Bird News Tuesday 23rd July

The Collared Pratincole was still at Blanket Nook, Co Donegal to 9:00pm. (Ian O’Connor / Niall Keogh / Michael Savage / Derek Brennan).

This morning 2 Red Kites and 4 Buzzards were near Slieve Croob in Co. Down. (Ed Paynter). 

Thanks to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Curlew and to Mervyn Campbell for the pictures of the Puffins and the Manx Shearwater:

Bird News Monday 22nd July

A Collared Pratincole was found this morning at Blanketnook, Co Donegal. The bird was still present at 7:30pm and has been feeding at the south western end. (Robert Vaughan).

A female Garganey and five Ruff were in the southwest corner of Lough Beg this afternoon. (David Steele)

Tree Sparrows are visiting feeder near Lough Aghery, Annahilt. (Gerard McLaughlin).

Thanks to Robert Vaughan for the picture of the Collared Pratincole and to Thomas Campbell for the pictures of the Swift, Grey Wagtail and Willow Warbler:

Bird News Sunday 21st July

An Osprey flew south over the A1 between Hillsborough and Dromore at 11:30 this morning (Chris and Walter Veale).

The Long-Billed Dowitcher was seen briefly this afternoon at Belfast WOW. (Kevin Kirkham).

The blue-headed Yellow Wagtail was looked for without success this morning.

A Peregrine and a Common Sandpiper were at Ardmore on the south shore of Lough Neagh this morning. (Ed O'Hara).

A Spotted Flycatcher and several Whinchats were in the Antrim Hills. (Michael Latham).

Thanks to Michael Latham for the pictures of the young Whinchat and the Kestrel:

Bird News Saturday 20th July

There was no sign of the Long-billed Dowitcher at Belfast WOW reserve between 8.30 and 9.30 this morning but a Roseate Tern was on the posts outside hide 2 for a short time and a Common Sandpiper was also present. (Garry Armstrong).

A Yellow Wagtail of the blue headed race flava was at Oxford Island this afternoon, see picture below. (Kevin Kirkham/Danny Gibson).

A second calendar year Mediterranean Gull, was on Kinnegar Beach this afternoon. A juvenile Mediterranean Gull at Whitehouse Lagoon, was ringed with a tall metal ring, which suggests that it is a foreign rung bird. The ring is on the right leg, which the gull appears to have injured, as it's holding it's foot up. It flew off towards Belfast. (Gareth Platt)

Thanks to Kevin Kirkham for the first picture of the Yellow Wagtail, to Danny Gibson for the second picture and to Gareth Platt for the picture of the 2nd calendar year Mediterranean Gull:

Bird News Friday 19th July

The Long-billed Dowitcher was still present at RSPB WoW this morning. (Daniel Newton)

Thanks to Mervyn Campbell for this pic of a diving Sandwich Tern:

Bird News Thursday 18th July

The Long-billed Dowitcher, a Common Sandpiper and 11 Bar-tailed Godwits, some still in breeding plumage, were at Belfast WOW reserve this morning. (Derek Polley).

Thanks to Wilf Swain for the picture of the Buzzard and to Mervyn Campbell for the picture of the Whinchat:

Bird News Wednesday 17th July

The Long-billed Dowitcher has returned to RSPB Belfast WoW. The bird was present to 5pm at least (Daniel Newton)

A Quail was heard calling yesterday evening from pasture edge at Ballystrone Road (at the A37 / Dunhill Road end of Ballystrone Rd), Macosquin, outside Coleraine. (Dylan Thomas)

Six Common Sandpiper were at Whitehead seafront (Ian Enlander)

Thanks to Thomas Campbell for this pic of a juvenile Peregrine:

Bird News Tuesday 16th July

A Corncrake was calling from behind the Bar on Rathlin last night (Colin Guy)

The Great Northern Diver was still in Killough Harbour. A movement of waders was also noted with Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper present amongst other species. (Chris Murphy)

A Pectoral Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank were at Blanketnook, Co Donegal (Chris Ingram)

Two adult Mediterranean Gulls were at Kinnegar Shore (Tom Lavery)

Bird News Monday 15th July

A Turnstone, a Purple Sandpiper and 5 Dunlin - all adults - were at Kilhorne Bay south of Annalong this morning. (Richard Gray).

Yesterday a Quail was calling at 16.30 close to the roadside, 2 km east of Sperrin in Glennelly valley (Larry Toal).

Portmuck had an adult Mediterranean Gull this afternoon, the Gobbins area had 1 Whimbrel. (Ian Enlander).

A summer plumaged Great Northern Diver was in Killough harbour this evening. (Chris Murphy).

A single Brent Goose flew south past Annalong this evening. (Richard Grey).

There will be a boat trip to Islay and Jura this Thursday (July 18th) to see Golden and Sea Eagles. Contact Jim Wells on-07856235144 for full details.

Thanks to Jonny Rosborough for the pictures of the Puffins:

Bird News Sunday 14th July

A flock of 20 Common Crossbills flew over Slaght near Ballymena this morning - an unprecedented flock for this area (David Steele)

A Red Kite was circling just above the roundabout in Clough, Co. Down this afternoon. (Paul and Niall Mulvenna)

A Long-eared Owl was seen near Magheragall, Lisburn (Tom Trouton)

Bird News Saturday 13th July

Three Bonxie were seen off Rathlin (Brian Murphy)

Bird News Friday 12th July

A juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen at Bleary, Co Armagh yesterday (Stephen Foster)

This morning a Chough was around the Giants Causeway visitor centre. (Peter Hough)

An adult Mediterranean Gull was at the Bann Estuary along with the 4 Ruddy Shelducks (John Spottiswood)

A seawatch at Kilcummin, Co Mayo produced 3 Arctic Skua, 2 Bonxies and lots of Manx Shearwaters (Brad Robson)

An Osprey was at Lough Beg today, and Green Sandpiper again in the southwest corner. (David Steele)

Thanks to Thomas Campbell for these pic's of a Puffin and Swift in flight: