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| Friday 24th March 2023 | ||
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The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Great Spotted Cuckoo in Suffolk at Easton Bavents. Rarities elsewhere included the Lesser Kestrel still on the Isles of Scilly, Ross's Gull still in Aberdeenshire, Black Scoter and Richardson's Cackling Goose both in Northumberland, Pallid Harrier and Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, four Penduline Tits together in Kent at Elmley, King Eider in Cleveland, Lesser Scaup in Oxfordshire, and White-billed Diver in Moray. The Alpine Swift influx continued with 37 logged today across 16 counties comprising 29 in Britain and eight in Ireland. Scarcities included Richard's Pipit (Scilly), Surf Scoter (Argyll), two each of American Wigeon, Little Bunting, Lapland Bunting, and Great Grey Shrike, three Green-winged Teals, six each of Glossy Ibis and Waxwing, seven Shorelarks, and eight Ring-necked Ducks. Incoming summer migrants included 13 Garganey, six Ospreys, Ring Ouzel, Reed Warbler, Hobby, and Yellow Wagtail. |
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| - Chris Batty, 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 23rd March 2023 | ||
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The highlight of the day was the discovery of an adult male Lesser Kestrel on the Isles of Scilly on St Mary's; the third individual on that island this millennium following others in 2002 and 2020. The Alpine Swift influx continued with 41 logged today across 15 counties comprising 24 in Britain, 16 in Ireland, and one on the Isle of Man. In Britain birds were in Argyll, Devon (5), HertfordshireKent (4), Lincolnshire (3), Lothian (3), North Yorkshire (2), Norfolk (4), and Suffolk, and in Ireland in County Antrim, County Cork (3), County Down (2), County Dublin (2), County Waterford (3), and County Wicklow (5). Other rarities included the Ross's Gull still in Aberdeenshire, Black Scoter and Richardson's Cackling Goose in Northumberland, Pallid Harrier in Norfolk, Coues's Arctic Redpoll in County Antrim, two Penduline Tits together in Kent, Long-billed Dowitchers in both Cheshire and Norfolk, King Eider in Cleveland, and Lesser Scaups in Argyll, Oxfordshire, and Somerset. Scarcities included Serin (Kent), Richard's Pipit (Scilly), Little Bunting (Hertfordshire), Ring-billed Gull (County Antrim), American Wigeon (Northumberland), Great Grey Shrike (Highland), Shorelark (East Yorkshire), two each of both Rough-legged Buzzard and Lapland Bunting, three Green-winged Teals, 10 of both Ring-necked Duck and Glossy Ibis, and a total of 14 Waxwings. Incoming summer migrants included 12 Garganey, four Ospreys, three Ring Ouzels, two each of both Hobby and Arctic Skua, and a Yellow Wagtail. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 22nd March 2023 | ||
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The Alpine Swift influx continued with 37 logged today across 18 counties comprising 25 in Britain, 11 in Ireland, and one on the Isle of Man. In Britain birds were in East Yorkshire (3), Devon (2), Dumfries and Galloway (2), Ceredigion, Flintshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Lincolnshire, Lothian, Northumberland, Norfolk, Somerset, and Wirral, and in Ireland in County Cork (3), County Dublin (2), County Galway (2), and County Wicklow (4). Other rarities comprised the Ross's Gull still in Aberdeenshire, Baikal Teal in Gwynedd, Hume's Warbler in Kent, Pallid Harrier in Norfolk, Long-billed Dowitchers in both Cheshire and Norfolk, Eastern Yellow Wagtail in Suffolk, Richardson's Cackling Goose in Northumberland, King Eiders in Cleveland and Lothian, and Lesser Scaups in Argyll and Oxfordshire. Scarcities included Little Bunting and Ring-billed Gull (Cornwall), Richard's Pipit (Isles of Scilly), Hoopoe (Pembrokeshire), Green-winged Teal (Essex), three Great Grey Shrikes, seven Shorelarks, eight Ring-necked Ducks, nine Glossy Ibises, and a total of 15 Waxwings. Incoming summer migrants included 11 Garganey, six Ring Ouzels, Stone Curlew (Kent), Sedge Warbler (Norfolk), and Yellow Wagtail (Essex). |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 21st March 2023 | ||
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| The star bird today was a Short-toed Eagle in Suffolk/Norfolk that flew over Santon Downham mid-morning, as well as this a White-billed Diver was seen in Fife at Elie Ness, the Alpine Swift influx continued on, with new birds in Kent at Cliftonville, North Foreland, Norfolk at Winterton, Devon at Eastdon (four), London at London Bridge, East Sussex at Eastbourne (three), West Sussex at Bosham, North Chailey, County Kerry at Blennerville, County Antrim at Rathlin Island, East Yorkshire at Thornwick Bay, Lothian at Dunbar. Birds lingered in Norfolk, Isle of Man, East Yorkshire, Devon, County Cork, County Dublin, and Lincolnshire.
