Footage of Birds for Children's Series - Lough Neagh

We [ https://roninfilms.tv/ ] are currently producing a children’s TV series for Irish language children’s broadcaster, Cúla 4. This series follows various stories situated around children and their interests. 

In one of the episodes we follow a young boy who has a keen interest in animals and in particular, birds. In this episode we would like to focus on human responsibility for habitats and a key element of this would involve Lough Neagh. 

We wondered if anyone in this group would have any high-quality video clips of birds on the lough, particularly before the algae bloom, but also more recent clips. We could also work with still photographs, in fact, it would be great to get both. We would really like to showcase the wildlife on the lough. 

For further information, please feel free to email me: donal@roninfilms.tv 

Kind regards, 

 Dónal

Bird News Tuesday 7th January 2025

 A male Brambling is visiting a bird feeder on the Lagan riverbank at Edenderry.

A male Goosander was on the River Margy beside the golf course in Ballycastle. (Tomás Hand)

Goosander, Tomás Hand.

  

Sean Ronayne in Belfast @ CQAF

Sean Ronayne is appearing in Belfast as part of the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival. Sean’s film Birdsong and his book Nature Boy are inspirational for anyone interested in our local birds. Tickets are available at:

https://cqaf.com/nature-boy-by-sean-ronayne/

Bird News Monday 6th January 2025

4 Twite in mixed flock with Linnet and 3 Purple Sandpipers with the Turnstone at Whitehead (Kevin Kirkham). 

Female Great Spotted Woodpecker in garden near Hillsborough (Garry Wilkinson).

Great Spotted Woodpecker heard at Lagan Meadows (Mel O’Hagan).

Blackcap, William Smiton:

Bird News Sunday 5th January 2025

The White-billed Diver has been looked for this morning, so far without success.

The female Ring-necked duck was still at Corbally Reservoir. (Chris Hamilton)

The first winter Iceland Gull was still at Tweed‘s port (Gerard McGeehan)

Two Black-throated Divers where in Waterfoot Bay (Michael Latham)

A Purple Sandpiper was at Whitehead and a Brent Goose at Lough Mourne (Ian Enlander)

Two male Goosander were at the mouth of the river at Waterfoot but flew off. The Pink-footed Goose was with the feral Greylags (Steven Farquhar)

Black-throated Divers, Michael Latham:

Icleand Gull, Michael Latham:

Bird News Saturday 4th January 2025

A White-billed Diver was on the Antrim coast. Found about 13.40 moderately close inshore along the rocky coast at Galboly (about a mile north of Garron Point). Watched for c.30 minutes during which time it drifted offshore and became distant in the outermost part of Red Bay then finally seen in flight in the outer bay and lost to view in the direction of Cushendun. (David Steele).

The Brambling was still at the middle carpark at Oxford Island. (Ed O'Hara).

The Great White Egret and 2 Ruff were at Inch in Donegal. A White-tailed Eagle was on the castle and causeway. (Martin Deehan, Theo Campbell).

The Brambling is still at Edenderry, feeding with Chaffinchs along the roadside. (Sean Gibson).

5 Slavonian Grebes were off Macedon Point in Belfast Lough. (Dermot Hughes).

The Snow Goose, Todds Canada Goose and 2 Cackling Geese were still among 800 Barnacles at Dunfanaghy in Donegal. (Derek Brennan).

A Carrion Crow was at the hide at the Quoile and a Sandwich Tern was at Ardglass Harbour. (Aaron Long).

The Great White Egret was still at Portmore Lough RSPB. (Michael Latham).

A Merlin and a Great Northern Diver were off the hide at the Barmouth. (Mel O'Hagan).

A Carrion Crow was visiting a garden in Islandmagee. (Robert McDowell).

The Spotted Redshank and a Red-throated Diver were in Dundrum Inner Bay. (Mike McLaughlin, David McCreedy).

A boat trip into Dundrum Bay produced 1 Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Northern Diver, a flyby Long-tailed Duck and several hundred Common Scoter. (Aaron Long).

