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
Thursday 11th May 2023  
 

Rarities discovered today included Great Reed Warblers in Norfolk at Titchwell and Suffolk at Boyton Marshes and on the Shetland Isles a Red-rumped Swallow on Mainland at Pool of Virkie and a White-billed Diver on Yell. Otherwise brief encounters were a Gyr in Highland at Cove, a Caspian Tern in Carmarthenshire at Burry Port, a Pallid Harrier in Suffolk at Orford Ness, and a Bee-eater in Devon at Bull Point.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Stejneger's Scoter in Fife, Slate-coloured Junco in Aberdeenshire, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Laughing Gull in Isles of Scilly, Blue-winged Teal in Lincolnshire, Great Reed Warbler in Somerset, Long-billed Dowitcher and Ferruginous Duck in Norfolk, Iberian Chiffchaff in East Sussex, Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, White-billed Diver on the Orkney Isles, and Black-winged Stilts in Lincolnshire (3) and County Wexford.

Scarcities inclded American Golden Plover (Anglesey), Red-backed Shrike and Long-tailed Skua (Shetland), Montagu's Harrier (County Antrim), American Wigeon (Fife), Ring-necked Duck (South Yorkshire), two each of Golden Oriole, Hoopoe, Wryneck, Pectoral Sandpiper, Dotterel, and Glossy Ibis, five Purple Herons, and a total of six Temminck's Stints.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 10th May 2023  
 

Discoveries today included a Baikal Teal in Aberdeenshire at Macduff, a Bee-eater in East Yorkshire at Spurn, and a Black-headed Wagtail reported on the Shetland Isles at Grutness, Mainland.

Elsewhere rarities comprised the Stejneger's Scoter and two White-winged Scoters still together in Fife, Slate-coloured Junco still in Aberdeenshire, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Laughing Gull on the Isles of Scilly, Pallid Harriers in Cornwall, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk, Great Reed Warbler in Somerset, Long-billed Dowitchers in both Hampshire and Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gull in Cornwall, Iberian Chiffchaff in East Sussex, Red-footed Falcon in Kent, Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, Ferruginous Duck in Norfolk, White-billed Diver on the Orkney Isles, and Black-winged Stilts in Highland, Lincolnshire (3), Somerset, County Wexford, and South Yorkshire.

Scarcities included Short-toed Lark (Isles of Scilly), Golden Oriole (Suffolk), Red-backed Shrike (Shetland), Wryneck (East Yorkshire), American Golden Plover (Anglesey), Ring-billed Gull (Perth and Kinross), American Wigeon and Surf Scoter (Fife), Ring-necked Duck (South Yorkshire), Dotterel (Shetland), two Montagu's Harriers, three of both Temminck's Stint and Grey-headed Wagtail, four of Purple Heron and Hoopoe, and five Night Herons.

Significant late news concerned a Pacific Swift on Monday at Ham Wall, Somerset, where it may also have been seen on Friday.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 9th May 2023  
 

Exciting news today with two North American sparrows discovered: a Song Sparrow in Gwynedd on Bardsey Island, and a Slate-coloured Junco in Aberdeenshire at Rattray Head.

Elsewhere rarities comprised the Stejneger's Scoter and White-winged Scoter still together in Fife, Forster's Tern still in Dorset, Citrine Wagtail still on the Shetland Isles, Long-billed Dowitcher in Hampshire, Great Reed Warbler in Somerset, Iberian Chiffchaff in East Sussex, Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, Red-footed Falcons in both Kent and Norfolk, Red-rumped Swallows in East Yorkshire and Highland, White-billed Divers on the Orkney Isles and the Shetland Isles, and Black-winged Stilts in Highland, Lincolnshire (3), Somerset, South Yorkshire, (2), and West Yorkshire (2).

Scarcties included American Golden Plover (Anglesey), Montagu's Harrier (County Antrim), Golden Oriole (Norfolk), Honey Buzzard (County Durham), Temminck's Stint (Orkney), Great Grey Shrike (Shropshire), Green-winged Teal (Fife), Grey-headed Wagtail (Shetland), two each of Purple Heron, Red-backed Shrike, Long-tailed Skua, Surf Scoter, and Ring-necked Duck, three Glossy Ibises, four of both Night Heron and Hoopoe, and a total of eight migrant Dotterel.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 8th May 2023  
 

Discoveries today included an Eastern Stonechat species on the Shetland Isles on Mainland at Scatness, a Pallid Harrier in Lincolnshire at Saltfleetby, a Black-headed Wagtail in Norfolk at Cley, and Red-rumped Swallows briefly in both Lincolnshire and Norfolk.

Rarities elsewhere today comprised the Grey-headed Lapwing still in Northumberland, Stejneger's Scoter and White-winged Scoter still together in Fife, Forster's Tern still in Dorset, Laughing Gull on the Isles of Scilly, Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, Iberian Chiffchaff in East Sussex, Great Reed Warbler in Somerset, Bonaparte's Gull in Cornwall, Long-billed Dowitchers in both Hampshire and Norfolk, White-billed Divers on the Orkney Isles and Western Isles, two Red-footed Falcons together in Kent, Black-winged Stilts in Highland, Lincolnshire (3), Somerset, and West Yorkshire (2).