Continuing rarities included the Richardson's Cackling Goose in Northumberland, Long-billed Dowitchers in Norfolk and Cheshire, Eastern Yellow Wagtail in Suffolk, King Eider in Cleveland, Ross's Gull in Aberdeenshire, Lesser Scaup in Oxfordshire, Cornwall, and Argyll, Baikal Teal in Gwynedd, Penduline Tit in Kent, Pallid Harrier in Norfolk. Scarcity highlights included two Little Buntings, Lapland Bunting, Great Grey Shrike, 21 Waxwings, White Stork, eight Glossy Ibises, four Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Surf Scoter, four Shorelarks, Purple Heron, seven Ring-necked Ducks, Black Brant, Kumlien's Gull, two Tundra Bean Geese, two Glaucous Gulls, nine Iceland Gulls, and four White-beaked Dolphins. |
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| - Ben Clark, RBA | ||
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| Monday 20th March 2023 | ||
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| The Alpine Swift influx continued to gather pace, with new birds in Kent at Shuart, Norfolk at Sheringham (two), Sidestrand, Cley Marshes, Devon at Teignmouth (three), Lincolnshire at Chapel Six Marshes (two), Kent at Oare Marshes (two), Glamorgan at Porthcawl, County Dublin at Blackrock (eight), County Armagh at Oxford Island, County Cork at Rosscarbery, Cork (two), Isle of Wight at Brading, Dumfries and Galloway at Rockcliffe. Birds lingered in Yorkshire, County Cork, County Waterford, County Dublin, Devon, Lincolnshire, Kent. A Lesser Scaup in Argyll was the only other new rarity.
Lingering rarities included the Black Duck in County Mayo, Long-billed Dowitchers in Norfolk and Orkney, Lesser Scaup in Somerset, King Eider in Cleveland, Pallid Harrier in Norfolk, two Penduline Tits in Kent, three Hume's Warblers in Kent. Scarcity highlights included a Hoopoe, Little Auk, two Little Buntings, Great Grey Shrike, Waxwing, Dutch-ringed White Stork, eight Glossy Ibises, Rough-legged Buzzard, three Green-winged Teal, two American Wigeon, Surf Scoter, 12 Ring-necked Ducks, Kumlien's Gull, two Tundra Bean Geese, Ring-billed Gull, five Glaucous Gulls and 11 Iceland Gulls. |
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| - Ben Clark, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 19th March 2023 | ||
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| The Alpine Swift influx continued to gather pace, with new birds in Kent at Sandwich Bay, Scotney GPs, Stodmarsh NNR and St Margaret's at Cliffe, Isle of Wight at Culver Down, Devon at Berry Head, Scilly on St Mary's, Suffolk at Felixstowe (two), Essex at Hadleigh, Lincolnshire at Grainthorpe Haven and Gibraltar Point NNR, Yorkshire at Easington (two) and Welwick (two), Forth at Falkirk, Isle of Man at Point of Ayre (two), County Wicklow at Bray (nine) and Kilcoole, County Dublin at Portrane (two), Howth (two) and Balbriggan and County Leitrim at Ballinamore. Lingering birds were also in Dorset (two), Cornwall, County Waterford (two) and County Cork (three).
