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| Friday 21st April 2023 | ||
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| New discoveries today included an Isabelline Wheatear at West Runton, Norfolk, Black-winged Stilts at Keyhaven, Hampshire (two) and Welney, Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gulls at Marazion, Cornwall and Rosslare, County Wexford, King Eider off the Isle of May, Fife and two White-billed Divers in Shetland.
Lingering rarities still present included the Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, two Ferruginus Ducks in Norfolk, Lesser Scaups in Oxfordshire and Greater Manchester, Black-winged Stilts in Isle of Wight and County Cork (six), Long-billed Dowitchers in Cheshire and Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gull in County Cork, Black Kite in Yorkshire and White-billed Divers in Moray, Aberdeenshire (three) and Shetland (four). |
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| - Will Soar, 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 20th April 2023 | ||
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Rarities discovered today were all brief encounters: a Gull-billed Tern on the Isles Scilly in The Roads, a Subalpine Warbler species in Conwy at Penmaenmawr, a Little Bittern on the Isle of Wight at Alverstone Mead, Kentish Plover in Norfolk at Holkham, and an Alpine Swift in West Sussex at Barnham Brooks. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Double-crested Cormorant in County Leitrim, Gull-billed Tern in Cheshire, Tawny Pipit on Scilly, Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, Long-billed Dowitchers in Cheshire and Norfolk, Lesser Scaup in Oxfordshire, three Ferruginous Ducks together in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gull in County Cork, Black Kite in North Yorkshire, Black-winged Stilts in County Cork, Cornwall, County Kerry (4), and the Isle of Wight, and White-billed Divers in Aberdeenshire (4), Moray (4), and the Shetland Isles (2). Scarcities included Purple Heron (County Kerry), Montagu's Harrier (Cornwall), Ring-billed Gull (Perth and Kinross), Wryneck (Pembrokeshire), Lapland Bunting (Argyll), two of Rough-legged Buzzard, Dotterel, Glossy Ibis, and Green-winged Teal, three of Woodchat Shrike and Ring-necked Duck, five Shorelarks, eight Hoopoes, and a total of 15 Night Herons. Incoming summer migrants included 65 Ring Ouzels, 48 Garganey, 11 Pied Flycatchers, six Blue-headed Wagtails, three Wood Warblers, two Wood Sandpipers, and a Spotted Flycatcher. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 19th April 2023 | ||
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European rarities and scarcities today comprised a Gull-billed Tern new in Cheshire at Burton Mere Wetlands, a Subalpine Warbler species in County Cork at Ballynacarriga, Tawny Pipit on the Isles of Scilly, Kentish Plover in Kent, Alpine Swift in Lincolnshire, Purple Heron and Montagu's Harrier in Cornwall, Black Kites in Kent, Leicestershire, and North Yorkshire, Black-winged Stilts in County Cork (6), Devon, and the Isle of Wight, two each of Golden Oriole, Serin, Wryneck, and Hoopoe, three Woodchat Shrikes, six Glossy Ibises, and seven Night Herons. From elsewhere were Ross's Gull and Rough-legged Buzzard in Aberdeenshire, Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, Bonaparte's Gull in County Cork, Surf Scoter in Lothian, Green-winged Teal in Cambridgeshire, Long-billed Dowitchers in both Cheshire and Norfolk, four Ring-necked Ducks, and six Shorelarks, Lesser Scaups in Fife, Greater Manchester, and Oxfordshire, and White-billed Divers in Aberdeenshire (2), Orkney, and Moray (13). Incoming spring migrants included 60 Garganey, 28 Ring Ouzels, three Wood Sandpipers, two Blue-headed Wagtails, and a Black Tern. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 18th April 2023 | ||