Scarcities included Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Western Isles), Red-spotted Bluethroat (Lincolnshire), Red-backed Shrike (Northumberland), Great Grey Shrike (Shetland), Montagu's Harrier (County Antrim), Ring-billed Gull (Perth and Kinross), American Wigeon (Fife), two each of Golden Oriole, Purple Heron, Ring-necked Duck, and Glossy Ibis, three of Surf Scoter and Temminck's Stint, four of Hoopoe and Grey-headed Wagtail, and a total of 10 migrant Dotterel.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Sunday 7th May 2023  
 

New discoveries today consisted of a Red-throated Pipit at Bockhill Farm in Kent, Great Reed Warbler at Flamborough in East Yorkshire, Lesser Scaup at Uttoxeter in Staffordshire, Kentish Plover at Bracklesham Bay in West Sussex, Black Kite at Oundle in Northamptonshire, Red-footed Falcon at Stodmarsh NNR in Kent, and Bee Eater at Trimingham in Norfolk.

Lingering rarities today comprised the Grey-headed Lapwing in Northumberland, Stejneger's Scoter and two White-winged Scoters in Fife, Kentish Plover in Suffolk, Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, Blue-winged Teal in Lincolnshire, two Ferruginous Ducks in Norfolk, Subalpine Warbler sp in Borders, Bonaparte's Gull in Cornwall, White-billed Diver in Orkney and Western Isles, Red-footed Falcon in Kent, Great Reed Warbler in Somerset, Iberian Chiffchaff in Sussex, and Laughing Gull in Scilly.

Scarcities included two Night Herons, three Hoopoe, two Montagu's Harriers, four Surf Scoters, 15 Dotterel, Temminck's Stint, Honey Buzzard, Glaucous Gull, Glossy Ibis, six Pom Skuas, four Roseate Terns, Short-toed Lark, two Purple Herons, Shorelark, Red-backed Shrike, Iceland Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Long-tailed Skua, Tundra Bean Goose, Red-breasted Flycatcher, two Pectoral Sandpipers, six Golden Orioles, Ring-billed Gull, American Wigeon, and two Ring-necked Ducks.
-  Ben Clark, RBA
Saturday 6th May 2023  
  A Western Black-eared Wheatear was found at South Slob, County Wexford this afternoon. Other new discoveries included Subalpine Warbler species at Mire Loch, Borders and Saltfleet Haven, Lincolnshire, Black-winged Stilts at Worth Marsh, Kent, Otmoor, Oxfordshire, Heslington, Yorkshire (four) and Wick, Highland, Long-billed Dowitchers at Snettisham, Norfolk and Keyhaven, Hampshire, a Lesser Scaup at Grindon Lough, Northumberland, Pallid Harriers at Walberswick, Suffolk, Horsey, Kelling and Edgefield, all Norfolk and Anderby Creek, Lincolnshire, a Red-footed Falcon at Goonhilly Downs, Cornwall, a Red-rumped Swallow at Spurn, Yorkshire and Bee-eaters at Polgigga, Cornwall (four) and Laytham, Yorkshire (two).

Lingering rarities seen today included the Grey-headed Lapwing in Northumberland, Stejneger's Scoter and two White-winged Scoters in Fife, Kentish Plover in Suffolk, Black-winged Stilts in London, Lincolnshire (two) and Yorkshire (two), Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, Blue-winged Teal in Lincolnshire, Ferruginous Duck and Lesser Scaup in Staffordshire, Bonaparte's Gull in Cornwall, White-billed Diver in Orkney, Red-footed Falcon in Kent, Great Reed Warbler in Somerset, Iberian Chiffchaff in Sussex, Citrine Wagtail in Shetland and Red-rumped Swallow in Scilly.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Friday 5th May 2023  
  A Short-toed Treecreeper at Dungeness Point is the third individual found in Kent so far this year. Other new discoveries today included an Iberian Chiffchaff at Hailsham, Sussex, a Citrine Wagtail on Fair Isle, Shetland, an Alpine Swift at Shillingstone, Dorset, a Red-rumped Swallow on St Martin's and a Laughing Gull on Gugh, both Scilly, a Squacco Heron at Kilmore Quay, County Wexford, a Kentish Plover at Minsmere, Suffolk, Black-winged Stilts at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, Southwold, Suffolk (four) and Misson, Nottinghamshire (two) and Kent recorded Bee-eaters at High Halden (three), Sandwich Bay, Betteshanger (two) and Ramsgate (ten).