A Swallow was on a farm on the Loanends Road just off the Seven Mile Straight. (Gregory Heaney).

White-billed Diver, David Steele.

Spotted Redshank, David Clarke.

Spotted Redshank, Mike McLaughlin.

Purple Sandpiper, Rod Gillan.

Bird News Friday 3rd January 2025

2 Bramblings still at junction of Edederry / Ballynahatty roads (Aaron Long).

80-90 Greenfinches at 4pm pre roost gathering in trees behind KFC at Lisburn Omniplex yesterday (Leia Giesel).

Goosander at mouth of River Carnlough. Slavonian Grebe at Glynn. Twite at Sandy Bay. Black-throated Diver still from Carnlough. 2 Great Northern Divers and 25 Purple Sandpipers from Portrush (Martin Deehan).

Great White Egret Ardmore Road shoreline, Lough Neagh 100m east of Emerson’s sand quarry (Clifford Sharpe).

Female type Ring-necked Duck back on Corbally Res (John Clarke).

2000+ Golden Plover at Newtownards Floodgates in field near flying club (Bob Watts).

Ring-necked Duck, John Clarke:

Kingfisher, David McCreedy:

Brambling, Aaron Long:

Bird News Thursday 2nd January 2025

Two Chiffchaff were at the rear of hide 2 at RSPB WoW (Ronnie Doggart / Derek Polley)

The Great White Egret was off the Croghan Hide, Oxford Island. A Brambling was also at the middle car park (Garry Armstrong)

A Black-throated Diver and 2 Great Northern Diver were at Carnlough (Aaron Long \ David Nixon \ Philip McHaffie)

2 Brambling were still around Edederry/Ballynahatty roads junction, Co Down (Dermot Hughes)

A male Hen Harrier was in the western Sperrins (Anna Warwick)

The Pink-feet were still with the Barnacles at Portmore (Juliet Fleming)

The Cattle Egret was still at the Creagh, next to the A6 at Toome (Nigel Moore)

The drake Ring-necked Duck was seen again at Lough Beg (David Steele)

75 Purple Sandpiper were on Rathlin (Ric Else)

A ring tail Hen Harrier was at Magilligan (Martin Deehan)

A drake Ring-necked Duck was at Knockninny, Co Fermanagh (Ronan Owens)

The Brambling was back in the garden at Whitehead (Cameron Moore)

Great White Egret, Portmore, Juliet Fleming:

Brambling, Cameron Moore:

Hen Harrier, Anna Warwick:

Bird News Wednesday 1st January 2025

2 Slavonian Grebes off Glynn in Larne Lough. (Aaron Long, Sean Gibson).

The redhead Goosander was still off Kinnegar shore in Belfast Lough and a Jack Snipe was by the airport. (Stuart Cossey).

A Short-eared Owl and a Merlin were at Ballyquitan. (Richard Weyl).

2 Black-throated Divers were at Carnlough. (Michael Latham).

The hybrid Ring-billed x Common Gull and 14 Purple Sandpipers were at Millisle. (Jeff Higgott)

The Bonaparte's Gull was on the shore opposite Ballygally Castle. (Jeff Larkin).

A Velvet Scoter was in Larne Lough. (Michael Latham).

A Carrion Crow and 6 Sandwich Terns were at Portaferry. (Jeff Higgott).

The Green Sandpiper was still at Creightons Green Reservoir and 3 Pinkfeet with Greylags at Whinny Hill. (Wilton Farrelly, Bob Watts, Philip West).

6 Crossbills were at Aghmakane Wood. (John Spottiswood).

The 1st winter Iceland Gull was at Sandy Bay in Larne. (Ivan Quail & Nicky Lynn).

A Mediterranean Gull was at Whitehead. (Gerard McGeehan, Shirley Dunlop).

6 Pink footed Geese were with Nutgrove Whooper and Greylag flock near Seaforde, seen from Bucks Head Road. The Spotted Redshank was at the high tide roost in Dundrum South. (David Nixon).

A pair of Long-tailed Ducks were on Belfast Lough off Greenisland. (Roger Woodward).