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Sensational news today of the first Black-winged Kite for Britain discovered in Powys at Glanmule where it was present mid morning before flying west. On 16th April a probable Black-winged Kite had been glimpsed 195 miles to the east southeast at Kirton, Suffolk, perhaps the same bird. Other Mediterranean species today comprised a Little Bittern new in Devon at Exminster Marshes, a Western Subalpine Warbler reported in East Yorkshire at Easington, a total of 14 Black-winged Stilts, nine each of both Night Heron and Glossy Ibis, three Woodchat Shrikes, Alpine Swifts in Conwy and Gwynedd, Hoopoes in Cornwall and Suffolk, and two Serins together in Dorset. Otherwise rarities comprised a Red-footed Falcon briefly on the Shetland Isles at Scousburgh, Mainland, a Black Kite reported in North Yorkshire at Duncombe Park, the singing Savi's Warbler reported again in Cheshire, Hooded Merganser still in Cumbria, Long-billed Dowitcher and three Ferruginous Ducks in Norfolk, Lesser Scaups in both Fife and Oxfordshire, and five White-billed Divers in Moray. Scarcities included Montagu's Harrier (Cornwall), Surf Scoter (Orkney Isles), Lapland Bunting (Argyll), two each of Shorelark and Green-winged Teal, and five Ring-necked Ducks. Incoming summer migrants included 49 Ring Ouzels, 45 Garganey, two each of Blue-headed Wagtail, Wood Sandpiper, Whinchat, and Swift, and a Black Tern. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Monday 17th April 2023 | ||
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Mediterranean species today comprised 12 Night Herons, 10 Black-winged Stilts (all in the south and west), seven each of both Woodchat Shrike and Glossy Ibis, five Hoopoes, and an Alpine Swift in Norfolk. Otherwise rarities comprised the Ross's Gull still in Aberdeenshire, Hooded Merganser again in Cumbria, Eastern Yellow Wagtail in Suffolk, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gull in County Cork, three White-billed Divers in Moray, and Lesser Scaups in Clyde, Fife, Greater Manchester, and Oxfordshire. Scarcities included Golden Oriole (County Cork), Little Bunting and Montagu's Harrier (Cornwall), Pectoral Sandpiper (Somerset), Lapland Bunting (Orkney Isles), Dotterel (Isles of Scilly), Green-winged Teal (Cheshire), three Surf Scoters, six Shorelarks, and a total of seven Ring-necked Ducks. Incoming summer migrants included 56 Ring Ouzels, 40 Garganey, five Whinchats, two each of Blue-headed Wagtail and Turtle Dove, a Wood Sandpiper, and a Swift. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 16th April 2023 | ||
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Mediterranean species today comprised 14 Black-winged Stilts, 13 Night Herons, seven Woodchat Shrikes, six Glossy Ibises, Alpine Swifts in Cleveland and Norfolk, Tawny Pipit still on the Isles of Scilly, a Hoopoe in Dorset. Other rarities comprised the Ross's Gull still in Aberdeenshire, Long-billed Dowitcher still in Norfolk, Lesser Scaups in Clyde, Fife, Greater Manchester, Oxfordshire, and Somerset, and in Moray eight White-billed Divers. Scarcities included Pectoral Sandpiper (Somerset), Surf Scoter (Lothian), Corncrake (County Donegal), Black Brant (East Yorkshire), two each of Dotterel, Great Grey Shrike, and Green-winged Teal, five Shorelarks, and a total of 14 Ring-necked Ducks. Incoming summer migrants included 46 Ring Ouzels, 41 Garganey, five of Pied Flycatcher and Little Tern, three Whinchats, two Blue-headed Wagtails, and single Nightjar, Wood Warbler, Turtle Dove, and Swift. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 15th April 2023 | ||
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Mediterranean species today comprised 13 Night Herons, nine Black-winged Stilts (six in County Cork and three in Cornwall), six Woodchat Shrikes, four Hoopoes, three each of both Serin and Purple Heron, and Alpine Swifts in Highland and Norfolk (2). Other rarities comprised the White-winged Scoter still in Lothian, Ross's Gull in Aberdeenshire, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, Eastern Yellow Wagtail in Suffolk, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, Bonaparte's Gull in County Cork, Lesser Scaups in Clyde, Greater Manchester, Oxfordshire, and Somerset, and 11 White-billed Divers together in Moray. Scarcities included Rough-legged Buzzard (Shetland Isles), Pectoral Sandpiper (Somerset), Green-winged Teal (North Yorkshire), Black Brant (East Yorkshire), five Surf Scoters, six Shorelarks, 12 Ring-necked Ducks, and a total of 13 Glossy Ibises. Incoming summer migrants included 58 Garganey, 50 Ring Ouzels, seven each of both Pied Flycatcher and Swift, three Whinchats, Turtle Dove, and Blue-headed Wagtail. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Friday 14th April 2023 | ||
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| New discoveries today included a Lesser Scaup at Loch Gelly, Fife, White-billed Divers off Cullen, Moray (11) and Skigersta, Western Isles (two) and an Alpine Swift at Conwy RSPB, Conwy.
Lingering rarities still present included the Kentish Plover in Northamptonshire, Black-winged Stilts in Cornwall (four), County Waterford and County Cork (five), Long-billed Dowitchers in Norfolk and Orkney, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, Lesser Scaups in Greater Manchester and Oxfordshire, Ross's Gull in Aberdeenshire, Bonaparte's Gull in County Cork, Alpine Swifts in Norfolk and Lincolnshire, two White-billed Divers in Moray and Savi's Warbler in Cheshire. Scarcity highlights included a Richard's Pipit, a Lapland Bunting, a Shorelark, three Hoopoes, a Great Grey Shrike, four Woodchat Shrikes, two Purple Herons, 15 Night Herons, three Glossy Ibises, a Rough-legged Buzzard, a Montagu's Harrier, a Surf Scoter, a Green-winged Teal, 17 Ring-necked Ducks, a Tundra Bean Goose, a Kumlien's Gull, two Glaucous Gulls and nine Iceland Gulls. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 13th April 2023 | ||
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The influx of southern European species continued with the Kentish Plover still in Northamptonshire, Savi's Warbler still in Cheshire, Tawny Pipit and three Woodchat Shrikes on the Isles of Scilly, single Alpine Swifts in Cleveland, East Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk, three Purple Herons, six Hoopoes, 13 Black-winged Stilts (all in the south and west), and a total of 19 Night Herons. Other rarities comprised the Double-crested Cormorant still in County Leitrim, Ross's Gull still in Aberdeenshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, Long-billed Dowitchers in Cheshire and Norfolk, Lesser Scaups in Greater Manchester, Oxfordshire, Somerset, and the Western Isles, White-billed Diver in Moray, and a Bonaparte's Gull new in County Cork at Ballydehob. Scarcities included Rough-legged Buzzard (Shetland), Pectoral Sandpiper (Somerset), Surf Scoter (Fife), Sabine's Gull (Pembrokeshire), Great Grey Shrike (Kent), Green-winged Teal (Cumbria), Lapland Bunting (Shetland Isles), six Shorelarks, 10 Glossy Ibises, and 13 Ring-necked Ducks. Incoming summer migrants included 35 Garganey, 28 Ring Ouzels, eight Swifts, five Pied Flycatchers, Black Tern, Wood Warbler, and a Whinchat. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 12th April 2023 | ||
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New discoveries today consisted of a Red-rumped Swallow in Gloucestershire, and a Lesser Scaup in Clyde. Existing rarities today comprised of a Kentish Plover in Northamptonshire, Red-rumped Swallow in Conwy, Lesser Scaup in Somerset, Lesser Yellowlegs in Devon, Gull-billed Tern in Devon, Bonaparte's Gull in Cornwall, Savi's Warbler in Cheshire, and two White-billed Divers in Moray. The Black-winged Stilt influx slowly diminishes with 14 logged today across four counties comprising one in Britain and 13 in Ireland. A resurfacing of Alpine Swifts saw seven in Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Isle of Man, Devon, Pembrokeshire, and North Yorkshire. Scarcities included seven Night Herons, Rough-legged Buzzard, Pectoral Sandpiper, two Purple Herons, two Hoopoe, 10 Glossy Ibises, six Iceland Gulls, 10 Shorelarks, Woodchat Shrike, Kumlien's Gull, Black Brant, and 11 Ring-necked Ducks. |
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| - Ben Clark, RBA | ||
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