Bird News Thursday 21st November.

A Peregrine was seen at Foglish Rd, Fivemiletown.(Colin Bell)


Our thanks to Lindsay Hodges for this pic of a part leucitic Fieldfare . 

Bird News Wednesday 20th November

No news so far today.

Thanks to Wilf Swain for the pictures of the Goldcrest and the Mistle Thrush:

Bird News Tuesday 19th November

In Strangford Lough 2 Slavonian Grebe were north of Horse Island. Yesterday 5 Slavonian Grebe were in Greyabbey Bay and 2 Black-throated Diver at Kircubbin. (Richard Weyl)

Yesterday, Kinturk, Lough Neagh had 5 Pink-footed Geese and a Common Sandpiper. Another Common Sandpiper was at the Intake, at Toome (John O’Boyle)

Bird News Monday 18th November.

2 Long-tailed Duck and a Great Northern Diver where on Lower Lough Erne Island reserve.(Fionbarr Cross/Amy Burns)

Sightings for Newry Canal, Gambles Bridge to Scarva.... Kingfisher 1, Raven 16, mixed flocks of Fieldfare and Redwing 100+, Whooper Swans 6. (Fulton Somerville)

A Long - eared Owl was heard at Jordanstown train station.(Paul McCullough)

Myroe today had: 1 White-rumped Sandpiper seen in flight, 60+ Slavonian Grebes, 15 Red-throated Diver, 1 Great Northern Diver, 9 Long-tailed Ducks, 12 Common Scoter, 75 Whooper Swans, c900 Golden Plover, 1 Snow Bunting and 1 Twite; Later at Magilligan Point 25 Red-throated Divers were seen flying out of Lough Foyle. (Ric Else/ Hazel Watson/ Ken Perry/ James McDowell/ Hill Dick)

Bird News Sunday 17th November

Five Long-tailed Duck (3 males, 1 female, 1 juvenile), were off Fishermans Quay, Carrickfergus (Daniel Newton/Richard Hunter).

Four Snow Buntings were on Rathlin today. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson)

The Green Sandpiper was still at Shaw's Lake, Co. Armagh. (John Spottiswood).

At least 2 Red-throated Divers and 2 Black-throated Divers were off Carlingford and more towards Black Rock off Carlingford. (Michael Latham)

The Pink-footed Goose Was at Victoria Park Sydenham again (Sam Thomas)

Thanks to David Knight for the pic of one of the Slieve Gullion Snow Buntings, to Ric Else for the picture of the Rathlin Snow Bunting, to Lindsay Hodges for the picture of the Snipe, to Michael Latham for the pictures of the Black-throated and Red-throated Divers and to Alastair McLean for the picture of the Gadwall:

Bird News Saturday 16th November

A Red-necked Grebe is showing well off Hazelbank, Belfast Lough (Stuart McKee). Two Slavonian Grebe and a Long-tailed Duck were also present.

4 ad male Long-tailed Ducks were off Carrickfergus and presumably the same Red-necked Grebe off Carrickfergus Marina at high tide (Brian Sutton)

A Great White Egret is still at the west end of Lower Lough Erne (Brad Robson)

Five Long-tailed Ducks were on Belfast Lough, including two drakes, between Macedon Point and Carrickfergus (Garry Armstrong)

A Velvet Scoter and two Slavonian Grebe were off Glynn Station (Neal Warnock)

A flock of 11 Snow Buntings were on Whitepark Bay beach this morning between 11 and 12 (Patrick Barton)

Two female Scoter were at Glenarm salmon cages, Great Northern and Red-throated Divers at Ballygalley, a female Goosander at Glynn, and single Pink-foot with the Greylags on Islandmagee. (Richard Grey)

A flock of 20 Snow Buntings were on Rathlin Island (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

Five Snow Bunting were at Slieve Gullion, Co Armagh (David Knight)

Two Black-throated Divers and a Twite were at Carnlough. (Neal Warnock)

A single juvenile White-rumped Sandpiper was feeding around puddles off the roadway at Myroe (Ian Enlander)

The presumed leucistic Herring Gull was seen again at Craffordsburn today (Chris Shaw)

The Pink-footed Goose flock was still at Islandmagee (Cameron Moore)

A Hen Harrier was seen near Portaferry (Stephen Dunbar)

Red-necked Grebe:

White-rumped Sandpiper, Ian Enlander:

Whoopers in flight, Thomas Campbell:

Bird News Friday 15th November.