Other lingering rarities included the American Herring Gull in Highland, Baikal Teal in Gwynedd, Lesser Scaup in Somerset, King Eider in Cleveland, Richardson's Cackling Geese in Northumberland and County Mayo, Pallid Harrier in Norfolk, Isabelline Wheatear in Cornwall, Hume's Warbler in Kent and Forster's Tern in County Galway. Scarcity highlights included a Serin, a Hoopoe, a Richard's Pipit, a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Little Bunting, two Lapland Buntings, three Great Grey Shrikes, three Shorelarks, 18 Waxwings, a Dutch-ringed White Stork, 13 Glossy Ibises, a Rough-legged Buzzard, a Green-winged Teal, four American Wigeon, seven Surf Scoters, ten Ring-necked Ducks, a Snow Goose, a Black Brant, eight Tundra Bean Geese, two Ring-billed Gulls, five Glaucous Gulls and 15 Iceland Gulls. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 18th March 2023 | ||
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The remarkable Alpine Swift gathered pace with 27 logged today across nine counties comprising 16 in Ireland and 11 in Britain including six together in Dorset, and four together in both County Cork and County Waterford. Other rarities comprised the White-throated Sparrow still in Cheshire (and still unavailable), Baikal Teal still in Gwynedd, Pallid Harrier, Long-billed Dowitcher and two Ferruginous Ducks in Norfolk, Eastern Yellow Wagtail in Suffolk, Richardson's Cackling Goose in Northumberland, Coues's Arctic Redpoll and King Eider in Cleveland, and Lesser Scaups in Cornwall, Oxfordshire, and Somerset. Scarcities included Serin (Kent), Little Bunting (Hertfordshire), Richard's Pipit (Gloucestershire), Ring-billed Gull (County Cork), Great Grey Shrike (Lothian), two each of both American Wigeon and Green-winged Teal, three of Rough-legged Buzzard, Surf Scoter, and Waxwing, six Glossy Ibises, nine Shorelarks, and a total of 12 Ring-necked Ducks. Incoming summer migrants included 24 Garganey, 21 Swallows, 11 House Martins, 10 Ospreys, six Willow Warblers, two each of Ring Ouzel and Sedge Warbler, and a Common Tern. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Friday 17th March 2023 | ||
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| New Alpine Swifts today involved birds at Minehead, Somerset, Bull Point, Devon, Lodmoor, Dorset, Bamburgh, Northumberland, Drogheda, County Louth, Ballycroy, County Mayo, Kenmare, County Kerry (four), and Midleton (two), Clonakilty and Carrigaline (now three), all County Cork, whilst lingering birds remained in Gloucestershire, Cornwall and County Waterford (two).
Other lingering rarities present today included the Ross's Gull in Aberdeenshire, Hume's Warbler in Kent, Red-rumped Swallow in Cornwall, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, Baikal Teal in Gwynedd, King Eider in Cleveland and Lesser Scaups in Somerset and Oxfordshire. Scarcity highlights included a Richard's Pipit, a Little Bunting, a Yellow-browed Warbler, three Great Grey Shrikes, four Waxwings, ten Shorelarks, a Dutch-ringed White Stork, six Glossy Ibises, an American Wigeon, two Surf Scoters, three Green-winged Teals, six Ring-necked Ducks, ten Tundra Bean Geese, a Ring-billed Gull, six Glaucous Gulls and ten Iceland Gulls. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 16th March 2023 | ||
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The influx of Alpine Swifts gathered pace with 12 today comprising singles in Argyll, Conwy, Devon, and Gloucestershire, two in Cornwall, and in Ireland three each in County Cork, County Dublin, and County Waterford: 19 have now been located since 13th March. An associated arrival was a Red-rumped Swallow in Cornwall at Walmsley Sanctuary. Rarities elsewhere comprised the American Herring Gull still in Highland, Ross's Gull still in Aberdeenshire, Baikal Teal in Gwynedd, Hume's Warbler in Kent, Pallid Harrier, Long-billed Dowitcher, and Ferruginous Duck all in Norfolk, Coues's Arctic Redpoll and King Eider both in Cleveland, Richardson's Cackling Goose in Northumberland, Eastern Yellow Wagtail in Suffolk, and Lesser Scaup in Oxfordshire. Scarcities included Rough-legged Buzzard (Orkney), Little Bunting (Hertfordshire), Richard's Pipit (Gloucestershire), Ring-billed Gull (County Cork), Surf Scoter (Conwy), two Green-winged Teals, three each of Snow Goose and Great Grey Shrike, seven Waxwings, 11 Ring-necked Ducks, and a total of 13 Glossy Ibises. Incoming summer migrants included seven Swallows, four Garganey, three Willow Warblers, Swift, and House Martin. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 15th March 2023 | ||
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Once again the highlight of the day was Alpine Swifts with new birds today in County Cork at Carrigaline, Cornwall at Falmouth, and Gloucestershire at Oldbury making a total of 12 located in the last three days. Rarities elsewhere comprised the White-winged Scoter again in Lothian, Ross's Gull still in Aberdeenshire, Baikal Teal in Gwynedd, both Coues's Arctic Redpoll and King Eider in Cleveland, two Penduline Tits together in Kent, Richardson's Cackling Goose in Northumberland, Lesser Scaups in Oxfordshire and Somerset, and four White-billed Divers on the Shetland Isles. Scarcities included Night Heron (Devon), Little Bunting (Hertfordshire), Rose-coloured Starling (Somerset), American Wigeon (Oxfordshire), two Ring-billed Gulls, three each of Great Grey Shrike and Green-winged Teal, five Shorelarks, eight of Ring-necked Duck and Glossy Ibis, and a total of 13 Waxwings. Incoming summer migrants included 143 Wheatears, 11 Swallows, five House Martins, three Garganey, two Swifts, and singles of Stone Curlew, Ring Ouzel, Yellow Wagtail, and Osprey. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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