tern Northumberland, territorial Iberian Chiffchaff in London, King Eider in Lothian, Ferruginous Duck in North Yorkshire, and two Black Kites on the Shetland Isles.

Scarcities included Woodchat Shrike (Pembrokeshire), Serin and Long-tailed Skua (Shetland), Rose-coloured Starling (Scilly), Common Rosefinch (Orkney), Surf Scoter (Western Isles), Red-necked Phalarope (Northumberland), Green-winged Teal (Highland), Black Brant (East Yorkshire), three of both Ring-necked Duck and Grey-headed Wagtail, four Purple Herons, five Honey Buzzards, eight Temminck's Stints, and 15 each of both Golden Oriole and Glossy Ibis.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 20th May 2022  
  A male Collared Flycatcher and a Thrush Nightingale arrived on Fair Isle, Shetland today, with a Western Subalpine Warbler nearby on Out Skerries. A White-throated Sparrow was on Great Saltee Island, County Wexford (the first record for Ireland since 2008), with a Bonaparte's Gull at Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire and Bee-eaters over Beachy Head, Sussex (two) and Bockhill Farm, Kent.

Lingering rarities included the Great Reed Warbler in Norfolk, Iberian Chiffchaff in London, Broad-billed Sandpiper and two Red-rumped Swallows in Western Isles, Caspian Tern in Kent, American Black Tern in Northumberland, Black Kite in Shetland, Black-browed Albatross and Ferruginous Duck in Yorkshire and King Eider in Lothian.

Scarcity highlights included an Icterine Warbler, a Hoopoe, a Rose-coloured Starling, two Serins, two Woodchat Shrikes, two Red-backed Shrikes, two Common Rosefinches, three Grey-headed Wagtails, four Bluethroats, 25 Golden Orioles, three Purple Herons, 12 Glossy Ibises, seven Honey Buzzards, two Spotted Crakes, a Temminck's Stint, a Ring-billed Gull, a Long-tailed Skua and a Pomarine Skua.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 19th May 2022  
  Rarities discovered today comprised a Broad-billed Sandpiper on the Western Isles on North Uist, in Norfolk a mobile Caspian Tern in The Broads and now two Great Reed Warblers together at Snettisham, a Tawny Pipit on the Isles of Scilly on St Mary's, a Rustic Bunting on the Shetland Isles on Fair Isle, Black Kites on the Orkney Isles and Shetland (2), Red-rumped Swallows in East Yorkshire and the Western Isles (2), and Black-winged Stilts in Clyde and Cambridgeshire (2).

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Black-browed Albatross in East Yorkshire, Gull-billed Terns in both County Cork and Lothian, Western Subalpine Warbler in Isle of Man, American Black Tern in Northumberland, King Eider in Lothian, Iberian Chiffchaff in London, and Black-winged Stilts in both Norfolk (2) and South Yorkshire (2).

Scarcities included Icterine Warbler (Orkney), Red-backed Shrike (Pembrokeshire), Purple Heron (Cornwall), Pectoral Sandpiper (Aberdeenshire), American Wigeon (County Londonderry), Green-winged Teal (Gloucestershire), Red-necked Phalarope (Northumberland), Long-tailed Skua (Shetland), Black Brant (East Yorkshire), two each of Woodchat Shrike, Serin, and Rose-coloured Starling, six Temminck's Stints, eight Glossy Ibises, 10 Grey-headed Wagtails, and a total of 14 Golden Orioles.

In East Yorkshire the Baikal Teal showed again at Flamborough Head where it was seen to be a ringed escape.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 18th May 2022  
  The highlight of the day was a Masked Wagtail found at Easington, East Yorkshire in the evening; the second British record of this Central Asian subpsecies of White Wagtail. Rarities discovered elsewhere comprised a Pallid Swift briefly in Northumberland at Boulmer, a Gull-billed Tern in Lothian at Gosford Bay, a pair of Black-winged Stilts in Dorset at Abbotsbury Swannery, on the Shetland Isles a Pallid Harrier on Foula and a Blyth's Reed Warbler on Fair Isle, whilst other brief encounters were a Caspian Tern in Kent, Red-rumped Swallow in Northumberland, Bee-eater in East Yorkshire, and Black Kites in both Somerset and County Wicklow.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Black-browed Albatross in East Yorkshire, American Black Tern in Northumberland, Gull-billed Tern in County Cork, Great Reed Warbler in Norfolk, Subalpine Warbler species in Pembrokeshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon, Iberian Chiffchaff in London, Ferruginous Duck in North Yorkshire, and Black-winged Stilts in Norfolk (4) and South Yorkshire (2).