The Greenland White-fronted Goose was at Steels Point, Islandmagee.(Cameron Moore)

2 female-type Snow Buntings where on Mullaghcarn mountain, Co.Tyrone.(Dermot Hughes)

Our thanks to Cameron for his pic of the White-front.

Bird News Thursday 14th November

A Dark-bellied Brent Goose was at Dundrum Inner Bay (David Nixon)

Winter Bird Tour of Ballyness Bay, Falcarragh, Donegal, Saturday 16th November

Lapwing - Liz McKenna

Ballyness Bay, a tidal estuary lying between Falcarragh, Gortahork and Magheraroarty, is an ideal location in which to appreciate the wonderful selection of birds to be found on our shores at this time of year. Protected on its seaward side by extensive sand dunes, this relatively sheltered bay and its surroundings provide an excellent habitat for a wide variety of resident bird species as well as many seasonal visitors. It is particularly good as a wintering ground for waders and waterfowl, and its shores have been designated as a Special Area of Conservation.

Those with an interest in learning more will have an excellent opportunity to gain a greater insight with a guided tour around Ballyness Bay on Saturday the 16th of November. The tour will offer the chance for people to explore some of the stunning locations around this lovely tidal landscape and learn more about the abundance of bird life it nurtures.

This event is weather dependent. It is hoped that those who come along will have an opportunity to observe some of the wildfowl, though in nature nothing can be guaranteed with certainty. It will be led by a local ecologist who has worked on various research and conservation programmes throughout Donegal. Those who wish to join in should phone (074) 918 0994 or (086) 822 0404 to reserve a place, €10 per person. As one might expect for a coastal walk in Winter you will need to wear warm clothes and sturdy, waterproof footwear, and if you have them to bring a pair of binoculars or a portable telescope. The tour will begin at 10am and should take about 3 hours. It is organised by The Glasshouses (LAN Ctr.) Cill Ulta, Falcarragh, and supported by Donegal ETB.

Bird News Wednesday 13th November

A Pink-footed Goose was with 54 Whooper Swans at Mountnorris, Co. Armagh. The Green Sandpiper was still at Shaw's Lake, Co. Armagh. (Joe Devlin).

Thanks to Wilf Swain for the picture of Wigeon:

Bird News Tuesday 12th November.

Seawatching highlights from Rathlin this morning: juvenile Glaucous Gull, adult Mediterranean Gull, 1 Long-tailed Duck, 1 Great Skua and 1 Great Northern Diver. Also 5 White-fronted Geese present. (Ric/Hazel)

A Whimbrel was seen at Donaghadee.(Stephen Foster/Ronan Owens)

Late news from Sunday...A Golden Eagle was seen at Mullagcarbatagh, which is NE of Plumbridge in the west Sperrin mountains(Alan Faulkner/James Hamill)


Photo of Golden Eagle kindly provided by James Hamill.

Bird News Sunday 10th November

4 Red-throated Divers and 4 Black-throated Divers were between Stricklands Glen Bangor and Crawfordsburn Country Park (Sam Thomas)

A Black-necked Grebe and 49 Slavonian Grebe were off Myroe. Six White-rumpled Sandpipers were also present with two also seen at the Roe Estuary.

The Spoonbill was sighted again today on Strangford Lough near Mount Stewart. (Jonny Andrews)

A Pink-footed Goose is with the Greylags at Victoria Park, Belfast. (Simon Morton).

A second winter Ring-billed Gull and 3 Long-tailed Ducks were at Inch lake, Lough Swilly today. (Matthew Tickner).

Rathlin today had 5 Purple Sandpipers, 4 White-fronted Geese, 7 Pink-footed Geese and a Great Northern Diver. (Ric Else & Hazel Watson).

Thanks to Jonny Rosborough for this picture of a Red Kite seen in the Antrim hills and to Jonny Andrews for the picture of the Spoonbill:

Bird News Saturday 9th November

Yesterday an adult Iceland Gull was in Belfast Lough seen from the Cairnryan ferry. Towards the Scottish coast there were 2000+ Kittiwake with 5 Manx Shearwater. 4 Common Dolphin also seen (Ian Enlander)

Six White-rumped Sandpipers were still at Myroe.

Two Raven are regularly seen early morning at the Tesco, Ballygomartin, Belfast (Ivan Daglish)

A Purple Sandpiper was on the beach near to the harbour at Whitehead today (Michael Latham)

Colin Davies has posted a video of two of the Myroe White-rumped Sandpipers at:
https://vimeo.com/372041983

White-rumped Sandpiper, video still - Colin Davies