Pinkfeet, David |Nixon.

Bonaparte's Gull, Michael Latham.

Velvet Scoter, Michael Latham.

Bird News Tuesday 31st December 2024

Late news from Sunday of a Swallow along the beach at Groomsport east of the harbour (Tom Ennis).

Cattle Egret still viewable from the A6 at Toome at the same site as yesterday (Dave Weir).

Adult Bonaparte’s Gull and 1st winter Iceland Gull present at Tweeds Port this afternoon at high tide (Ian Young).

Drake Ring-necked Duck with the Tufted Duck flock this afternoon at Lough Beg (David Steele).

Chiffchaff in Bangor West killed by a cat (Richard Weyl).

Drake Goosander and a Red Kites at Corbet Lough this afternoon (Jeff Higgott).

Bird News Monday 30th December 2024

The Spotted Redshank was still at Dundrum Inner Bay. Newcastle Harbour had 5 Purple Sandpiper, 4 Red-throated Diver and only 20 Common Scoter (Michael Latham)

A Cattle Egret was viewable from the A6 at Toome, from this location (Steven Farquhar): https://maps.app.goo.gl/1bph9kgu8LLMU5Qg8

A Red Kite was at Tullymurry, between Clough and Downpatrick (Hugh Thurgate)

The Green Sandpiper was again at Creightons Green Reservoir in the Holywood Hills. Portmore Lough - had 2 Pinkfeet & 5 Barnacles with the Greylags, the Great Egret & an impressive Starling murmuration this evening. (Jeff Higgott)

Spotted Redshank and Greenshank, Michael Latham:

Bird News Sunday 29th December 2024

The redhead Goosander was roosting on Kinnegar shore in Belfast Lough. (Daniel Newton).

A Great White Egret and a ring-tail Hen Harrier were at Portmore Lough RSPB reserve. (Michael Latham).

6 Purple Sandpipers were on Newcastle beach. (Mel O'Hagan).

The hybrid Ring-billed x Common Gull was still at Millisle. (Daniel Newton).

The 2 Swallows are still at the Ropewalk in Killough. (Bob Watts).

A Slavonian Grebe was off Hazelbank in Belfast Lough. (Steven Farquhar).

A single Cattle Egret was in fields by the A6 at Lough Beg. (David Steele).

The 1st winter Iceland Gull was again at Tweed Port, Carnfunnock on the Co. Antrim coast. (Brian  Halligan).

A male and female Great Spotted Woodpeckers were near Helen's Bay. (John McClean).

Iceland Gull, Brian Halligan.

Male & female Great Spotted Woodpeckers, John McClean.

Great White Egret, Michael Latham.

Bird News Saturday 28th December 2024

Late news from yesterday of Hen Harrier and Merlin at Portmore Lough RSPB (Sean Gibson). 

Female Ring-necked Duck showing well with Pochards by causeway to Inch Island, Co Donegal at Bank End. Also Great White Egret from Tready hide (John Spottiswood).

Black-throated Diver and Great Northern Diver from Carnlough Harbour. 3 Great Northern Divers from Madman’s Window car park south of Glenarm (Steven Farquhar).

Drake Goosander still at Corbet Lough but no sign of Green Sandpiper (Richard Gray).

Great Northern Diver Portrush Harbour and 43 Purple Sandpipers at Portrush Coastal Zone (Aaron Long).

3 Pinkfeet still with the Greylags flock just east of Creighton Green Reservoir, Hollywood Hills but no sign of Green Sandpiper (Jeff Higgott / Gilly Irwin).

Bird News Friday 27th December 2024

Carnlough had 2 Black-throated, 1 Red-throated and 1 Great Northern Diver (Michael Latham)

The three Pink-feet were with a Greylag flock in the Holywood Hills (Wilton Farrelly)

The two Swallows remain at Killough ropewalk (David Clarke / John Pyper)

28 Purple Sandpiper were at Ramore Head (Timothy Davis)

A Great Northern Diver was in the surf off Runkerry beach, Portballintrae. (Paul Tout)