Scarcities included Woodchat Shrike (Pembrokeshire), Icterine Warbler (Orkney Isles), Common Rosefinch (Norfolk), American Wigeon (County Londonderry), Montagu's Harrier (Cornwall), Red-necked Phalarope (Northumberland), Black Brant (East Yorkshire), Grey-headed Wagtail and Kumlien's Gull (Western Isles), two each of both Red-breasted Flycatcher and Green-winged Teal, three Pectoral Sandpipers, five of Bluethroat and Red-backed Shrike, eight Temminck's Stints, 10 Glossy Ibises, and a total of 11 Golden Orioles.

Significant late news concerned a flock of around 12 Bee-eaters present yesterday in Leicestershire at Loughborough, and on Monday a Baikal Teal at Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 17th May 2022  
  Once again the weather brought Fennoscandia migrants with a River Warbler, Rustic Bunting, and Red-breasted Flycatcher all new on Out Skerries, Shetland Isles, with further Rustic Buntings in Fife on the Isle of May, and Shetland on Noss, Great Reed Warbler in Norfolk, Red-backed Shrike on Fair Isle, two each of both Icterine Warbler and Grey-headed Wagtail, four Golden Orioles, six Temminck's Stints, and a total of 15 Bluethroats.

Other discoveries comprised Squacco Herons in Cambridgeshire at Smithey Fen and Dorset at Lodmoor, a Gull-billed Tern in County Cork at Harper's Island, Pallid Harrier in Highland at Balnakeil, Eastern Subalpine Warbler in Pembrokeshire on Skokholm, Bonaparte's Gull in Devon at Exmouth, Black Kite in County Kerry at Skellig Michael, and Kentish Plovers in Lothian at Aberlady Bay and Lincolnshire at Tetney Marshes.

Continuing rarities comprised the Black-browed Albatross still in East Yorkshire, American Black Tern in Northumberland, territorial Iberian Chiffchaff in London, Ferruginous Duck in North Yorkshire, and Black-winged Stilts in Norfolk (4), Nottinghamshire, and South Yorkshire (2).

Scarcities included Woodchat Shrike (Devon), Montagu's Harrier (Cornwall), Hoopoe (Dorset), Long-tailed Skua (Shetland), Red-necked Phalarope (Northumberland), Kumlien's Gull (Western Isles), two each of Short-toed Lark, Purple Heron, and Pectoral Sandpiper, three of Green-winged Teal and Honey Buzzard, and a total of 10 Glossy Ibises.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 16th May 2022  
  Conducive weather brought migrants bound for Scandinavia with a Great Reed Warbler in Norfolk at Snettisham, Citrine Wagtails briefly in Norfolk and East Yorkshire, at total of 11 Red-spotted Bluethroats, four Red-breasted Flycatcher, Red-backed Shrike, and Lapland Bunting on the Shetland Isles, Wryneck on the Orkney Isles, five Grey-headed Wagtails, eight Golden Orioles, and 11 Temminck's Stints.

Other discoveries included a Spanish Wagtail and Red-rumped Swallow in East Yorkshire at Spurn, Ferruginous Duck in North Yorkshire at Castle Howard, two Black-winged Stilts in South Yorkshire at Potteric Carr, Black Kites in Argyll and Kent, Red-rumped Swallow in Norfolk, White-billed Diver in Aberdeenshire, and Bee-eaters in both Kent and Suffolk (2).

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Black-browed Albatross in East Yorkshire, American Black Tern in Northumberland, Red-breasted Goose in Norfolk, territorial Iberian Chiffchaff in London, Red-footed Falcon in Berkshire, and Black-winged Stilts in Nottinghamshire and Norfolk (4).

Scarcities included Serin (County Wexford), Purple Heron and Black Brant (East Yorkshire), Hoopoe and Red-necked Phalarope (Northumberland), Montagu's Harrier (Cornwall), American Wigeon (Norfolk), Long-tailed Skua (Shetland), Honey Buzzard (Lincolnshire), three Pectoral Sandpipers, four Green-winged Teals, and 13 Glossy Ibises.
-  Chris Batty, RBA