Lingering rarities included the Grey-headed Lapwing in Northumberland, Stejneger's Scoter and White-winged Scoter in Fife, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Great Reed Warbler in Somerset, Squacco Heron and Bonaparte's Gull in Cornwall, Pallid Harriers in Yorkshire and Lothian, Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, Lesser Scaup in Staffordshire, two Ferrginous Ducks and Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, Black-winged Stilts in Cheshire and Lincolsnhire (three) and White-billed Diver in Moray.

Scarcity highlights included a Red-breasted Flycatcher, a Red-spotted Bluethroat, a Grey-headed Wagtail, two Woodchat Shrikes, two Wrynecks, two Shorelarks, three Serins, five Golden Orioles, seven Hoopoes, a Pectoral Sandpiper, four Temminck's Stints, 13 Dotterel, a Night Heron, two Purple Herons, three Glossy Ibises, a Honey Buzzard, a Montagu's Harrier, two Ring-necked Ducks, four Surf Scoters, a Taiga Bean Goose, a Balearic Shearwater, up to 51 Pomarine Skuas, a Glaucous Gull and an Iceland Gull.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 4th May 2023  
 

Lingering rarites still present today included the Grey-headed Lapwing still in Northumberland, Stejneger's Scoter and White-winged Scoter together in Fife, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, White-billed Diver in Moray, and Bonaparte's Gulls in both Cornwall and Shetland.

Rarities of European origin comprised Pallid Harriers in Highland at Balnakeil, Lothian at Aberlady Bay, and on the Orkney Isles on North Ronaldsay, the Squacco Heron still in Cornwall, Great Reed Warbler in Somerset, Red-footed Falcon new in Kent at Stodmarsh, Black Kite in North Yorkshire, and Black-winged Stilts in Flintshire, Lincolnshire (2), and South Yorkshire (2).

Scarcities included Woodchat Shrike (Isles of Scilly), Purple Heron (Suffolk), Golden Oriole and Honey Buzzard (Dorset), Wryneck (Shetland Isles), American Wigeon (Fife), Shorelark (East Yorkshire), Grey-headed Wagtail (Essex), two each of Pectoral Sandpiper, Surf Scoter, and Ring-necked Duck, three Night Herons, four Temminck's Stints, five of White-winged Black Tern and Glossy Ibis, eight Hoopoes, and a total of 12 migrant Dotterel.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Wednesday 3rd May 2023  
 

Discoveries today included Pallid Harrier on the Orkney Isles on North Ronaldsay, an Olive-backed Pipit on the Shetland Isles on Fair Isle, a Lesser Scaup in Staffordshire at Branston, a Black Kite in East Sussex briefly, Black-winged Stilts in Leicestershire (2), Lincolnshire (2), and five Bee-eaters together in Cornwall.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Grey-headed Lapwing in Northumberland, Stejneger's Scoter, White-winged Scoter, and five Surf Scoters together in Fife, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Squacco Heron in Cornwall, Blue-winged Teal in Lincolnshire, Great Reed Warbler in Somerset, Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk, Bonaparte's Gulls in Cornwall and Shetland Isles, Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, and White-billed Diver in Moray.

Scarcities included Woodchat Shrike (Isles of Scilly), Purple Heron (Suffolk), Montagu's Harrier (Cornwall), Serin (Isle of Wight), Marsh Warbler (Shetland), Shorelark (East Yorkshire), American Wigeon (Fife), Grey-headed Wagtail (Essex), three of Golden Oriole, Ring-necked Duck, and Glossy Ibis, four of Night Heron, Hoopoe, and Temminck's Stints, and a total of 11 Dotterel.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 2nd May 2023  
 

The highlight of the day was the continued presence of the Grey-headed Lapwing in the Northumberland where it remained all day between Low Newton-by-the-Sea and Long Nanny.

Discoveries today included a Pallid Harrier in East Yorkshire at Spurn and then later at Holmpton, a Bonaparte's Gull on the Shetland Isles on Mainland at Loch of Hillwell, and a Kentish Plover in Essex at The Naze.

Rarities elsewhere comprised the Stejneger's Scoter and White-winged Scoter still together in Fife, Pine Bunting still on the Orkney Isles, Forster's Tern in Dorset, Blue-winged Teal in Lincolnshire, Great Reed Warbler in Somerset, King Eider in Aberdeenshire, Hooded Merganser in Cumbria, Long-billed Dowitchers in Cheshire and Norfolk, White-billed Diver in Moray, two Ferruginous Ducks together in Norfolk, and Black-winged Stilts in Aberdeenshire, East Sussex, Lincolnshire (3), and Suffolk (3).

Scarcities included Golden Oriole (Cornwall), Serin (Dorset), Honey Buzzard (Leicestershire), Pectoral Sandpiper (Essex), Temminck's Stint (East Yorkshire), Montagu's Harrier (Cornwall and Suffolk), American Wigeon (Fife), two Glossy Ibises, three of Surf Scoter, Ring-necked Duck, and Yellow-browed Warbler, five Night Herons, and a total of seven Hoopoes.
-  Chris Batty, RBA